The boat houses in Röbel on the Müritz
Photo by Thomas Kliem

Sailing boats in Rostock's city harbour, Mecklenburg Baltic Coast
Photo by René Legrand

Stralsund's marketplace with its Gothic town hall, Vorpommern
Photo by Thomas Kliem

Schwerin: view of the castle from the bridge across Castle Lake

Aerial photo of Müritz National Park, the Mecklenburg Lakes
Photo by Klaus Steindorf-Sabath

Miles of sandy beaches on peninsula Fischland-Darß-Zingst

Colorful beach basekt assortment in a Baltic Sea cove, Baltic Sea Coast in Mecklenburg
Photo by Frank Neumann

All photos courtesy of Tourismusverband Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

Germany's Must See Destination
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

Gentle, beautiful and exciting

Of all the places in Germany, the region with the lowest population density extends between the major cities of Berlin and Hamburg. City dwellers are soon out of the town and surrounded by a peaceful vastness and an invigorating freshness. The scenic spots are bedecked with white sandy beaches, lush meadows, richly green forests and more than 2,000 crystal-clear lakes. And even the salty, sea breeze refreshes body and spirit. Added to this, is the sheer abundance of sunshine. Nowhere else in Germany does the sun shine as much as here.

With the help of massive investments, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern has evolved into one of the most modern tourist regions in Europe. Resorts, hotels, guest houses, camping sites, adventure water parks, yacht harbors and wellness temples of the highest standard have sprung up across the entire state. It all began in Heiligendamm - the oldest seaside resort in continental Europe. Many other resorts followed suit along the Baltic Sea coast. And all of them decked out with resort architecture of an outstanding quality.

Besides the delights of its nature, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern also boasts a moving history. Thanks to the Hanseatic League - Europe‘s first Economic Community – the seaside towns saw a fabulous period of prosperity during the Middle Ages. Gigantic, sky-high, red brick churches sprang up everywhere as a symbol of their trading power. Even after 600 years they are still amongst the tallest in the world. The medieval town centers of Stralsund and Wismar have been particularly well preserved. And it was for this reason that UNESCO declared them both to be World Heritage sites. In a similar vein, everything revolved around a glorious expression of power in the residences and manor houses, too. Princes and dukes bequeathed magnificent palaces, manor houses, parks and gardens to this federal state – hardly any other region in Europe has as many. The prima donna amongst them is Schwerin Castle. The "Neuschwanstein of the North" floats on a tiny island on Lake Schwerin.

Then, as today, the magnificent turreted building with its golden roofs is the enchanting focal point of this magical landscape.

Nowadays, the royal residences and their gardens serve as an enchanting backdrop for concerts and culture. For example, the "Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Festival" ranks amongst the top three major music festivals in Germany.

The natural and cultural treasures of the state are best discovered by hiking, biking and boating. Far from the hectic pace and city noise, the protected paradises of nature provide plenty of space for adventures. An extensive, far-flung network of hiking and cycle paths has been constructed which connects proud Hanseatic towns and idyllic fishing villages, crystal-clear lakes and the undulating sea, fertile fields and blossoming meadows, enchanted marshes and shady forests.

The countless number of lakes in the heart of the federal state are a source of delight for those cruising the waterways. In total, including the neighboring German states of Berlin and Brandenburg, there are 5,000 of them. Most are interconnected through rivers and canals to make up the largest network of waters in Europe. Unique conditions for practically every class of boat. It doesn‘t matter whether it‘s a canoe, houseboat, yacht or sailing boat. Hobby captain‘s can even explore the waters without a boating license. The Müritz - Germany‘s largest inland lake - is the center of all this blue glory.

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern's Superlatives

3 Highlights of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

Events and Highlights in 2012

www.discovermv.de