Picnic in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

It doesn’t get more romantic than this! If you want to spend a few pleasant hours in a castle park and also enjoy some culinary delights, Ludwigslust Castle is the ideal place. After all, it's easy to find a secluded, idyllic spot to celebrate a picnic for two on an area of 120 hectares. Incidentally, the term picnic has its origins in the French language and is made up of the words "to steal" and "little thing". We translate this very freely and combine it with a suggestion: with this wonderful view of Ludwigslust Palace, take some delicacies from a basket of culinary delights and enjoy the moment. That shouldn't be a problem at this venue in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern: The park dates back to a baroque garden that Christian Ludwig II laid out around his hunting lodge between 1731 and 1735. Towards the end of the 18th century, this park was extended once again by master builder Johann Joachim Busch.

Tea time with alpacas! Sounds crazy? It is – and cute to boot. The 35 alpacas – related to llamas, but a touch cuddlier – from the Birkenkamp farm all have their own character. Four-year-old Addison, for example, is a reserved contemporary who needs some time to thaw out. Anakin, on the other hand, who is a year younger, is a courageous representative of his kind: curious and open-minded, he approaches people and likes to cuddle with them. But this is basically true of all the animals that live on the farm in Bresegard: they join the guests having their tea on the meadows of Hof Birkenkamp without much prompting. This is because the animals are curious and poke their fluffy noses in wherever they suspect something interesting or, in case of doubt, edible.

But even the smaller guests are not frightened by the gentle four-legged friends, on the contrary. And so, in the end, everyone involved enjoys this very special form of picnic in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern: While big and small humans eat cucumber sandwiches or scones with clotted cream in fine English style, the alpacas put their heads together and look curiously to see how the two-legged friends like it. But don't worry: they just want to look, they don't do anything and, above all, they don't eat anything. At least not without being asked.

It is wonderful to cruise along the Müritz-Elde waterway on vacation. With many idyllic canals, it connects the large lakes of the Mecklenburg Lake District and the Elde with the Elbe over a length of 120 kilometers. Leisure captains and their crews can look forward not only to picturesque towns, wide meadows, green forests and wet meadows, but also to a host of inns and restaurants near the water where they can stop off and treat themselves to regional delicacies. Who wants to stand in the galley themselves day in, day out? But because it tastes best on board, some of these restaurants bring a „float in“picnic directly to the jetty. The Papillon Feinkost & Bistro in Parchim, for example, delivers selected delicacies. In Plau am See, the „Cafe Glücksmoment“ with its slogan: Glück zum Mitnehmen! brings its basket right to the boat. At „Zur Schleuse“ in Matzlow-Garwitz, on the other hand, you pick up your picnic basket to go yourself. Don't forget: The picnic baskets are freshly prepared and are therefore best ordered the day before.

How about a change of perspective? Schwerin Castle, for example, offers a particularly attractive view from the water. Because then you can clearly see the garden that was laid out around the castle, which was built in the historicist style. There is also the magnificent orangery, the grotto in the style of a medieval castle ruin and the charming colonnaded courtyard. So what can you do to enjoy all this? The best way is to hire a pedalo, SUP or houseboat and head for the castle island. To make sure that you don't miss out on the culinary delights, you can fill up your picnic basket to your heart's content in Schwerin city center, just a stone's throw from the houseboat rental point.

All of life is a quiz, so here's a quick question: What is the heraldic animal of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern? A little hint: there are two animals in the state coat of arms. One roams through meadows and forests in the middle of the Elbe River Landscape Biosphere Reserve in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. That's right, the aurochs. There is hardly any other place in Germany where this species, which was thought to be almost extinct, can be observed as freely as here. 200 of the long-horned aurochs live on a 180-hectare meadow area belonging to the Vielanker brewery and remain outdoors in summer and winter. They live together completely independently without any feeding. If you want to observe these wonderful animals up close, you can do so on a safari in a minibus. This tour also offers plenty of culinary delights, as you can sample ham and salami made from the meat of the shaggy ruminants as well as other delicacies along the way. Aurochs are said to taste aromatic and mineral. Quite simply original. Which leaves only one question unanswered: What is the second heraldic animal of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern? Well? Exactly: the griffin.