Discover Passee: Church, Motte and Nature

Passee brings together natural landscapes and cultural history. North and east of the village lies a complex of deciduous woodland with archaeological traces; the Church and Motte Passee ensemble offers further historical details. When planning your trip, you can therefore focus on the landscape, wildlife and architectural history separately—or explore them together.

Landscape and Nature

The deciduous woodland complex north and east of Passee contains several burial mounds and Slavic settlement sites. Archaeological traces can thus be found within a woodland setting. The area around Passee has extensive forests, moors and very hilly terrain, along with a diverse range of species. The surroundings are well suited to outdoor recreation, exploration and discovering the local fauna and flora.

Cranes and greylag geese continue to breed in the Passee area; the stork associated with Passee also continues to nest in a tree. Wildlife sightings may vary depending on the season. The wildlife adds a seasonal dimension to the landscape, but sightings cannot be guaranteed at any particular time.

Church and Motte Passee

The brick church in the Church and Motte Passee ensemble was first mentioned in 1318. Its Neo-Gothic altar is dated 1866 and was reconsecrated in 2022. The dates mark different milestones: 1866 is the date of the altar, and 2022 the date of its reconsecration. Friedrich Wilhelm Winzer of Wismar built a mechanical organ in 1859; engraved sundials are located on the south wall of the church.

The motte is a well-preserved earthwork mound with a moat and ramparts. The former freestanding bell frame no longer survives. The more recent history of the brick church includes its closure from 2008 to 2012 due to the risk of collapse. Visits to the Church and Motte Passee are only possible as part of scheduled programmes. Check the current programme before your visit.

Cultural Events

The parish organises small film festivals in Passee’s village church. Dates vary. If you would like to plan your visit around a festival, check the event dates in advance. Alongside its historic architecture and landscape, Passee also offers events, whose specific dates are worth considering when planning your trip.

Northwest Mecklenburg as a Regional Setting

Within the broader travel destination of Northwest Mecklenburg, the district includes the landscape area “Northwest Mecklenburg Hills with Wismar Bay” in the north and the “West Mecklenburg Lake District with Lake Schwerin” in the south. The landscape of Northwest Mecklenburg is characterised by terminal moraine ridges, gently undulating ground moraine plateaus, sections of steep and flat coastline, meltwater channels and outwash plains.

The 118-metre-high Lünenberg is also part of the regional setting: it is the highest elevation in Northwest Mecklenburg and is considered an interesting destination for an excursion. Gadebusch Castle in Gadebusch is another example of the district’s cultural heritage. The Renaissance castle dates from 1573 and is considered a rare example of Mecklenburg or North German Brick Renaissance; its features include reliefs in the regional Johann Albrecht style.

Discover more destinations: Warin, Züsow, Glasin, Jesendorf, Zurow, Lübberstorf, Bibow.

View the broader travel guide: Amt Neukloster-Warin.