The best traffic-free bike rides around Gützkow

Imposing church building in Gützkow More information: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikolaikirche_(G%C3%BCtzkow)

Opposite there is a very nicely designed cemetery.

St. Mary's Church was consecrated on May 22, 1910 after only one year of construction. Its construction was made possible by donations from predominantly Polish Catholics. There were very few Catholic citizens in and around Gützkow. From spring to late autumn, however, around 1,500 Catholic seasonal workers, the so-called reapers, worked on the estates in the area. From around 1907, they used the restaurant on the lake (Anners) for their services. At the request of the Polish reapers, the Catholic church council in Greifswald negotiated with the seasonal workers and in 1908 and 1909 a collection was held for the construction of the church, which was also supported financially by the diocese and the Bonifatius Association. The architect Josef Tietz from Greifswald, who came from Bohemia, drew up the design and cost estimates. The ministerial approval for the construction was given on May 5th, 1909, the church approval on August 11th, 1909, and construction could begin. The building was built in the neo-Gothic style from red clinker bricks with plastered panels. A small stair tower was added on the northwest side, which serves as a staircase to the organ gallery. A bell tower is attached to the west gable. After 1945 there were no more seasonal workers, but the refugees from the Sudetenland and Upper Silesia had brought over 400 Catholics to Gützkow and over 1000 to the surrounding area. This made the community very stable. The large community made it necessary to build a rectory with an apartment for the priest. This building was the first building in Gützkow after the Second World War to be inaugurated on July 19th, 1951. In October 1994, the renovation of the church roof began, as well as the re-plastering of the window panels and then the renovation of the interior.

The Gützkow town hall was built and inaugurated in 1872 after decades of dispute. The previous building was built in 1650 as a half-timbered building, survived the town fire reasonably well, but according to the magistrate's reports by 1850 it was so dilapidated that parts of the building were already closed off. Preparations for a new building had been underway since 1861, and special taxes were levied on craftsmen and tradespeople in Gützkow, but there was still not enough money for a long time. This was also the reason why the citizens (town council) prevented the decision to build it until 1871. Before the new building could be built, which was then virtually forced by the government in Stralsund, the old town hall and the fire station next to it had to be demolished due to a lack of building sites.

The Gützkow Church is one of the oldest churches in Pomerania. The building elements date from between 1200 and 1883. Many of the historical details and constructions are outstanding and worth seeing.

Little-used road near the Berlin - Stralsund railway line. Groß Kiesow has a stopping point.

Nicely quiet connecting road between Upatel and Kölzin. Asphalt a bit rough and uneven

Quiet connecting road between Owstin and Upatel with good asphalt