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Malchow
ℹ️Practical info — Malchow
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🌤 Weather — 5 days
📍 Nearby
Sights nearby
💡 Tips
- The swing bridge (Drehbrücke) opens every hour on the hour for boat traffic; a great photo opportunity.
- Visit the Malchow Monastery and climb the church tower for the best panoramic view of the island city.
- The Mecklenburg Organ Museum inside the monastery features regular demonstrations of historical organs.
- Visit the DDR Everyday Life Museum in a former cinema for a nostalgic trip through East German history.
- Take a boat trip from the harbor with the 'Weiße Flotte' to explore the Mecklenburg Lake District.
🍽 Food
Get freshly smoked eel or vendace at 'Dat Fischhus' located directly by the water.
Enjoy a slice of cake in the idyllic monastery surroundings overlooking the lake.
A traditional dish with prunes, look for it in local restaurants like 'Der Insulaner'.
🛍 Shopping · 🧘 Quiet spots
The main street on the island features small boutiques, crafts, and local products.
Look for sea buckthorn (Sanddorn) specialties and local honey from the lake district.
A peaceful garden within the monastery complex, excellent for a short quiet break.
A 5 km loop trail offering beautiful lake views and quiet spots by the water.
Located a few kilometers away, this lake features absolute silence in the deep surrounding forests.
Water temperature…
Malchow, the scenic island town located in the heart of the Mecklenburg Lake District, has a unique blend of natural beauty and history. The historic town center is situated on a small island in Lake Malchow, connected to the mainland by an earthwork dam and a remarkable historic swing bridge. This bridge opens every hour to allow boat traffic to pass, a mechanical spectacle that always gathers curious onlookers. Visitors can explore the impressive Malchow Monastery, which features a significant neo-Gothic organ and a carefully tended monastery park. For families and history enthusiasts, the GDR Museum provides an authentic glimpse into everyday life of the recent past, while the nearby monkey forest and summer toboggan run offer active entertainment. The waterfront promenade invites you to linger with its cozy cafes and restaurants, where tasting the freshly caught regional fish is highly recommended. Thanks to its idyllic waterside location, the town is also an excellent starting point for extensive canoe trips, sailing excursions, or cycling tours around Lake Plau and Lake Fleesensee. The well-preserved old town with its traditional half-timbered houses exudes a peaceful atmosphere that appeals to both relaxation seekers and active vacationers.
- Location: Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany
- Top sights: Malchow Abbey · Malchow Swing Bridge · Mecklenburg Organ Museum
- Nearby: Plau am See (11 km)
- Population: ~5.961
Best time to visit & climate
The most pleasant time to visit is Jun–Aug.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg °C | -1 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 13 | 17 | 19 | 18 | 14 | 9 | 5 | 1 |
| Rain mm | 58 | 43 | 43 | 35 | 50 | 60 | 84 | 65 | 52 | 52 | 50 | 56 |
Geography
Facts
- Founded around the year 1235
- Monastery first mentioned in 1298
- The first swing bridge was built in 1845
- Town area covers 44.71 km²
- Located on the B 192 federal highway
- Part of the 'Ice Age Route' tourist trail
Explore nearby
Notable places around
Route planner — Car & Motorhome
Where do you start? We build the route here, with stops and country notes along the way.
© OpenStreetMap contributors · OpenRouteService
Sights in the town Malchow (8)
Frequently asked questions
Why is Malchow called the 'Island Town'?
What is special about the Malchow swing bridge?
Which museums are in the monastery complex?
What can you do with children nearby?
Are there boat trip options?
Malchow: where is it located?
Malchow: what is there to see?
Malchow: when is the best time to visit?
Malchow: why is it worth visiting?
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