Pomeranian Adventure Tour

Pomeranian Adventure Tour - Wismar

As we drove the 30 km due north from Schwerin to Wismar, Lyne pointed out to us that it is very common in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern to have trees planted on both sides of the road. It gave a very beautiful effect as we traveled to Wismar.

Wismar, a town that dates back to 1229, is a former Hanseatic League town and is a small port on the Baltic Sea. It is located in the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, about 45 km due east of Lübeck. It has a population of approximately 45,000. Because of its Hanseatic League city brick construction and German brick churches, it has been included in the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites. It is a beautiful little town.

Wismar became part of Mecklenburg in 1301. In 1259 it had entered a pact with Lübeck and Rostock to fight against the numerous Baltic Sea pirates. This became the basis for the Hanseatic League. It flourished in the 13th and 14th centuries because of its woolen mills. A plague hit the town in 1376, killing about 10,000 inhabitants. In spite of this, it remained a prosperous town for several centuries. Sweden took control of Wismar in 1648 through the Peace of Westphalia, ending the 30 Years' War. In 1803, Sweden sold the city to Mecklenburg, with a right of redemption in 100 years. In 1903, Sweden renounced any claims to the city.

The center of the town is its beautiful and large Market Place, which at 10,000 meters is the largest in Germany. Buildings surrounding the square range from 14th-century North German Gothic to 19th century Romanesque revival. Because we visited the town over the lunch hour, many of us were able to sample the fresh food being sold by vendors in the square. Others sampled the food in restaurants in the square.

In the Market Place is the Wasserkunft (Waterworks), constructed between 1580 and 1602 according to the plans of the Dutch master architect Philipp Brandin from Utrecht in the style of the Dutch Renaissance. It supplied the city with water until 1897.

Near the town square are the remainder of Marienkirche (St. Mary's Church), a brick Gothic construction dating to the 13th century. It suffered heavy damage in World War II and was deliberately destroyed in 1960 under the East German government. The 80 meter high tower that remains is a landmark of Wismar, visible from a great distance away. It had been one of the most beautiful brick churches in North Germany. The clock face in its tower has a diameter of 5 meters. The clock's mechanism plays three times a day, and has a carillon of 14 different chorales.

Also nearby is St. Georgen-Kirche (St. George), which dates from the first half of the 13th century until 1594 when it was completed. It was built in the North German Brick Gothic style. It was destroyed in World War II, but reconstruction has been under way since 1990. At one time the church was used primarily by craftsmen and tradesmen.

Located in the Market Square is the Rathaus (Town Hall), one of the largest in North Germany. Another interesting building in the square is "Alter Schwede" (The Old Swede), built around 1380. In the Middle Ages there were residential and business premises on the ground floor, and the first floor was laid out as storage space. In 1878, a catering establishment took it over. The building was given the name "Alter Schwede" in remembrance of Wismar's Swedish period from 1648 to 1803.

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