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Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Travel Guide

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Waren, on Lake Müritz (© Graphic Artist - Fotolia.com)
Harbour of Waren, on Lake Müritz.

Introduction

Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania (Mecklenburg-Vorpommern in German, also used in English) is the least densely populated state in Germany, with a mere 73 inhabitants per km² (three times less than the national average). With only 1,642,000 people, it is less populous than the city of Hamburg. Mecklenburg-Vorpommern is also the poorest German state measured by gross regional product per capita at purchasing power parity.

Three of Germany's fourteen national parks are in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, in addition to several hundred nature conservation areas. The Baltic Sea and the numerous lakes contribute to making Mecklenburg-Vorpommern the number-one tourist destination within Germany, especially popular with Berliners. The state also boast two of Europe's oldest universities (Rostock and Greifswald, both founded in the 15th century), and two cities listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites (Stralsund and Wismar). Yet, the most beautiful of all is undeniably Schwerin, the state capital.

Famous people from Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania include (chronologically): the field marshal Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher, Chancellor Otto von Bismarck, the archeologist Heinrich Schliemann, and the Nobel Prize biochemist and pioneer geneticist Albrecht Kossel.

Chancellor Angela Merkel's constituency is the central northern part of the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.

Attractions

Attractions are listed geographically, from west to east (left to right) and north to south (top to bottom).

West Mecklenburg



Wismar
Wismar (© Juliane Jacobs - iStockphoto.com)
very good Strategically sited on a promontory on the Bay of Wismar, facing Poel Island, Wismar started life in the 13th century as a Hanseatic town. In 1648, at the closing of the Thirty Years' War, it became Swedish and remained it until...Read more
Schwerin
Schwerin (© schlichteasy - Fotolia.com)
must-see The gem of Northeast Germany, Schwerin is pressed on every side by a multitude of lakes. Oldest city and capital of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, it was the seat of a grand duchy, and its magnificent Neo-Renaissance ducal castle ...Read more
Ludwigslust Palace
Schloss Ludwigslust (© take - Fotolia.com)
outstanding Started as a hunting lodge in 1724, Ludwigslust was made capital of the Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin by Duke Friederich in 1765. By 1776, the new palace was completed, in an amalgam of Baroque and Neoclassical styles...Read more

Other attractions

good Grabow
good Parchim

East Mecklenburg

Rostock
Rostock (© anweber - Fotolia.com)
very good With barely 200,000 inhabitants, Rostock is the largest city in the state. Once an active trading port of the Hanseatic League, it became a major shipbuilding and shipping centre in the industrial era, and as such was a prime...Read more.
Güstrow
Güstrow (© Rüdiger Niemann - Fotolia.com)
very good Güstrow is an agreeable Brick Gothic town mostly known for its Renaissance castle, which was the home of expressionist sculptor Ernst Barlach for 28 years. The Brick Gothic cathedral was constructed between 1226 and 1335...Read more



Müritz National Park
Müritz National Park (© Martina Berg - Fotolia.com)
outstanding Müritz National Park spreads on 318 km² of forests, marshland and lakes (over 100 of them) in southeast Mecklenburg, between Berlin and Rostock. Lake Müritz, at the centre of the park, is the largest inland lake entirely within Germany...Read more
Neubrandenburg
Ramparts of Neubrandenburg
very good Located on the shores of Lake Tollensesee, Neubrandenburg has a rich medieval heritage of red-brick Gothic gabled architecture. One of its major attraction is its well-preserved medieval city wall, with its four Brick Gothic ...Read more

Western Pomerania

Western Pomerania Lagoon Area
Darßer Ort, Western Pomerania Lagoon Area National Park (© UbjsP - Fotolia.com)
outstanding The Western Pomerania Lagoon Area National Park consists of several peninsulas and islands in the Darss-Zingst Bodden Chain on the Baltic Sea. The park covers 805 km² of very shallow waters, accommodating tens of thousands...Read more
Jasmund National Park
Jasmund National Park (© Rico K. - Fotolia.com)
outstanding Located in in the northeast of Rügen, Germany's largest island, the 30 km² Jasmund National Park is the country's smallest national park. It is famous for its 118-metre-high chalk cliffs, the so called Königsstuhl...Read more
Stralsund
Stralsund (© Lotti886 - Fotolia.com)
outstanding Medieval Stralsund was the second most powerful port of Hanseatic League after Lübeck. It enjoys a unique location on an inlet of the Baltic Sea separating the island of Rügen from the mainland. The old town is almost...Read more



Greifswald
Greifswald (© Peter38 - Fotolia.com)
outstanding Greifswald is a charming Hanseatic port that was spared destruction in WWII. Established in 1456, the University of Greifswald is the fourth oldest in Germany, and one in four of the town's residents is a student. Since 2011, Russian...Read more

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