Pomeranian Adventure Tour - Schwerin

After a good night's rest in Hamburg, we left early the next morning for Schwerin, the capital of the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.  The population of Schwerin is close to 100,000, but many residents have been lost due to high unemployment in the area.  Schwerin is an area that is surrounded by many lakes, and is often called the Minnesota of Germany because of all the lakes.  There was an Obotrite settlement in the area in the 11th century, and in 1160 Henry the Lion defeated the Obotrites and captured Schwerin and it expanded into a powerful regional center.  A castle was built around 1500, with many expansions over the centuries.

In 1358 Schwerin became part of the Duchy of Mecklenburg, and it became the seat of the dukedom from that point onward.  The dukes resided in Schwerin Castle.  After the division of Mecklenburg in 1621, Schwerin became the capital of the Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. After 1918, and during the German Revolution, the German monarchy fell, and the Grand Duke abdicated. Schwerin became the capital of the Free State of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.

U.S. troops took Schwerin at the end of World War II, and turned it over to the British, who soon turned it over to the Soviet forces. Schwerin was then in the Russian Occupation Zone and became part of the German Democratic Republic (GDR). Initially it was the capital of the State of Mecklenburg, but after the states were dissolved in 1952, Schwerin became the capital of the Schwerin district. After reunification in 1990, the former state of Mecklenburg became Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, and became the state's capital.

The landmark of the area is the Schwerin Castle, located on an island in a lake (Schweriner Sea). It was for centuries the residence of the Dukes of Mecklenburg, and today the castle is the home of the Landtag (state parliament for Mecklenburg-Vorpommern). The castle construction started around 1500 in brick Gothic style, and its construction continued for many years.  In World War II, the castle was used as a clinic.  After the war, it was used as a school. The castle was reopened in 1974.  The castle itself has over 600 rooms, and is owned by the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.

Because the Mecklenburg dukes dated back to 1340, their family members were very desirable candidates for marriage partners among royalty in Europe.

Other noteworthy sites in Schwerin include the Schwerin Cathedral, built in 1260-1416, The Alter Garten (Old Garden) square, surrounded by the State Art Museum, built in 1877-1882, and the city theater, built in 1886.

The group had a great tour of the castle. The castle is in the midst of a very significant restoration project.  No photos were allowed in the castle.

Click on the picture to enlarge it.

Schwerin Castle, construction starting around 1500	Home of the Mecklenburg dukes until abdication in 1918	The castle was built on a small island and the building actually rests on pylons sunk into the lake bed	Hall light in the castle (Photo courtesy of the Marshalls)	View of the Schwerin Castle from across the water (Photo courtesy of the Swansons)
A gorgeous structure (Photo courtesy of the Swansons)	Schwerin Castle (Photo courtesy of the Swansons)	Front of Schwerin Castle (Photo courtesy of the Swansons)	Schwerin Castle, now the seat of the Landtag (state parliament) for Mecklenburg-Vorpommern	The castle was built in the beautiful baroque style
The castle grounds include a beautiful garden area	The castle grounds are also the home of some nesting swans	Nesting swans (Photo courtesy of the Swansons)	Duck in the castle moat with an itch (Photo courtesy of the Marshalls)	Ducks by the castle pond (Photo courtesy of the Swansons)
More ducks (Photo courtesy of the Swansons)	The Alter Garten (Old Garden) square	Neoclassical Staatliches Museum Schwerin-Kunstsammlunger (State Art Museum), built in 1877-1882	Staatstheater (City Theater), erected in 1886	Another view of Schwerin Theatre building
Market area in Old Garden square	Schwerin Lake (Photo courtesy of the Swansons)