Dorfkirche Gägelow

Dorfkirche Gägelow is an early medieval fieldstone church located in the village of Gägelow near Sternberg. The building features brick elements and a distinctive blind gable integrated into its fieldstone construction.

The oldest preserved part of the church is the wooden choir seating dating to 1247, making it the oldest of its kind in Germany. In the 19th century, the interior received new wall paintings that updated the decoration.

The name comes from the Slavic word 'gag', meaning marsh, and reflects where the village originally stood. Visitors notice today the colorful decorations inside, which are so well-known locally that people use a saying about them when describing something especially bright and lively.

The church is now part of a merged parish with Dabel, serving multiple villages in the surrounding area. Visitors can usually access the interior during service times or by contacting the local parish office.

The altar area contains wall paintings from 1857 by artist Theodor Fischer depicting sacred figures like Saint Christopher, John the Baptist, and Moses. These works are noteworthy because they represent rare examples of artistic painting from this period in rural churches of the region.

Location: Sternberg

GPS coordinates: 53.68556,11.89541

Latest update: December 14, 2025 13:00