10 reasons to love Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania

Historical setting

On Usedom, the village of Peenemünde rose to prominence during WWII, as a place where Nazi Germany tested missiles and rockets, including the V-2. Thousands of slave workers were killed while working on the weapons program, which saw the world’s first rocket launched in October 1942. The cradle of modern rocket science is today on display in the Technical Historical Museum.

10 reasons to love Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania

Summer residences

Like Usedom, the waterfront of the spa towns of Rügen is lined with hotels and villas with typical seaside resort architecture. In the 19th century, Germany’s largest island was already a popular holiday destination for the nobility. The seaside resort of Binz still shines with its houses with white facades, facades decorated with extravagant stucco and delicately carved wooden terraces.

10 reasons to love Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania

A lighthouse by the sea

Hanseatic towns like Stralsund represent a maritime tradition of navigation and trade. The old city center with its red brick churches has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2002. The white building of the Ozeaneum, the German Baltic Sea Museum, stands out for its red color. Those who like sailing leave here to reach the Baltic Sea islands of Rügen and Hiddensee.

10 reasons to love Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania

An inspiration for artists

The Fischland-Darß peninsula is a small strip of land in the Baltic Sea. About 100 years ago, artists founded a colony in the fishing village of Ahrenshoop. The open-air painting surrounded by an impressive landscape was very fashionable on the young modern art scene in Europe. On their canvases, the artists captured nature, light and their emotional reactions to it all.

10 reasons to love Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania

Land of a thousand lakes

The Mecklenburg Lake District is located just an hour’s drive south of the Baltic Sea coast. The region is home to Lake Müritz, Germany’s largest inland lake, making it a paradise for water sports enthusiasts as well as nature lovers. From the town of Waren you can take a boat or bus trip to Müritz National Park. From there, canoeists can even paddle to Berlin or Hamburg.

10 reasons to love Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania

Waterways

Müritz National Park is home to more than 700 kinds of ferns and flowering plants as well as some 800 types of butterflies and 43 species of dragonflies. This nature reserve is famous for its white tailed sea eagles and ospreys. Thousands of cranes also sleep there in spring and fall. Canoeing is the best way for visitors to experience this unspoiled nature.

10 reasons to love Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania

Manor Farms

For generations, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania served as Germany’s breadbasket. Agriculture dominates this sparsely populated landscape. As a result, there are hundreds of old farm manors, often resembling castles. In the past they belonged to the nobility of Mecklenburg, these days they often serve as very comfortable holiday homes.

10 reasons to love Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania

Horse riding holidays

The traditions of horse breeding in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania date back to the 12th century. In Bad Doberan, the first racecourse in mainland Europe was opened in 1823. Riding enthusiasts will find a choice of horse ranches to spend their vacations with their own horses or with a rental horse. From October to Easter, they are even allowed to walk on the beaches of the Baltic Sea.

10 reasons to love Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania

Schwerin Palace

In the 19th century, the Grand Dukes of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania had an impressive palace mansion built in today’s state capital, Schwerin. Since the late 1990s, the feudal building has again been a seat of government, serving as the seat of the state’s regional assembly. The picturesque location on an island makes the palace a landmark in the city.

Author: Ille Simon