The best city hikes and walks in Templiner Stadtforst

The wall survived several city fires (most recently in 1735, almost the entire city) and the Thirty Years' War. From 1990, it was extensively renovated in 12 sections (completed in 2002). It is considered one of the most complete and beautiful examples of medieval North German small-town fortifications and shapes Templin's historic town center.

The city wall dates from the second half of the 13th century (partially 13th/14th century) and encloses the historic town center almost without gaps. It is approx. 1,735 meters long, an average of 6–7 meters high, and extends about 2 meters into the ground. It consists mainly of fieldstones (often finished with brick). At regular intervals of about 25–30 meters, 47 (depending on the source, up to approx. 50–55) semi-circular watchtowers are integrated. Templin is particularly characterized by the fact that most of them are designed as open, shell-shaped towers, open on the town side – a special feature that creates the impression of many towers.

The wall survived several city fires (most recently in 1735, almost the entire city) and the Thirty Years' War. From 1990 onwards, it was extensively renovated in 12 sections (completed in 2002). It is considered one of the most complete and beautiful examples of medieval North German small-town fortifications and shapes the historic town center of Templin.

On August 24, 1735, Templin burned down almost completely. Essentially, only the city wall, the St. George's Chapel, the sacristy of the St. Mary Magdalene Church, a small gatekeeper's house, and the brick cellars survived. The three large Gothic city gates (Prenzlauer Tor, Berliner Tor, and Mühlentor/Lychener Tor) were preserved in their core structures but were damaged. The Wassertor was built as a so-called water gate to facilitate access to water (presumably to the nearby town lake or surrounding waters), thereby improving and accelerating the water supply for firefighting in the event of future fires. Therefore, it is not a medieval defensive gate, but a practical breach in the wall from the time of reconstruction.

very interesting. You can walk along the wall on both sides. The tower is also a good landmark.

An entirely preserved medieval city wall is even something unusual in Germany. Templin therefore clearly stands out, but even more so because of the beautiful lakes nearby. The wall itself is not that impressive, and as a cyclist, you need to know that everywhere along it, bad cobblestones severely limit the enjoyment, and cycling is actually even completely forbidden.

By bike or as a hiker, I have passed them many times.

The Owl Tower, part of the fully preserved Templin city wall, built or rebuilt in the 14th century, strangely has a door high up at a height of 6 meters. From there, prisoners were lowered and forced to eke out their existence in the narrow, windowless room – absolutely gruesome! But the structure also had other functions. It served, of course, as a place of observation and also as a defense against attacks.