Districts in Mecklenburg

• Bad Doberan
• Eastern Vorpommern
• Güstrow
• Demmin
• Icker-Randow
• Ludwigslust
• Mecklenburg-Strelitz
• Müritz
• Parchim
• Rügen
• Northern Vorpommern
• Northwestern Mecklenburg

Free cities

• Wismar
• Greifswald
• Neubrandenburg
• Rostock
• Schwerin
• Stralsund

Friends

Heraldry Coat of arms

The land coat of arms depicts a black bull's head with a gold crown and a red vulture on a silver background. The bull's head has been the coat of arms of various Mecklenburg ruling dynasties since 1219. Since 1214, the vulture has been depicted on the coats of arms of the Pomeranian dukes, and later on the coat of arms of the Prussian province of Pomerania. Flag

The state flag is a combination of Mecklenburg blue-yellow-red and Pomeranian blue and white.

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

Capital: Schwerin

Population: 1,732,000 people

Population density: 79 people per 1 sq. km.

Land area: 23.170 sq. km.

Important cities: Schwerin, Rostock

Important rivers and canals: Elbe

Link to the website of the federal state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (German, English, Polish languages)

Mecklenburg is a federal state located in northeastern Germany. In the north it is washed by the Baltic Sea, in the west it borders with Schleswig-Holstein and Lower Saxony, in the south with Brandenburg, in the east with Poland.

The capital is the city of Schwerin.
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern is called the “Land of a Thousand Lakes.” A glacier passed through this land in the distant past. The largest lake, Mueritz, has an area of ​​117 square meters. km. The Baltic Sea coast and the largest island in Germany, Ruegen, with its famous chalk cliffs, are also worthy of attention. In total, there are 270 nature and landscape reserves and 3 national parks in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Grains, potatoes, and rapeseed are grown in this federal land.
Fishing also brings income. Industrial enterprises are developing: construction industries, shipbuilding, food processing, woodworking, machine tool production. Stralsund, Wismar, Rostock, Greifswald are Hanseatic trading cities. These ports have a centuries-old tradition of trade with the Scandinavian countries. Rostock and Greifswald had universities in the old days. In the former Hanseatic cities, countless monuments of medieval architecture have been preserved and are now being restored, for example the Schwerin Palace with 300 towers and turrets - the former residence of the Grand Dukes of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. Of particular interest in this city is the State Art Museum with a rich collection of Dutch and Flemish paintings of the 17th century. and the cathedral. The medieval defensive structures in Neubrandenburg are well preserved. Over 10 million tourists visit Mecklenburg-Vorpommern every year. The authorities are especially concerned about preserving the beauty and purity of nature when developing tourism. And another curious fact: in this sky above meadows, forests, and lakes, aeronautics pioneer engineer Otto Lilenthal (1848-1896) flew on gliders of his own design.

Attractions

The state of Pomerania has many of Germany's attractions. One of the advantages of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern with its numerous lakes is the largest of them Müritz(117 sq. km) - is the pristine nature. The diverse sea coast and the picturesque inland areas with their small hills, vast fields, meadows and forests stretch far beyond the horizon. In total, there are 270 nature and landscape reserves and 3 national parks in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.

Expressive Gothic brick architecture characterizes the ancient Hanseatic cities of Rostock, Wischar, Schgralsund and Greifswald. For centuries, the Baltic ports served as transshipment centers for goods arriving and leaving Scandinavia. Rostock and Greifswald are also university cities with rich traditions.
The capital of the earth is Schwerin(111,000 inhabitants). The city's landmark is the palace, the former residence of the Grand Dukes of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, and now the seat of the state parliament (Landtag). In addition, of particular interest are Mecklenburg State Theater And State Museum with its rich collection of Dutch and Flemish paintings from the 17th century, as well as Cathedral, considered one of the outstanding brick Gothic buildings.

The largest city in the federal state is Rostock, with 221,000 inhabitants. At the local church Marienkirche There is an astronomical clock from the 15th century. The city is famous for its sea resort Warnemünde and the holiday "Days of the Hanseatic Port". Almost completely preserved medieval defensive structures Neubrandenburg(79,000 inhabitants) with its four ancient city gates.

