Teterow is a market town in the lake country of Mecklenburg, with a population of just over nine thousand, and it comes with a curiosity that every motorcyclist ought to know: the Bergring. This old natural-terrain track just outside the town has hosted motorcycle races since the early 1930s, and its steep, bowl-shaped hillside, with the crowd packed on the slopes, makes it a place of real atmosphere. Speedway and grass-track meetings are still held there, and the Teterow race weekends draw riders from across the region.
The town itself is an old one, with medieval gates still standing, the Rostock and Malchin gates, and a long market square lined with low brick and timber buildings. Teterow sits beside a lake, the Teterower See, which is a pleasant spot for a rest, with a lakeside path and a small bathing place in summer. It's a town you pass through, not a destination, but the market square is a decent place to get some fuel, buy a roll and watch the locals.
The landscape around is called Mecklenburg Switzerland, a humorous name for rolling, glacial hills, lakes and beech woods, a long way from the Alps but pleasant to ride. The roads are quiet, with long curves through avenues of old trees and low rises over the moraines, and the traffic is light, with only the occasional tractor. Surfaces vary, from smooth tarmac to patched and cobbled village streets, and you should be ready for the odd bumpy stretch.
For fuel, Teterow has stations on the main roads, which is why it is a natural stop, and Pampow and Groß Wokern are smaller villages without much beyond a bakery. The wind sweeps across the open farmland, and in autumn the cranes gather on the fields, a wonderful sight and sound. Try to time your visit to one of the quieter days, and you will have the place to yourself. Keep an eye on the clock, because daylight goes quickly in winter.