{"name":"Castle on Water and Medieval Church in Mellenthin","excerpt":"The town of Mellenthin is a must-see when visiting nearby the city of Świnoujście. Surrounded by fields and forests, it lies in the central part of the island of Usedom and, as one of the few on the island, has no access to the sea, to the Szczecin Lagoon, or the lake.","content":"<p>The town of Mellenthin is a must-see when visiting nearby the city of Świnoujście. Surrounded by fields and forests, it lies in the central part of the island of Usedom and, as one of the few on the island, has no access to the sea, to the Szczecin Lagoon, or the lake. The oldest and most exciting place to visit in Mellenthin is the medieval church, which was built 1330 from stone and red brick. The choir, probably built in the fourteenth century, has a cross vault, which has survived to this day unique paintings, some of dating back to 1420. Around the church is an old cemetery surrounded by a brick wall - metal crosses have survived to this day. The first owner of the Mellenthin castle, Rüdiger von Neuenkirchen and his wife Ilsabe from Eickstädt, are buried in the church. The oldest element of the church is a millstone from the early Slavic times. It is now built into the wall at the entrance and used as a bowl with holy water. <\/p>"}