Hanshagen
2 Attractions
Hanshagen Village Church
● Hanshagen
The Gothic church building in Hanshagen dates back to the 13th century. Construction of the Gothic church began in the 15th century. The oldest parts of the church date back to the 13th century. The stone altar is also medieval. Inside the church, the fresco of St. Michael is worth seeing. The tower was built at the end of the 19th century.
Hanshagen Watermill Association, Inc.
● Hanshagen
The Hanshagen Watermill, a listed historic building, is now a fully operational technical museum. Discover its eventful 500-year history. Experience it as a working grain mill—from the mill pond to the grinding mechanism—and as a paper mill through its architecture, as well as through text, images, and models. Water wheels, powered solely by flowing water, formed the basis of the world’s first complex machines: mills. Their basic design, in use since 200 B.C., ushered in the cultural and historical transition from artisanal to industrial production. The Hanshagen Watermill was built in 1524 as a monastic grain mill. Following the Reformation, it passed into ducal ownership in 1535. After the Thirty Years’ War and by Swedish decree, it became the property of the University of Greifswald in 1654. In 1750, the university converted it into a paper mill using rags. Rising demand for paper necessitated a new building adjacent to the old mill in 1800. However, the invention of wood-pulped cellulose made traditional paper production unprofitable, which is why the facility was converted back into a grain mill in 1855. Sold by the university in 1920, it remained in operation until it suffered extensive damage in 1952. Afterward, despite its status as a protected historic building, it fell into disrepair to the point where it had to be closed by the building authorities. Following the mill’s acquisition in 2010 and a complex, meticulous restoration by Schilling Invest GmbH & Co.KG, it was opened as a technical museum on German Mill Day 2012. To provide volunteer support for the maintenance of the property and to assist those interested in the mill, the "Verein Wassermühle Hanshagen e.V." was founded in 2021. Open regularly for video-guided tours and personal guided tours, visitors can observe the fascinating mill technology in operation and gain an understanding of the highly developed craft of milling and its significance for human development.