The "Mecklenburg Switzerland" nature reserve is situated on both sides of Lake Malchin and Lake Kummerow in the north-east of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Glaciers and meltwater from the last ice age formed a landscape here that has a touch of Switzerland about it with its lush green hills and idyllic lakes. If you are interested in how geology was shaped by the last ice age, you'll find plenty of examples here. A whole host of breathtaking sights await you behind every hill and around every bend. A fascinating blend of bright yellow rape fields interspersed with lush green meadows and deep blue lakes surrounded by shady forests. The fields are full of poppies and cornflowers, and the roads are lined with gnarled fruit trees and giant chestnut trees. In the villages - where the brick barns are often larger than the churches - you'll discover a long-lost world.
In addition to the charming scenery, there's also a wealth of cultural attractions to visit. Inbetween the sparkling lakes and wooded hills, there are a number of manor houses and palaces with ancient gardens and parks, as well as an incredible variety of cultural monuments, art treasures, museums and galleries. Visitors are always captivated by the thousand-year-old oak tree in Ivenack, probably the oldest and broadest in the whole of Europe. Here, you can also go in search of local artists such as Ernst Barlach or Fritz Reuter. Or you can take a refreshing dip in one of the many smaller lakes. And don't forget the fish-filled rivers such as the Warnow, Nebel, Trebel and Peene (referred to by those in the know as the Amazon of the North), which connect the lakes to each other.
Mystical moors lie at the heart of the "Mecklenburg Switzerland" nature reserve alongside Lake Kummerow, which looks like an alluring magical mirror. Just like its big brother, Lake Malchin is also lined with fluttering reeds, wet meadows and ancient forests. Lake Teterow is much smaller, but is full of good-sized pike.
The "Mecklenburg Ice-Age Geopark" is a whole world to discover in itself. With its wetland areas, moors and extensive forests and waterways, the park provides a habitat for numerous species of animal and plant. The Geopark is in the south-east of the region. Covering an area of 4,880 square kilometres, the landscape has been shaped over the last 25,000 years. No matter how long you walk, how far you cycle or ride, how quickly you row or how far you swim, you will always find yourself surrounded by magnificent countryside.