Altkalen is a municipality in the Rostock district, in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany.

Kalen was first mentioned in a document from 1174.

The name "Kalen" is of Slavic origin and means "marsh" or "morass".

After 1236, Kalen was expanded as a city with a strong fortification.

This Rostock district location article is a stub.