Short story

According to archaeological data, the territory of modern Mecklenburg - Vorpommern from the end of ancient history until the 4th century. n. e. was inhabited by Germanic tribes, who subsequently migrated to the west-southwest of Europe, presumably due to climate change. In the early Middle Ages, this territory was inhabited from the east by the Slavic tribes of the Obodrits (Bodrichi), which is confirmed by both archaeological data and written sources.

In the 9th century AD e. the re-emigration of German tribes from the central Rhine regions to the North and East of the Elbe begins - the so-called “East German resettlement” (in some sources it was previously called “East German colonization”), which reached its apogee in the 14th century.

Peasants and city dwellers (burghers) moved to Pomerania along with the German feudal lords and nobility. The surviving Slavic place names testify to the joint Slavic-Germanic residence and coexistence on the territory of Mecklenburg. The German patrimonial nobility gradually supplanted the possessions of the Danish crown that dominated the coastal zone of the Baltic Sea, and German traders and artisans laid the social foundation of the free Hanseatic cities.

In the historical period of the late Middle Ages - the beginning of the New Time, separate state formations (duchy, grand duchy) existed on the territory of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. In 1701, the territory of Mecklenburg was divided into two states with limited autonomy: the duchies of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and Mecklenburg-Strelitz. In 1814-1815, at the Congress of Vienna, their status was raised to the title of Grand Duchy. They fall under the protection of the Kingdom of Prussia and are included in the German Confederation.

In 1918-1919, after a short period of state independence, these two territories became part of the Weimar Republic and in 1937, as a result of the “Greater Hamburg Law,” they acquired modern administrative status and territory.

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern is a land of Baltic resorts and picturesque lakes in eastern Germany.

• Stralsund and Wismar



Sights of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

"Gorkh Fok"



Sights of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

Beach resorts



Sights of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

Rugen Island



Sights of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern



Sights of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

Source of inspiration



Sights of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

Lake Paradise



Sights of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern



Sights of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

Mecklenburg estates



Sights of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

Schwerin Castle

• Sights of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

  Stralsund and Wismar

  We will begin our acquaintance with the East German federal state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern from Stralsund. In the Middle Ages he was one of the most important members of the Hanseatic League. The architectural monuments of this period, which have survived to this day, received UNESCO World Heritage status in 2002 - on a joint application with Wismar, which we also recommend visiting.



Sights of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

"Gorkh Fok"

A special attraction is located in the port of Stralsund - the barque "Gorch Fock". It was built in Germany in 1933. After World War II, this sailing ship became the property of the USSR and plied the seas under the name "Comrade". He returned to Stralsund in 2003. Now there is a museum on board.



Sights of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

Beach resorts

There are many famous seaside resorts in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Among them is the Albeck resort on the island of Usedom. For a long time it was especially popular among the German and European nobility. Among his guests were also Thomas Mann, Theodor Fontane and Kurt Tucholsky. On the island of Usedom there is the longest coastal promenade in Europe, stretching for almost 8.5 kilometers.



Sights of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

Rugen Island

Next, let's look at Rügen - the largest German island. Fresh Baltic air, stunning nature - everything for relaxation. There are many preserved houses and villas built in the 19th century in the style of so-called resort architecture. Their distinctive features are white facades, as well as wooden balconies and verandas, richly decorated with carvings. You can see them, for example, in Sassnitz or Binz.



Sights of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

From Rügen you can take a ferry to one of the most romantic German islands - Hiddensee. The movement of vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines is prohibited here. Its length does not exceed 17 kilometers, its width is much less. People travel around the island in carts, electric cars and bicycles, but it’s even more pleasant to walk.



Sights of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

Source of inspiration

Germany's Baltic coast has long attracted creative people. The chalk cliffs of Rügen served as a motif for Caspap David Friedrich, one of the main representatives of the romantic movement of German painting. On the neighboring island of Hiddensee lived Nobel Prize winner in literature Gerhart Hauptmann, and on the Fischland-Dars-Zingst peninsula in the village of Ahrenshoop there was a whole colony of artists.



Sights of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

Lake Paradise

About an hour's drive from the Baltic coast lies the Mecklenburg Lake Plateau. Here is the freshwater lake Müritz, Germany's largest inland lake. A real paradise for lovers of water and nature recreation. Boat and bus tours to these sites depart from Waren. From here you can sail along canals and rivers to Berlin or Hamburg.



