The best family-friendly hikes and walks in Blumberger Wald

Freely accessible.

Freely accessible.

The large, flat-roofed fieldstone church with a rectangular floor plan and a west tower approximately 45 meters high was built in the mid- to late 13th century and rebuilt after suffering severe damage during the Thirty Years' War. The striking tower top with its cupola, lantern, angel, and the inscription "GLORIA" was erected between 1732 and 1735 at the initiative of the church's patron, Carl Friedrich von Sydow Jr., after the nave had been structurally reinforced. Later alterations, particularly during the GDR era, affected the windows, galleries, and interior. The church has been a listed building since 1984 and, after a long period of neglect, was finally able to undergo extensive restoration between 1998 and 2001. You'll find a diamond-shaped stone at the northeast corner, though it's embedded quite high up in the structure.

The fieldstone hall with a flat roof was built in the second half of the 13th century. After partial destruction in the mid-19th century, the church was rebuilt in 1856. A three-sided choir and a brick tower were added to the eastern end. In 1936, a mortuary was added to the north side. The spire dates from the 1970s. The striking features include massive supporting pillars on the western side and a very narrow entrance. The simple interior design dates from the second half of the 19th century. The church houses a historic Grüneberg organ from 1888. The tower houses a historic bell from 1856, from the workshop of the Szczecin bell founder Carl-Friedrich Voss.

Since 1756, Blumberg Manor has been owned by the von der Osten family. In 1792, a three-winged manor house was built, and by 1849, numerous architecturally refined outbuildings had been constructed. After 1945, Blumberg became a state-owned estate (VEG); apartments, a factory kitchen, a kindergarten, a municipal office, and a restaurant were built within the manor. In 1996, the von der Osten family acquired the manor house with its courtyard and former manor park and gradually renovated the building and park. The central building of the manor house currently serves as the von der Osten family residence; the south wing, with its ballroom, can be used for events. Development plans for the remaining parts of the house and estate (equestrian center, horse boarding house, holiday apartments, art studios, and apartments) already exist, but the owners are also open to ideas from potential investors. The manor is open to visitors.

A towerless hall building with a neo-Gothic apse and a western gable made of brick. The neo-Gothic reconstruction left its mark on the church. On the south side, the original, embossed, pointed-arch granite portal remains. On the north side, there is a small iron bell tower with a bronze bell. It was founded in 1847 by the von Sydow family, donated and cast by Theodor Voss in Szczecin. The interior is covered with a flat roof. The apse windows have yellow-tinted glass. The furnishings are very simple. In the apse, there is a simple altar with a candlestick and a crucifix. The congregation sits on a neo-Gothic pew. The entire furnishings are complemented by a wooden baptismal plaque, a plaque depicting a crucified man, and a magnificent commemorative plaque to those who died in World War I on the north wall. A winter church was erected beneath the western gallery. In the gallery there is a neo-Gothic, three-part organ front and a single-handed organ, probably the work of Barnim Grüneberg from Szczecin.

Schönow Palace is a unique neo-Gothic "castle" built in the 1840s. The "castle" and its outbuildings were built in the 19th century and belonged to the von Sydow family until 1863. The "castle" was then sold to Gustav Karl Kieckebusch, a chamberlain from Schwedt an der Oder. Catherine the Great, the longest-reigning Russian leader, born in Szczecin, Poland, lived just 20 minutes from Schönow, providing a fascinating historical backdrop for the Uckermark region. Around 1892, the estate was acquired by World War I General von Lettow-Vorbeck, who held it until its expropriation in 1945. The GDR era in the Uckermark changed the living conditions of the local population and the local architecture, and many Uckermark palaces were plundered and destroyed. The few that remained were converted into schools or kindergartens. Schönow Palace was converted into a market square and apartments after the war. In 1991, a fire broke out and everything was destroyed. The castle stood empty for over 20 years, which is why locals nicknamed it "Sleeping Beauty." When Brendan Flynt bought it in 2015, he had the idea of rebuilding it back into an elegant palace. The palace still looks abandoned. The grounds are open and can be visited.

The castle park is surrounded by a high wall and is off-limits. It's a bit disappointing that you can only see the castle from one side.