20th Kratzeburg Bat Night

Müritz National Park on your doorstep

Kratzeburg is located on the southwestern edge of Müritz National Park in the Mecklenburg Lake District. The National Park is one of Germany's largest protected areas and is home to many bat species – which explains the name of the »Flatterhus« in Kratzeburg: one of the external locations of the National Park Information Centre with a focus on nocturnal animals.

Family festival with animals at its heart

The Bat Night is designed as a family event. From the late afternoon onwards, activity stations around the Flatterhus open: Children can build their own bat boxes with guidance, learn from models how to design gardens to be bat-friendly, paint bat faces, and craft souvenirs. National Park researchers answer questions – from echolocation systems and migration to the effects of light pollution.

Excursions into the dark

The guided night excursions, starting at 8:30 PM, are the highlight. With bat detectors and a moth light trap, participants venture into the habitats around the village. Accompanied by National Park rangers, attendees can experience bats up close – a rare natural encounter in the protected area.

Campfire and Stockbrot

A campfire burns around the Flatterhus, where Stockbrot (bread on a stick) is baked. The Kratzeburg Volunteer Fire Brigade provides drinks and small snacks. Admission is free; donations are welcome and go directly towards the National Park's educational work.

20th Edition in 2026

In 2026, the Bat Night celebrates its 20th edition – a remarkable anniversary for a volunteer-run nature event. The event is officially listed in the event calendar on auf-nach-mv.de and via mueritz-nationalpark.de.