Sights of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

In the south of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, the Müritz National Park was founded in 1990. It is the largest national park in Germany by area. The Serran beech forest included in it has the status of a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site.



Sights of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

Mecklenburg estates

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern is considered one of the main granaries of Germany. Agriculture has a centuries-old tradition here, as evidenced by the numerous old estates and castles built with this income. They used to serve as the residences of noble Mecklenburg dynasties, and are now often used as comfortable residences for vacationers and tourists.



Sights of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

Schwerin Castle

Finally, let's take a look at the capital of this land - the city of Schwerin. Schwerin Castle is among Germany's candidates for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List. This residence of the head of the Mecklenburg House was built on Palace Island in Schwerin in the style of romantic historicism in the years 1845-1857. Nowadays the state parliament works here - the Landtag of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.

In this article you will learn:

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern is a federal state located in the northern part of Germany. In addition to the Baltic Sea, there are many bodies of water that appeared after glaciers passed through the area. The second name of the land is the country of a thousand lakes. Schwerin is recognized as the capital of Mecklenburg. The main well-developed manufacturing industries include the construction, shipbuilding, food, and wood processing industries.

History of origin

When the Great Migration of Peoples began, the Germans who were on this land left it, and the Slavs took their place. By the end of the eighth century, the rapidly developing Frankish kingdom set out to impose tribute on them. But for a century and a half it was not possible to do this. In the middle of the tenth century they finally joined the German state.

The territory on which modern Mecklenburg-Vorpommern is located has since ancient times acted as a trading center and contributed to trade relations with the Scandinavian countries. The two parts of this land developed separately from each other for a long time. Mecklenburg was a separate duchy of the German Empire. The areas of Vorpommern were under Swedish rule for a long period, and then ceded to Prussia. Their unification into Mecklenburg-Vorpommern took place in 1945, but then it was again divided into three districts, and their restoration into a single whole took place only in 1990.

Landscape

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern is famous for its many beautiful lakes, the largest of which is Müritz with an area of ​​one hundred and seventy-seven square meters. The Baltic Sea in this part is known for the largest island of the country - Rügen, on which the famous chalk cliffs are located. In addition, there are a huge number of natural and landscape reserves here.

Cities

This federal land is considered one of the most promising regions for tourism business.

Schwerin

Schwerin is a quiet and cozy town that serves as an administrative center. It is surrounded by a system of lakes, the most important of which is the Schweriner See. Tourists and visitors to the city can have a great time going on excursions on cruise ships. Schwerin is also the theater center of the region with established traditions. In the summer, grand opera performances take place here directly in the open air. Here is also the building of the famous Mecklenburg State Theater, built in 1885 and representing an outstanding example of neo-Renaissance art. Beer lovers should definitely try the famous local drink with the specific taste of burnt crackers.

Stralsund

Stralsund is a small northern town. But despite this, it is practically the historical center of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. It was its residents who protected their heritage from demolition and destruction, and today there are over eight hundred buildings classified as architectural monuments and protected by the state. Many of them still have some kind of city services. For example, the Swedish Government Palace houses the architectural office, and the Iohannis Monastery, dating back to the thirteenth century, is now known as the city archives. The city is also famous for its numerous museums.

As throughout Germany, Stralsund is very fond of various festivals and performances. The most unforgettable experience can be gained by visiting the Wallenstein days in the summer. At this time, the whole city is captured by the atmosphere of the Middle Ages. Townspeople in historical clothes go out to public festivities, where various performances and even battles are held.

Gourmets should definitely visit the family restaurant of Henry Razmus, where they serve the best pickled Bismarck herring, considered a local culinary delight. The subtleties of its production are carefully preserved and handed down by the owners of this establishment, located in the old part of the city.

Rostock

Rostock is the largest city in this federal state. Its attractions include the Church of Our Lady, built in the thirteenth century in the style of a French cathedral. It is famous for its magnificent baroque organ and astronomical clock. The Museum of Cultural History is also located here, surrounded by a luxurious park.

Not far from the city lies the famous resort area of ​​Warnemünde. The sandy beach, unusual coastal cliff, and fishermen's houses give it uniqueness and a certain chic. Those who love comfort can stay in a five-star hotel right on the seashore.

Wismar

Wismar is a port city on the Baltic Sea. Today it is a very prosperous city with a rich historical heritage. Its most famous landmarks are located on its Market Square: the Old Swede and the Church of St. Nicholas.

