Priepert Wilderness Trail

This hiking tour begins in the center of Priepert at the information board, where you can read interesting facts about the village of Priepert. From there, follow the road “Zur Fleeter Brücke” to the right and downhill to the old pasture, where you’ll come across the hiking trail marked with yellow dots and the number “1.” Turn left and walk past the boathouses; you’ll soon reach the “entrance” to the “Urwaldweg.” From here on, the trail winds its way past mighty alders, willows, and maple trees. You’ll encounter numerous giant trees—some fallen, others twisted into bizarre shapes—that impressively illustrate the eternal cycle of growth and decay. Magnificent views of Lake Ellbogen alternate with shady, sometimes even gloomy sections of the riparian forest. The trail now leads through a sparse forest of Canadian maples. It continues along the shore of Lake Ellbogen until you reach the “Langer Ort” rest area. There, you should definitely take a break and enjoy the view over the “Langer Ort” peninsula. With a little luck, you might also spot ospreys or sea eagles, as well as black or red kites, circling in the sky. The trail continues to the “Dicke Kiefer,” a mighty tree approximately 150 years old. Now the trail turns left, winding gently over rolling hills through meadows and fields back to the starting point. After the hike, the harbor restaurant in the Priepert marina invites you to linger with delicious dishes from national and international cuisines and a stunning view of Lake Ellbogen. In the village itself, the Priepert village church—a half-timbered building dating from 1719—awaits visitors. The layout of the church grounds and the church’s architecture itself show Central German influences. The floor plan is roughly square with a semi-dodecagonal choir attached. The altarpiece and the angel leaning protectively over the baptismal font are definitely worth seeing. A lovingly furnished local history room tells stories from days long past.

An MVVG bus stop is located right in Priepert, at the starting and ending point of the tour (schedules available at www.mvvg-bus.de). From April through October, visitors with a valid guest card for Mirow, Wesenberg, Wustrow, or Priepert can also choose to travel to and from the tour free of charge using the ILSE on-demand bus system. (For information and reservations, visit www.ilse-bus.de or call 0395 351 76 350)