Grenzhus Schlagsdorf
Museum on the inner-German border between the Baltic Sea and the Elbe in Schlagsdorf, with a permanent exhibition and reconstructed border installations outdoors.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Grenzhus in Schlagsdorf in the district of Nordwestmecklenburg opened as a museum in 1999 and sees itself as an information centre on the inner-German border. It is located a few kilometres from the former border line at Mechower See and is the largest museum institution on this subject in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. It also serves as the northern information centre in the Elbe-Schaalsee biosphere reserve.
Because the GDR border fortifications were dismantled almost everywhere in the early 1990s, the idea arose of rebuilding a border section from original parts. For this purpose the outdoor area opened in 2001 in a disused gravel pit about 500 metres from the museum, with a signal and barrier fence, an observation tower and other barrier elements. In 2024 and 2025 it was fundamentally redesigned, gained low-barrier access, a new signage system and an “Open Archive” in which larger objects are visibly stored; the inauguration took place in March 2026.
Since 2013 the house has been run by the association Politische Memoriale Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. In 2017/18 a new permanent exhibition was created with funding from the EU, the federal government, the state and the district; in five thematic rooms it deals with the border regime, everyday life in the border area, escapes, nature and the opening of the border, always keeping the regional connection between the Baltic Sea and the Elbe at its centre. An education forum offers guided tours, study days, seminars and cycling and hiking tours along the Green Belt.
Key themes
- Permanent exhibition “Eingrenzen und Ausgrenzen” on the border between the Baltic Sea and the Elbe
- Outdoor area with reconstructed GDR border fortifications made from original parts
- Observation tower and border signal fence
- Open Archive with large original objects
- Film collage with interviews of 17 people on the subject of the border and escape
- Border trail at Mechower See in the Green Belt
Permanent exhibitions
- Eingrenzen und Ausgrenzen. Die Geschichte der innerdeutschen Grenze zwischen Ostsee und Elbe – Exhibition shown since 2018 in five thematic rooms on the border regime, everyday life, escapes, nature and the opening of the border, linked by a chronicle 1945–1990 and with many media stations.
- Außengelände „Begehbare Grenzgeschichte“ – Section of the GDR border fortifications rebuilt from original parts in a former gravel pit, redesigned in 2024/25 with time windows from 1945 to 1989/90 and an Open Archive.
- Founded
- 1999
- Operated by
- Politische Memoriale e. V. Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
- Director
- Dr. Andreas Wagner
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €7 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €3Pupils, students and people with a severe disability card |
| Visitors with disabilities | €3 |
| Students & apprentices | €3 |
| Groups | –Guided tour per group of up to 15 people €50, for pupil and student groups €30 (plus admission). |
| Families | –Family ticket available (ask on site for the price). |
Annual pass available. Card payment possible.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible: no information
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
Since its redesign the outdoor area has low-barrier access. Dogs are allowed in the outdoor area.
Kids & families
Only partly suitable for kids
The educational programmes are aimed mainly at young people and school classes; no special programmes for families with small children are mentioned.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Schlagsdorf
On-demand bus (Rufbus) of NAHBUS from Ratzeburg station (HVV area, trains to Lübeck and Büchen/Lüneburg) to Schlagsdorf; Ratzeburg station is about 10 km away.
By car via the A 20 (exit Lüdersdorf, towards Carlow, then towards Ratzeburg and at Schlagbrügge to Schlagsdorf) or via the A 24 (exit Talkau, B 207 to Ratzeburg, B 208 towards Gadebusch, at Ziethen towards Schönberg, at Schlagbrügge to Schlagsdorf). By bike about 30 minutes from Ratzeburg station, about 1 hour from Lübeck, Herrnburg or Rehna.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café
Café Grenzstein in the Grenzhus with a garden, savoury dishes, cake and ice cream; usually open from early May to early October at weekends 12 p.m.–4 p.m. and at midday during the week (current times at cafe-grenzstein.de).
Events & venue rental
- Spaces for rent
- Private parties
Up to 40 guests.
Café Grenzstein hosts celebrations for up to 40 people in its rooms (enquiries to the café, tel. 038875 226655).
Inquiries & detailsPlan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 1.5 hrs |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Group tours (overview or thematic tour each approx. 1.5 hours, border trail at Mechower See approx. 2 hours) on request by email or phone; by arrangement also in English, French and Dutch. During the autumn holidays 2026, public overview tours on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 2.15 p.m. (free of charge, admission only). For schools and youth groups there are study days, multi-day seminars and educational trips. |