Tourism

Every year Mecklenburg receives more than ten million visitors, bringing it enormous income. Its tourist center ranks second in Germany, second only to. Therefore, construction and improvement of tourist recreation areas are constantly underway here. The Baltic coast is constantly replenished with new resort areas, considered the best in Europe. This zone was named Meckleburg Switzerland and Mecklenburg Lake District.

Health tourism is represented here by modern rehabilitation and recovery clinics with excellent conditions. For lovers of active recreation, excellent sports and play facilities have been built. Creative visitors to Mecklenburg will love visiting the unique hostel in Beckerwitz, which consists of a complex of small houses located directly in the trees

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The port of Rostock is a transport hub, a center for shipbuilding, the ship repair industry and one of the largest ports in Germany. It is located on the shores of the Baltic Sea, its area is 7.5 million square meters. It is home to about 250 companies and many historical attractions, including the Monastery of the Holy Cross, the ancient city wall with a number of surviving towers and much more.

The approximate foundation of the city dates back to the 7th century, when the settlement, according to historians, belonged to the Obodrite tribe. Its heyday reached its peak in the 15th century, when large-scale construction of churches, monasteries, hospitals and city gates began on its territory. During the Second World War, Rostock suffered quite a lot and a lot of effort went into rebuilding it.

Today the port of Rostock is divided into three parts: the Old Town, the Middle Town and the New Town. The old town is famous for its Old Market Square, where buildings from past centuries have been preserved, including the Patrikirche and the Church of St. Nicholas. The middle town is distinguished by the presence of the Church of St. Mary and the New Market Square, and the New Town is the most convenient for incoming ships, because its buildings are equipped with modern equipment, there are also long piers and extensive storage areas.

Viligrad Castle

Viligrad Castle was built in 1898 by order of the young Duke Johann Albrecht of Mecklenburg, where he lived for a long time. Until 1945, the castle belonged to the Mecklenburg family. The Duke gathered the best architects in Germany especially for the construction of the castle, who created the magnificent Viligrad Castle. It is worth noting that in September 1904, during the emperor’s inspection of the territory, the empress moved into the castle.

In 1945, at the very end of the Second World War, the castle was the headquarters of the Fifteenth Scottish Division under the command of Major General Barber. The castle then served as a hospital for the Red Army. Nowadays, the castle has been restored; it hosts creative work with children and youth, concerts, lectures and all sorts of events.

What sights of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern did you like? Next to the photo there are icons, by clicking on which you can rate a particular place.

State Art Museum Schwerin

The building of the State Art Museum was built by the architect Hermann Willibrand in the second half of the 19th century.

Paintings by 17th-century Flemish and Dutch masters collected by Duke Christian Ludwig II are the centerpiece of the collection. The paintings presented in the museum give a vivid idea of ​​the so-called “golden age” of painting. Paintings by Jan Brueghel the Elder, Paulus Potter, Adrian van Ostade, Franz Hals, Peter Paul Rubens elevate the collection to world class standards.

The museum is rightfully proud of its collection of paintings by Jean-Baptiste Oudry, a master of decorative landscapes. Here is a brilliant collection of his paintings and drawings, which includes all the genres in which the artist worked. He was especially attracted to hunting scenes, images of dogs and exotic animals. The artist was distinguished by his masterful control of color, lighting effects and perspective. Oudry's works are exhibited in the Louvre, Fontainebleau, but most of them are here, in the Schwerin Museum.

Contemporary art is represented in the exhibition by no less famous names: Picasso, Max Lieberman, Alexey Yavlensky, Mark Beckman.

The museum has an excellent collection of sculpture, the most interesting of which are the works of the French sculptor Houdon and the famous German sculptor Barlach.

The right significant tributary of the Elbe is the Havel River. The unique nature of the river’s flow attracts the eyes of travelers; it is either navigable from Lake Woblitz, then in the north it enters the swampy shores, then it changes the flow and amount of water and becomes shallow in places, deep in others, then suddenly the river turns into a series of magnificent vast lakes - Jungfern Lake, Lake Tegel, and then, connecting with the Elbe, spills into a pool.

Impressive natural landscapes and architectural monuments of antiquity on the right and left banks will not leave you indifferent. Here you can escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life and enjoy pristine nature.

