Alt Meteln: Village Church, Churchyard and Hill Country

Alt Meteln can be understood through its historic village center, village church and gently rolling landscape near Schwerin. If you are looking for a hotel in Alt Meteln, these themes can help shape your stay: Are you interested in the historic center, in art and community life, or in the landscape? The following information introduces local features and selected events with specific dates.

Village Church and Churchyard

The village church of Alt Meteln was built in the second half of the 13th century. A Gothic brick building, it stands in the southern part of the area enclosed by Ringstraße and within the old cemetery. It is by far the oldest building in the village. The churchyard wall, which is partly well preserved, and the bell tower, which stands outside the church, also contribute to the village’s appearance.

Inside, wooden pews, the pulpit and the gallery define the space; there is also an altar screen in the Neo-Gothic style. The distinction between the architectural styles offers a clear point of reference: the church building is Gothic, while the altar screen is Neo-Gothic. The bell tower is also a separate element of the site and not part of the church building.

On the west side of the churchyard, in front of the wooden bell tower, there is a small memorial to the soldiers who fell in the First World War. An additional plaque commemorates those who fell in the Second World War. The church, churchyard and memorial thus bring together different aspects of local history, without confusing the memorial with the church’s interior furnishings.

Village Center and Landscape

Alt Meteln renovated its old village center in the 1990s and 2000s, thereby preserving much of its rural character. The landscape is described as gently rolling hill country near Schwerin, beneath a wide-open sky. The village’s character thus combines a built-up focal point around the church with a broader landscape setting.

Northwest Mecklenburg as a Regional Setting

The wider travel destination of Northwest Mecklenburg includes the “Northwest Mecklenburg Hill Country with Wismar Bay” in the north, while the “West Mecklenburg Lake District with Lake Schwerin” lies to the south. Northwest Mecklenburg’s landscape also includes terminal moraine ridges, gently undulating ground moraine plateaus, steep and gently sloping coastal sections, meltwater and drainage channels, and outwash plains. This description applies to the district as a whole; Alt Meteln’s local landscape is characterized by the gently rolling hill country near Schwerin.

Culture, Community Life and Art

The Alt Meteln Local History Association holds a games evening at the local history room on the first Wednesday of every month. If you would like to attend, check in advance whether participation is possible. Alt Meteln Library is located at Ringstraße 2, in the community center. Its listed opening hours are Tuesday and Thursday from 4 to 7 p.m. and Wednesday from 3 to 5 p.m.; check the hours before your visit.

The KunstOffen Guide 2026 lists Ursula Bahr’s painting and graphic art studio in Alt Meteln. Works on paper and canvas in a variety of techniques are shown there; some techniques are explained at the printing press. If you plan to visit, check in advance whether visits are possible.

Selected Festivals and Church Events

The 9th Alt Meteln Pumpkin Festival took place on September 3, 2024. Another dated event was the radio church service on Sunday, July 12, 2026: it was broadcast live from the village church under the motto “Traveling with God.” NDR Info, WDR 5 and rbb’s Radio 3 carried the broadcast. These two dates offer specific insights into festivals and church events in Alt Meteln.

Discover more destinations: Pokrent, Gottesgabe, Pingelshagen, Klein Trebbow, Zickhusen, Schildetal, Cramonshagen, Grambow.

For the wider travel overview: Lützow-Lübstorf District.