Ueckermünde

The small town of Ueckermünde lies dreamily and gently embedded between the Ueckermünder Heide and the Stettiner Haff far in the east of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Many things are attractive here: above all the beautiful, seemingly untouched nature, the peace, forest, sea, heath, the splendor of sails on the shallow water, the beautiful sandy beach and of course, the people.

If you come to Ueckermünde on the lagoon coast, you are not looking for the hustle and bustle of large holiday resorts, but above all for relaxation in nature, the expanse of forests and fields and the different moods of the water.

Whether you visit the beautiful seaside resort of Ueckermünde with your whole family, as a cyclist, or as a nature lover – everyone will get their money’s worth.

In the east of the old town, on a hill, stands the castle, into which the Pomeranian Dukes once invited to glamorous state days, festivals and hunting parties. Since the end of the 18th century, it has been used as a town hall, modernized and extended in the meantime. The Haffmuseum in the castle shows exhibitions on the history of the region, whose wealth was once also created by foundries and brickworks. From the newly renovated castle tower, the view stretches far over the town and the Szczecin Lagoon with its 32 kilometers of coastline of beautiful sandy beaches and small bays. This inner coastal waters extends in the south to the Polish town of Szczecin, separated from the Baltic Sea only by the island of Usedom.

Ueckermünde, the town at the mouth of the Uecker into the lagoon, has always been characterized by shipping and fishing. Directly adjacent to the old city is the harbor with the old bulwark, with moorings for private yachts and excursion steamers. Here you can sit on the clinker wall and observe the movement of the bridge. This takes place several times a day. Or stop for a bite to eat at the Brückencafé.

A short stroll takes you to the Kulturspeicher: a listed half-timbered warehouse in a prime inner-city location that was saved from an association from decay and filled the 18th-century building with new life as a center for art, culture, crafts, and tourism. In the regional shop, local producers offer wool and leather goods, arts and crafts, jewelry and soaps, concerts, readings and cabaret take place in the hall, historical costumes are sewn in the workshop and exhibitions are held in the attic.

From the old town to the beach, there are original paths: a fairytale path with figures carved in poplar trunks and a cycle and hiking trail lined with “poetic sails” with verses on masts. At the mouth of the river Uecker, protected by a belt of trees, lies the lido with its almost one-kilometer long sandy beach and the shallow shore leading far into the Szczecin Lagoon – popular with families with children. And the Beach Hall, a listed restaurant from the 1920s, is a good place to stop for a bite to eat.

Further Highlights

Animal Park Ueckermünde

The ZOO at the Szczecin Lagoon invites you to a world trip into the animal kingdom! 400 native and exotic animals in 100 species live here in generously designed outdoor enclosures. One of the great experiences is daily show feeding, where you can learn a lot of interesting facts about the animals and their habitats. It’s definitely worth a visit. The zoo is a family-friendly facility. Several adventure playgrounds and hand carts are waiting for you. Access to the animal enclosures is barrier-free.

Nature Park and Cycle Paths

The nature park at the Szczecin Lagoon comprises Ueckermünde Heath, Haffküste, Haffwiesen, and the Uecker- Randow lowlands with inland dunes, juniper, moors, pine and beech forests. Here live for example sea eagles, cranes and otters. You can travel to the region in an environmentally friendly way on many cycle paths – and even by bicycle: Four national routes meet in Ueckermünde, including the Oder-Neisse long-distance cycle route and the Berlin-Usedom long-distance cycle route.