Numerous rivers, clear lakes and canals with a natural course can be found in the Müritz-Elde-Waterway area. There are various different ways of discovering this countryside. The view from the river has the advantage that you can glide along in a canoe, on narrow stretches of water lined with reeds, watching animals such as herons and beavers. House-boats, which can be hired in some places, offer a comfortable alternative. It means you can take a boat trip from Schwerin to Hamburg. But not only can you swim in clear lakes; you can also listen to classical concerts in palaces, churches and monasteries, or enjoy culinary delicacies of the region, such as fish, game, fresh vegetables and fruit.

These waterways are not yet well-worn tourist-trails and still require a little pioneering spirit at times. The Müritz-Elde Waterway is perfect for a tour linking the region´s three largest lakes. This series of lakes, rivers and canals begins in Waren at the Müritz, in the Müritz national park. If you cross the Plauer See lake, the castle tower in the pretty half-timbered town of Plau am See is your landmark indicating the route towards the mouth of the Elde. You glide along this river through landscapes which have been left to nature, passing through typical Mecklenburg towns such as Parchim, whose town centre with its historic brick architecture and Gothic churches. The Müritz-Elde Waterway flows into the River Elbe near Dömitz, a town with a famous Renaissance fortress. After Parchim, do not miss the Störkanal leading to Lake Schwerin and to its pearl, the city of Schwerin itself, the capital of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. The city´s symbol is Schwerin Palace - seat of the regional government.

The river´s name is Warnow and it leads through the Warnow nature conservation area to Rostock and Warnemünde. The Hanseatic town of Rostock is Mecklenburg´s "Gateway to the World". The brick facades and the town`s gabled houses, dating from various epochs are testimony to the wealth of its medieval merchants, as are its grand churches. North Germany´s oldest university attracts a great many young people, making Rostock a dynamic centre. A top event is the "Hanse Sail", a gathering of countless sailing ships in the city´s harbour, including imposing windjammers, tall ships and museum ships. Before the Warnow flows into the Baltic, it will introduce you to another highlight, the coastal resort of Warnemünde. Exquisite gabled houses crowd together along the Alter Strom, once the Warnow estuary, and there is also an elegant promenade beside the sea, with a lighthouse and white sandy beaches whose cleanness and water quality have earned them the "European Blue Flag" award.

This is a trip on the Tollense River. As a prelude, we begin at Tollense Lake, lying on the South of Neubrandenburg. Then it is downstream for around 40 kilometres, passing otter and beavers. Neubrandenburg, the "town of the four gates", is well worth seeing, with its medieval houses built into the town walls. Another river which offers a multitude of experiences is the Uecker. Before finally flowing into the Szczecin Lagoon, the Uecker winds its way through the flat, slightly undulating Uckermark area, which then gives way to a densely wooded heath, the Ückermünder Heide heathland.

In the glacial valley of the River Peene, you will not only discover a natural moorland landscape with rare plants and animals, but also something quite remarkable. Because of the river´s very slight gradient, a strong wind from the North or East can, on occasion, reverse the current, forcing the water back where it came from. Despite this, you will make progress and in Demmin, a paradise for anglers, you will be able to admire the Lübecker Speicher, dating back to Hanseatic times. After Loritz, a side trip to Gützkow Palace is very worthwhile and in Anklam you should have a look around one of the most beautiful brick gates in northern Germany.