Karz Castle

Karz Castle was built in the 17th century and was owned by the von Bülow family until 1869. Then the castle was bought by local merchant Julius Hüniken, who completely remodeled the building, building a new castle designed by the architect Becker, and he also created a stunning park around the estate.

The castle was inherited by Julius Hüniken the Younger; the merchant's son changed the park, turning it into the famous English landscape park. During World War II, Hüniken Jr. and his family took refuge in Karz Castle from constant bombing. In April 1945, during the Red Army occupation, he fled with his family to the west.

After World War II, the castle was occupied by the Red Army and was used as a center for receiving refugees from the eastern territories. After the departure of the Red Army, Karz Castle was for a short time a home for the elderly. In 1992, the castle was restored and is now used as a hotel, in addition to which it houses a restaurant and a wellness center.

Coastal Fisheries Museum

The Coastal Fisheries Museum was opened in the village of Baabe in 2001. The creation of such a museum is not at all accidental - the life of the local population has long been connected with the sea, with the extraction and processing of fish.

The resort history of the settlement began only at the end of the 19th century, and before that Baabe was a traditional fishing village with a leisurely, measured life. Time has changed life in the village, but representatives of the local community considered it necessary to preserve the history of fishing in the museum.

The municipality invested in the purchase of the museum's largest exhibit, the Ossie boat, which had previously faithfully served local fishermen for many years. Here they collected a large collection of old boats, different in time of creation and purpose. They have one thing in common - they were all built in Baaba. Fishing gear: nets, traps, trawls - all these are real fishing tools that have served their time. There is also a machine for sorting herring, the main object of fishing. On the museum stands there are old photos, historical documents, images and descriptions of commercial fish species. There are no "Do not touch" signs in this museum. Here you can touch everything and feel like part of a big fishing fraternity.

Lake Castorfer See

Lake Kastorfer See is located northwest of Neubrandenburg, in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. It borders on the west with the village of Knorrendorf Ortsteil Kastorf, and on the east with the village of Wildberg. The lake appeared during the last ice age from a former meltwater channel, which was filled after the ice water retreated.

In the middle of Lake Kastorfer See there is a small island that divides it into two parts - a narrow northern and wide southern basin. The approximate length of the lake is about 2 kilometers, the width is on average 500 meters. The eastern bank of the Kastorfer See is forested, while the western bank is used for agriculture.

Lake Woblitze

Sandy beaches on the Baltic Sea coast, unforgettable natural landscapes, historical and cultural attractions - all this makes the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern one of the most favorite places to visit for tourists. Vorpommern has a small population and beautiful flora and fauna. There is silence and endless spaces here. Beaches, villages, cities and many lakes.

Woblitzsee is a lake in Mecklenburg, Vorpommern. Its name comes from the Slavic phrase “Big Water”. The area of ​​the lake is 5.2 square kilometers. It is located northeast of the city of Wesenberg. The Havel River begins its 97-kilometer waterway from the lake.

Nature lovers can travel here by bicycle, horse or ship. The expression “untouched, virgin and pure nature” can fully describe the beauty of this region. And this is not accidental, because it is not for nothing that Vorpommern is called the “land of a thousand lakes”; moreover, people take care of their natural resources and appreciate what Mother Nature gives them. Winter here is quite warm, and summer is not so hot, and you can always hide on the shore of the lake in the shade of huge ship pines.

Jasmund National Park

Jasmund National Park is located in the north-eastern part of Germany, on the island of Rügen (Jasmund Peninsula) in the federal state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Back in 1926, this place where a variety of landscapes intertwined - chalk cliffs and swamps, beech forests and wet meadows received the status of a nature reserve, and since 1990 it has been a national park, the smallest in Germany (3003 hectares).

The main attraction of the reserve park is the famous chalk cliffs, a steep chalk formation along the coast of the island, 10 km long and up to 117 meters high, heavily indented by gorges and ledges. This is a unique cross-section of the geological history of Northern Germany - here you can see fossils and sedimentary deposits from the Ice Ages.

Rostock central square

Rostock was the largest port of the GDR and the center of East German shipbuilding. Nowadays it is a small, calm town with clean squares and inexpensive hotels. Port, yacht harbor. There is a beautiful Catholic church on the square, a completely pedestrian area.

The most popular attractions in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern with descriptions and photographs for every taste. Choose the best places to visit famous places in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern on our website.

