Lemgow: Rundling Villages, Churches and Cycling Tours

In Lemgow, a distinctive settlement culture, historic churches and cycling tours through the landscape come together. The municipality comprises twelve villages, many of which are still recognizable as Rundling villages. Other highlights include the Hohe Kirche, the St. Anthony’s Chapel in Schweskau and the Green Belt to the south. If you’re looking for a destination for culture, cycling or nature, these themes offer different starting points for planning your trip.

Rundling Villages and Architectural History

Many of Lemgow’s twelve villages are still recognizable as Rundling villages. This settlement form is therefore associated not just with a single village, but shapes the way several places in the municipality are seen. Together with the churches, they create a cultural focal point encompassing both village layouts and individual buildings.

The architectural history of the Hohe Kirche can be understood through two different dates: the first church building is said to have been built around 1300, while the tower dates from 1450. In Schweskau, St. Anthony’s Chapel adds to the picture of local architectural history. It is a fieldstone chapel with a Neo-Gothic tower dating from 1895. In Lemgow, different forms and periods of church architecture stand side by side.

Cycling Tours with Different Highlights

The 41-kilometer Lemgow-Arendsee Tour connects the Lemgow landscape with the Altmark region in Saxony-Anhalt. The suggested route starts in Schweskau, passes through the villages and crosses the state border into Schrampe. The Hohe Kirche, standing among the fields, marks the end of the route. When planning, note that this tour is not signposted.

Another cycling tour, around 44 kilometers long, passes through the gently rolling landscape of Lemgow to churches, artists and rare animals. The two tours can be distinguished by their stated highlights: the Lemgow-Arendsee Tour is described as crossing the state border and ending at the Hohe Kirche, while the roughly 44-kilometer tour combines cycling with the themes of churches, art and rare animals. The length and focus of each route can help you incorporate your interests into your travel plans.

Landscape and the Green Belt

In the south of Lemgow, the Green Belt runs directly along the former inner-German border. It is considered a refuge for endangered plant and animal species, including the natterjack toad. This landscape therefore offers a view of nature alongside the history of the former border. The Green Belt is a distinct highlight, separate from the Rundling villages and church buildings.

More Culture in the Lüchow-Dannenberg Destination

The wider Lüchow-Dannenberg destination offers other cultural attractions. The Wendland Rundling Museum in the Rundling village of Lübeln features a farmstead as an open-air museum. Traditional crafts are brought to life there in the pottery, smithy, bakehouse and wheelwright’s workshop.

Also in the wider Lüchow-Dannenberg destination, the Kulturelle Landpartie has been held every year since 1989 between Ascension Day and Pentecost. Artists and craftspeople open their farm gates and studios and present their work for twelve days. The exact dates vary from year to year, so check the dates before planning your trip. This lets you distinguish Lemgow’s local attractions from other cultural offerings in the Lüchow-Dannenberg destination.

Discover more destinations: Schnackenburg, Damnatz, Dannenberg, Kassau, Neu Darchau, Göhrde, Dangenstorf, Woltersdorf.

Go to the overview of the wider destination: Lüchow-Dannenberg.