Börgerende-Rethwisch: Natural Beach and Local History

Börgerende-Rethwisch offers a variety of ways to enjoy a Baltic Sea stay: a natural beach, protected landscapes, hiking and cycling routes, and a village church with notable furnishings. If you are looking for a hotel for your trip, these highlights can help you assess the destination according to your interests. The coast and nature sit alongside local history and opportunities for outdoor activities.

Beach and Landscape

Börgerende-Rethwisch borders the Conventer Niederung nature reserve directly. The natural beach is bounded to the west by the Jemnitz sluice and to the east by the Nienhagen Ghost Forest. Its surface is not uniform throughout: wide stretches of sandy beach give way to narrower, stony areas. If you have a particular type of ground in mind when planning, it is worth bearing this change in mind. The Seestraße also runs along the edge of the nature reserve around Lake Conventer, providing another point of reference for the landscape around the town.

The Jemnitz sluice is still there today and lies near Börgerende. It was built in 1880/82, after the storm surge of November 12–15, 1872. This connects the coastal landscape with a specific historical event without requiring the sluice itself to be located in the town.

Hiking, Cycling and Activities on the Water

A popular hiking trail leads east from Börgerende along the steep coast to the Ghost Forest in the Baltic resort of Nienhagen. Two circular cycling routes are listed: one from Börgerende-Rethwisch to Nienhagen, and another from Börgerende via Bad Doberan to Heiligendamm. The destinations give the routes different directions and points of reference. Fishing is also possible in town, where you will also find a boat rental.

A 12-hole mini-golf course adds to the leisure activities in Börgerende-Rethwisch. Information about cultural events and leisure activities is available from the Börgerende-Rethwisch Baltic Resort Tourist Information Office, which also sells cycling and hiking maps. Alongside specific route destinations, this gives you some guidance for choosing activities to suit your interests.

Village Church and Local History

Rethwisch is home to the village church, a three-aisled, three-bay stepped hall and an example of North German Brick Gothic. Its furnishings include a valuable winged altarpiece: the central shrine contains a Crucifixion scene from 1530. A late Gothic triumphal cross stands against the north wall. An richly ornamented pulpit in the auricular and strapwork style was made from oak by a Rostock artist in 1666. The dates 1530 and 1666 point to different periods in which the artworks were created, making the furnishings a point of interest in their own right alongside the architecture.

One of the last watchtowers used by the GDR border guards stands on the dyke. The Börgerende-Rethwisch local history museum offers a different perspective on local history: it shares information about the community’s 700-year history, traditional local crafts and agriculture. On the adjoining outdoor grounds, visitors can view historic machinery and agricultural objects. Guided tours and additional opening times at the local history museum are available by arrangement; please confirm an appointment before you arrive.

The destination thus offers a mix of beach areas with different characteristics, a protected lowland, trails leading to named destinations, and several ways to explore local history. Whether you would rather spend your time on hiking or cycling routes, at the beach, or exploring architecture and local crafts can be decided by weighing these specific themes.

Discover more destinations: Hohenfelde, Wittenbeck, Retschow, Reddelich, Steffenshagen, Heiligendamm, Admannshagen-Bargeshagen, Nienhagen.

For the broader travel overview: Amt Bad Doberan-Land.