Ankershagen
2 Attractions
Ankershagen village church
● Ankershagen
Located directly on the Berlin-Copenhagen long-distance cycle path, Ankershagen Church invites you on a short journey through time and space. One of the oldest village churches in Mecklenburg, full of fascinating paintings, medieval art and a peaceful atmosphere. Ideal for a break - to discover, pause and move on. Welcome to the Ankershagen church The church of Ankershagen - one of the oldest village churches in Mecklenburg - awaits you in the middle of the idyllic Mecklenburg Lake District. It was consecrated back in 1266 - and to this day it exudes a special calm and history that you can sense as soon as you enter. The church, built from fieldstone and with a half-timbered tower added later, is a two-aisled hall church with impressive neo-Gothic furnishings. The oldest part, the choir, even dates back to the early 13th century. Be fascinated by the unusual ceiling paintings - their depictions are unique, and an accompanying exhibition invites you to discover their possible meanings. On the east wall you will find impressive frescoes from the 15th century - including the St. George fresco with St. George fighting the dragon. There is also plenty to discover inside: a wooden baptismal font from the 17th century, an expressive crucifix corpus from the 15th century and an altarpiece with the biblical scene of the resurrection of Lazarus. Music lovers will be delighted by the Lütkemüller organ - a valuable instrument from 1874 that is regularly played at church services and concerts. The Ankershagen church is not only a place of history, but also a place of tranquillity - it is a certified cycle path church and is located directly on the Berlin-Copenhagen long-distance cycle path. Whether you are looking for a short break, want to stop for some peace and quiet or simply want to be inspired - you are welcome here. There is a small reading room, a rest area and lots of information about the region.
Havel spring
● Ankershagen
The Havel spring was erected south of the Mühlensee in 2007 and symbolizes the beginning of the Havel as a 334 km long river through north-eastern Germany. The most important towns and municipalities along the course of the Havel are depicted with coats of arms. The source of the Havel is difficult to find, as sufficient water has to accumulate in its extensive source area before the Havel "springs". As the Havel source area has very little precipitation, averaging 580 mm per year, water from the large area from Freidorf to Kratzeburg is needed until a constant outflow occurs. Human intervention in this area since the Middle Ages has changed the origin of the Havel - and therefore the watershed between the North Sea and the Baltic Sea - several times. The most significant measure was the breakthrough at Mühlensee, 3 km to the north, which was probably carried out in the 16th century. Since then, the water from the Bornsee, Trinnensee and Mühlensee has flowed towards Ankershagen to operate a water mill there. As a result, the outflow to the south dried up, so that Lake Dambeck was considered the source of the Havel for a long time. Melioration work in the 19th and 20th centuries moved the spring area northwards again towards Diekenbruch. This moor has been restored to its natural state since 2004. The dam between Mühlensee and Diekenbruch, along which the path from Ankershagen to Ulrichshof runs, is the watershed between the North Sea and the Baltic Sea. The Havel spring, built here in 2007, is now a popular excursion destination.