Gartz (Oder): Walking Tour, Culture and Cycling Route

Discover Gartz (Oder) through its local history, historic buildings and seasonal cultural events. An available walking tour traces the town’s development from its Slavic beginnings through its heyday in the Middle Ages and the Brandenburg-Prussian period to its present-day status as a border town. A folding town map and QR codes on the information boards at the sights help you find your way on the tour. This lets you include both an overview of the town’s history and individual places in your travel plans.

Local History and Buildings

The Stettin Gate was built of fieldstones in the 13th century; it is the only one of Gartz (Oder)’s four gates to have survived. Construction of St. Stephen’s Church also dates back to the 13th century. The gate is therefore a surviving building, while the reference to the church indicates when its construction began. The Agricultural Citizens’ Museum extends the historical perspective to life in this farming town in the 18th and 19th centuries. It is housed in the former gatekeeper’s house and the adjoining half-timbered house at the Stettin Gate. Call to find out the museum’s current opening hours before planning a visit.

Cultural Venues and Events

Today, the local history society uses the Heilig-Geist-Hospital (Spittel) for exhibitions and concerts. The Kanonenschuppen has a different historical significance: following extensive restoration work, it was handed over in 1995 as a public cultural venue for the town and its visitors. In the summer months, concerts and outdoor events are held at St. Stephen’s Church. The cultural programme thus includes both the hospital’s current use and seasonal events at the church; the Kanonenschuppen’s handover in 1995 is a historical point of reference.

Seasonal Events and Cycling Route

The Crane Days are held every year in Gartz (Oder) and Mescherin in late September and/or early October, with a programme centred on cranes. Together with the summer open-air events at St. Stephen’s Church, they mark different times of year. If you are planning your trip around an event, check the specific dates and programmes in advance. The Oder–Neiße Cycle Route passes through Gartz (Oder) and Mescherin on its way towards the Baltic Sea. This is a practical option for visitors who would like to include cycling in their trip.

The Uckermark as a Wider Travel Region

In the wider destination of the Uckermark, the Uckermärkische Seen Nature Park offers its own focus on landscapes and outdoor activities. It lies amid the Uckermark’s abundant waters and gently rolling hills, and includes numerous clear-water lakes, kettle holes and bogs. The nature park offers more than 150 kilometres of water trails and over 600 kilometres of signposted hiking trails. The Uckermark as a whole has 1,200 kilometres of designated hiking trails. The region’s nature and hiking opportunities thus complement Gartz (Oder)’s local-history attractions within the wider destination.

Discover more destinations: Templin, Grünow, Boitzenburger Land, Prenzlau, Casekow, Schönfeld, Mescherin, Pinnow

Back to the main travel overview: Uckermark.