The historical region of Pomerania, with a name more reminiscent of the name of a fairy-tale country, occupies a vast territory of the southern coast of the Baltic Sea. The largest river is. According to it, Pomerania has long been divided into Front (to the west) and Back (to the east of the river).
The region began to settle down around the end of the last ice age (about 10-12 thousand years ago).
Poland, Sweden, Denmark and Germany fought for its possession for centuries. But this part of history began at the end of the Middle Ages. It is known that these lands were previously inhabited by Germanic and then Slavic peoples. At the turn of the era, the Lombards, Varnas, Semnones and, possibly, Saxons lived here. As a result of the Great Migration of Peoples, Germanic tribes moved south, and the vacated territories were settled by the Slavs, between whose tribes there were also very strained relations. At least from the 6th century. in the west lived the Obodrits, in the east - the Wiltsy (aka Lutichi) and the Ruyans on the island of Rügen. Moreover, each of these large groups was divided into three or four subgroups. The Slavs cultivated rye, and they also began to extract iron ore from local swamp ores. The wooded plains served as pastures, so cattle breeding also spread. And the Obodrits, according to some sources, specialized in horse breeding and raised horses not only for themselves, but also for sale. Such a completely measured life ended by the end of the 8th century, when the growing Frankish kingdom began to exert increasing pressure on the Slavs, with the aim of turning them into tributaries. For almost a century and a half, the Slavs managed to hold back the onslaught. But active wars of conquest under the leadership of the first king of the East Frankish kingdom, Henry I the Birdcatcher (876-936) and the Holy Roman Emperor Otgon I the Great (912-973), played their role, and by about the middle of the 10th century. Slavic possessions became part of the German feudal state.
Such is the ancient history of Pomerania, which on its western borders adjoined the possessions of Mecklenburg, also a large historical region. The different histories of both territories have long been closely intertwined, and from the 12th century. began to acquire more and more shared pages. Thus, Mecklenburg was part of the Holy Roman Empire almost constantly from 1160: the local prince Pribyslav received a significant part of Mecklenburg from Henry the Lion at his baptism. Only for a short period from 1180 to 1227 Mecklenburg came into the possession of the Danes, but in general it was always ruled by representatives of the Obodrite dynasty founded by Pribyslav (?-1178). The Holy Roman Empire dreamed of taking possession of Pomerania for a long time, and this happened at the end of the 12th century, when the local Pomeranian princes of the Griffin dynasty lost self-government and German colonization began. After centuries of ups and downs in the territories of Pomerania and Mecklenburg, the federal state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, which belongs to present-day Germany, eventually emerged, where Mecklenburg makes up two-thirds of the territory. The main part of Pomerania went to Poland after World War II.
Even in the 20th century. Border disputes about the ownership of this territory arose more than once and the boundaries of the federal land changed. The district of Amt Neuhaus went to Lower Saxony, and Prenzlau, Templin and Perleberg now belong to Brandenburg. There was even an idea of ​​dividing Vorpommern and Mecklenburg. But still, since October 3, 1990, the territory of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern has been a federal state of Germany with fixed borders defining the northeastern part of the country. Its possessions extend from the Baltic coast to the Mecklenburg Lake District and include the entire island of Rügen and the western part of the island of Usedom. Along the Baltic Sea, the land borders on Denmark, which has always longed for its strengthening here. In the east it is supported by Poland, which, according to the decision of the Potsdam Conference (1945), received most of Pomerania, and in the south and west - other German lands. In any case, in 1995 the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern celebrated its millennium.
Its main source of income is tourism: almost a fifth of the earth's territory has been declared a conservation zone. For example, here, in the center of the Mecklenburg Lake District, is the largest freshwater lake in Germany - Müritz (which means “little sea”), on the eastern shore of which is the national park of the same name. There are countless lakes in this region; even one of the poetic names of the land sounds like “The Land of a Thousand Lakes.” In addition to natural attractions, the land is rich in cultural and historical monuments: the merchant Hanseatic cities alone, which once developed the region through active trade, and now store numerous evidence of its rich cultural past, could be the pride of any region. Stralsund, Wismar, Rostock, Greifswald are now engaged in the restoration of their countless monuments of medieval architecture. In 2002, the old districts of Stralsund and Wismar were added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The administrative center of the state, Schwerin, is famous for its unique palace, the former residence of the Grand Dukes of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, which is decorated, according to average estimates, with approximately 300 towers and turrets.
In addition to all this, since the 19th century. Mecklenburg-Vorpommern cultivates the fame of its spas. Even Frederick Franz I was prescribed sea bathing, which the Grand Duke took in the town of Heiligendamm. So the first seaside resort in Germany was started by a person of royal blood. Following one illustrious person, others followed, and by our time 29 beautiful seaside resorts have formed here. An aristocratic holiday presupposed an appropriate setting: architecture in the spirit of the Kaiser’s Germany flourished in the “imperial” resort towns. Albeck, Bansin and Seebad Heringsdorf are examples of holidays in the royal spirit.
In everyday life, everything also looks very attractive: with moderate salaries, average prices prevail, large companies are growing safely together with actively developing small and medium-sized businesses, a favorable investment and research climate is combined with a developed transport network and a favorable location between Hamburg and Berlin, Scandinavia " green." But, as you know, the original foundations - such as the usual level and rhythm of life - change slowly. It remains to agree with Bismarck, who is said to have characterized this land as follows: “If the end of the world happens, I will go to Mecklenburg - there it will happen 100 years later.”

