The Hanseatic city Wismar is situated directly on the Baltic Sea surrounded by a beautiful landscape in between Lübeck and Rostock. Today Wismar is the second biggest seaport in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern with around 50 000 inhabitants. The town was first recorded in around 1229. Throughout the town's eventful history, it experienced years of affluence and happyness yet also years of bitter hardship. Wismar was under the rule of the Swedes between 1648 and 1803.
The beauty of the town can be seen in the historical Altstadt (old town). More than 300 single monuments decorate one of the best kept town centres from the Middle Ages, which is under monumental protection.
The Wismar market square, which is about 100m x 100m in size, is one of the biggest in North Germany. The classic town hall can be found on the north side. However, the outside of the building is not the only interesting bit. The lovingly restored town hall cellar with its gothic style elements (cross ribbed vaults) now has a continuous exhibition of "pictures of the town." Restaurants, cafés and a hotel can be found on the East and West sides.
The oldest town house (1380) is situated on the East side. Its name "Alter Schwede" (old Swede) reminds people of the Swedish occupation. Today the house with the gothic brick gable is a great place to simply unwind. Former town houses can be found on the southern side of the market square. Noticeable is a pavilion type building on the Southeast side of the market square. This is where the waterworks (1602) are. This renaissance style example of architecture was used as the town's supplier of drinking water. Wooden pipes were used to get the spring water from the closely situated village of Metel to the market. If you move towards the west side, you will get to the town house (1858). The town guards were once accommodated here. Today, the Wismar information team will help you and give you tips if you need information about the Hanseatic city. Two trees, the so-called lime-tree jury, stand proud in front of the town house.
You can see the 80m high Marie church tower from the market square. The St. Marie's church ship was damaged by aerial mines in April and was demolished in 1960. Almost next to the Marie church square, you can find the so-called Fürstenhof (prince courtyard)(1553/54). It was built in the style of the Italian renaissance and today it is a court house. Eye-catching are the interesting details on the frontage. The half-plastic figures made out of terracotta and lime-stone as well as the lovely decorated portal passage are all examples of great architecture.
Just a few steps further to the West and you will stand directly in front of the amazing St.-George-church. This gothic brick church was badly damaged during the Second World War. After years of deterioration, the St.-George-church has been rebuilt with the support of the Deutschen Stiftung Denkmalsschutz (German monumental protection fund) since 1990.
The rather chastely kept Holy-Spirit-church (17th c.) can be found in the Lübschen Straße, north of the St.-George-church. The painted wooden ceiling from the year of 1687 in this gothic hall church is something special. The view of the court yard of the church ensemble is particularly beautiful.
In the summer months, concerts, theatre and ballet performances take place in the resident music school, in the idyllic garden surrounded by half-timbered buildings. The inscription on the court yards portal reminds people of the engineer academy that was once present here. It is the root of the engineer traineeships in Wismar, something that has been going for over a hundred years. From it developed the Hochschule Wismar (Wismar college), the biggest advanced training college in the county of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.
Saltwater, sea gulls and wind, the fishermen with their boats, passenger ships and traders, restaurants, cafés and hotels as well as the charming ensemble of buildings around the Lohberg all add to the fond memories of the visitors that have been there.
The water gate is one of the main attractions in the Alten Hafen (old port), as is the tree house with the two Swedish heads.
.
The central nave of the church is 37m high, which means it is one of the tallest in northern Germany. From the St.-Nicolas-church, it only takes a few steps over the Schweinsbrücke (pigs bridge) of the fresh pit until you are able to amuse yourself in the museum about the history of this Hanseatic city. Heinrich Schabbell was the founder of this museum, which can be found in a civic renaissance building (1571). That is why people often talk about the Schabbell house. Here you can also find changing thematic exhibitions.
Deutschland
