Neustrelitz Between City History and Waterways

Neustrelitz combines a late Baroque planned town with cultural venues, gardens and waterway routes. If you are looking for a hotel, you can choose your destination based on whether town history, theatre and exhibitions, or activities on the water are your main focus. The differences between these themes can help you match your interests to the character of the place.

Town History in the Street Plan

Neustrelitz was founded as a late Baroque planned town in 1733. Its Baroque layout is centred on a square market square, from which an eight-pointed star of streets radiates. This means that the town’s history is reflected not only in individual buildings: the shape of the market square and the star-shaped street layout are also part of its historic character. Those interested in urban planning will find a distinct focus here alongside the cultural offerings.

Palace Gardens, Church and Summer Festival

The Neustrelitz Palace Gardens are a landscaped garden with romantic paths, sculptures and fountains. The combination of paths and designed features makes the garden a different focus for a visit than exhibitions or stage performances.

Neustrelitz Palace Church is one of the most significant architectural monuments of the former Duchy of Mecklenburg-Strelitz and an important cultural venue in the city today. It is open from May to October and provides space for exhibitions, concerts and readings. If you are planning a visit during this period, check the opening information before travelling.

Every summer, the palace gardens host festivals featuring lavish operettas against the backdrop of the Palace Church, attracting thousands of visitors. The festivals are a distinct seasonal attraction; check the specific dates and programme before travelling. This makes it possible to consider a visit to the church and a potential festival date as separate cultural offerings.

Museum and Theatre

The permanent exhibition at the museum in Neustrelitz presents 300 years of the history of the state of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. Exhibition content may change; if you are interested in a particular subject, check the current presentation. The Neustrelitz State Theatre has music theatre and drama departments and traces its origins to the court theatre founded by the Dukes of Strelitz in the mid-18th century. For a specific performance, it is worth checking the current programme.

Walk and Viewpoint

Neustrelitz Zoo offers a 2.7-kilometre walking route past 45 enclosures. Here, the focus is on a clearly defined route and the enclosures, whereas a theatre visit depends on the programme and performance date. The 45-metre-high viewing platform in the tower of the town church offers a magnificent view. As access conditions may vary seasonally, check them before your visit.

Cycling and Water Routes

Neustrelitz is easily accessible via designated long-distance cycling routes and waterway routes. From Neustrelitz City Harbour, waterway travellers can explore the Müritz National Park and the Strelitz Small Lakes region via the Upper Havel Waterway. Navigation conditions may vary; check the latest conditions before planning a trip. This gives you the option of focusing your travel plans not only on town history and culture, but also on water and cycling routes.

Nature in the Wider Mecklenburg Lake District Destination

The wider Mecklenburg Lake District destination includes Müritz National Park. Forests, marshes, lakes and expansive meadows define its landscape. The Müritz National Park hiking trail explores the park’s landscape types and special features in nine stages: it passes lakes, runs through ancient forests, goes past inland dunes and leads to the source of the Havel. Certified nature and landscape guides offer informative tours through the national park, including tours in the UNESCO World Heritage beech forest of Serrahn and trips from the water. This lets you distinguish between a hiking trail described in stages and guided nature tours.

Another nature attraction in the wider Mecklenburg Lake District destination is the Damerower Werder bison reserve. It is located on a peninsula in Lake Kölpin and within Nossentiner/Schwinzer Heath Nature Park. Visitors can observe the animals there. The forest adventure trail includes climbing opportunities, an anthill house, an exhibition with touch-and-see panels, and a dendrophone.

Discover more destinations: Fürstensee, Friedland Office, Woldegk Office, Demmin-Land Office, Penzliner Land Office, Stargarder Land Office, Demmin, Feldberg Lake District

Back to the overview of the wider destination: Mecklenburg Lake District.