general information

Location: northeast Germany.
Administrative division: 12 districts
Administrative center: Schwerin. 96,280 people (2006)
Language: German.
Currency unit: Euro.
Largest cities: Rostock, Schwerin, Neubrandenburg, Stralsund, Greifswald, Wismar.
Largest river: Oder.
Largest lakes: Müritz, Schweriner See, Plauer See.
Largest island: Rügen.
Most important airport: Rostock-Laage International Airport (25 km from Rostock).

Numbers

Square: 23,182.38 km 2.
Population: 1,656,000 people (2009).
Population density: 71.4 people/km 2 .
Highest point: Schimritzberg (256 m, Pomerania).
270 natural and landscape reserves, 3 national parks.
The sea coast of the federal state has a length of about 1900 km.
Over 10 million tourists visit the land every year.

Economy

About 3/4 of the territory of the Mecklenburg Lake District are cultivated areas.
Industry: food, woodworking, shipbuilding, construction industry, high-tech industries. Fishing.
Agriculture: crop production (rye, oats, potatoes, forage grasses, wheat, flax), meat and dairy farming.
Services sector: tourism, trade.

Climate and weather

Moderate.
Average annual temperature: +9.2ºС.
Average January temperature: from -0.5ºС to +1.8ºС
Average temperature in July: from +16.6ºС to +18.4ºС
Average annual precipitation: 700 mm.

Attractions

■ City of Schwerin: Schwerin Castle (1845-1857). State Art Museum (collection of Dutch and Flemish paintings of the 17th century);
■ Archaeological Museum of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern;
■ Stone circle “Boitin Stone Dance” (approximately 1000 BC).
■ Parks: Nossentiner-Schwinzer-Heide, Müritz, Feldberg nature reserve; Stralsund and the Pomeranian sea scenery, the Recknitz and Trebel valleys, the Gulf of Greifswald and Penestrom. the Hanseatic city of Greifswald, the valleys of the Peene and Landgraben rivers, the Shetzin Bay and the heather steppe of Uckermünde, Rügen (chalk cliffs), Usedom and Fischland-Darss-Zingst, ancient lighthouses on the coast.

Curious facts

■ Mecklenburg from Old Saxon and Middle Low German can be roughly translated as “Great Castle” or “Great City”. This name actually came from one ancient Obodrinsk fortress and over time spread throughout the entire earth.
■ In the skies of Mecklenburg-Pomerania, the pioneer of European aeronautics, engineer Otto Lilienthal (1848-1896), tested gliders of his own design.
■ The island of Usedom has the largest number of certified spa hotels in all of Germany.
■ Europe's largest migratory stopover for cranes is located in the Vorpommern Coastal Landscape National Park.
■ The famous German painter of the Romantic era, Caspar David Friedrich, was inspired by the views of the Chalk Cliffs on the island of Rügen. Today, the Jasmund National Park is located here.
■ It is believed that the name of the largest German island, Rügen, comes from the word “ruyan”. There is even a version that in this form the memory of the Slavic Ruyan tribe that once lived here was preserved. For some, this gives reason to associate the name of the island with the fabulous Russian Buyan.