Several times a day the swing bridge over the Peene River is set in motion, opening up the river to ship traffic. In other places swing bridges are power-operated; in Loitz, however, a guard is in charge of opening and closing the last hand-operated swing bridge in Europe.
You should not just wait to cross the bridge, but rather stay awhile in Loitz and visit the historic Old Town. Loitz is also the ideal point of departure for your canoeing tour. Paddling down the Peene Valley, you should closely observe the river banks: If you are lucky, you might discover the traces of a beaver's work.
Loitz was built near a Slavic fortress and was granted town status already in 1242. At the end of the 16th century,
the fortress was converted into a Renaissance castle. In the second half of the 17th century, the castle grounds fell
into disrepair. Its remnants were torn down entirely after a fire in 1701.
By 1815 the sovereignty over the region had changed hands more than once, subjecting Loitz to Swedish, French and
Prussian rule. Thereafter Loitz was to remain a part of Prussia until the country's dissolution.
Stadtinformation Loitz
Lange Str. 83
17121 Loitz
phone: 039998-15312
fax: 039998-15320
e-mail: verwaltung@loitz.de
Internet: www.loitz.de