„As uns Herrgoot de Welt erschaffen ded, fung hei bi Mecklenborg an“(As God created the world, he started here in Mecklenburg) once wrote the famous German poet Fritz Reuter in the Low German dialect in his book “The prehistory of Mecklenburg”. If God really exists, then he truly took a lot of trouble to create such beauty. Sprinkled symmetrical rows of trees, alleys with ancient, gnarled trees and lakes flashing in the small valleys dominate the landscape. Also typical for this region is the vastness of the straw-yellow fields and the flowering meadows. Suddenly a bricked Gothic church tower stands out from the villages, and over and over again discreet signs are pointing to castles and manors, which are lying on both sides of roads hidden in parks.

A beautiful view of the so called Mecklenburg Switzerland, which is named after its rolling hills, is what visitors can get from the park of the manor of Burg Schlitz in Hohen Demzin. The property was completed in 1824 and is one of the most important buildings of the classicism epoch.  From 1994 to 1999 it was extensively restored and converted into a luxurious castle hotel. The lovingly managed house by Maja and Thomas Kilgore is a perfect place to relax in a palatial atmosphere of an ancient life, for example at one of the legendary horse hunts or in the 300 square meters Spa.

15 driving minutes away the Castle Ulrichshusen can be seen over the fields. The Renaissance complex, which is still about 300 years older than the Burg Schlitz, was built by the nobleman Ulrich von Maltzahn in 1526. The ruins of a moated castle were restored from 1993 to 2000 by the descendants of the builder, Alla and Helmuth von Maltzahn, with the help of the whole village. A place of art it should be, this cultural treasure in the beautiful location between the deep forests and quiet lakes. In fact, the fans of the Festspiele Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, an annual classical music event, come here since 15 years now. The massive old barn was converted into one of the largest concert halls of the North. Here, already Yehudi Menuhin and Anne-Sophie Mutter performed in front of this scenery. Above all, young, promising artists and orchestras from all over the world come here because of the magical atmosphere of this castle on the fascinating lake. Just as well the guests do. During the breaks the audience, wearing elegant summer wardrobes, is smiling happily while sitting on wooden benches in the park, drinking a glass of champagne and eating grilled vegetables.
Even the nearby castle Schloss Schorssow lends itself to classic weddings and other family gatherings in an elegant setting. Already in the 14th century, mentioned as a nobleman’s seat, the family Moltke acquired the castle in1610 and rebuild it from 1808 to 1812 under inclusion of the Baroque predecessor’s house. The majestic castle is surrounded by the house lake and an English park, which gives the palace a unique and idyllic atmosphere.
But how could this idyll be preserved over the centuries? The answer comes right away: In Mecklenburg lives a very special kind of men. The inhabitants are said to be particularly slow and reluctant to change. But maybe this is exactly what keeps the originality of this place over the years. Because of this the beauty of the sparsely populated country could be preserved until today.
The traditional small town Waren, which is a good starting point for a castle tour, is now restored to its former glory. It was founded in 1296 on the north shore of Lake Müritz, which is with 117 square kilometres the largest lake in Europe. Above the town looms the imposing St. George Church, first mentioned in 1273 and renovated in 1867 in the Gothic Revival style, with a beautiful organ built by Lütkemüller in 1856. Only a short walk away from this meditative place the pedestrian zone lined with gabled half-timbered houses can be reached easily. During high seasons the market place is a popular place for tourists who want to try the excellent coffee and cooling ice cream. At the marina almost a kind of Mediterranean flair comes up on warm summer evenings when sailors spent the remains of the day on their charming boats. Nature lovers definitely should visit the newly opened Müritzeum. This museum dedicated to the lake gives a comprehensive insight into the flora and fauna of the region.
If you prefer to play golf or go swimming you have to visit the resort Land Fleesensee with its own Resort Schloss Fleesensee, an adjacent 18-hole golf course and a nice lake. Between the Fleesen and the Plauer Lake lies the picturesque island town of Malchow. The best view offers the terrace of the “Rose domicile”. A cake from the well-known bakery Vollbrecht is delicious and also available in the in-house bakery. Vis-à-vis the typical red brick monastery of Malchow is situated on the eastern shore of the lake.  When sailing ships pass by, the sun tans the skin and the afternoon promises a pleasant evening, we can only agree with a man who wrote in the visitors’ book: “It is believed to be a paradise.”