Historic Centres of Stralsund and Wismar
A total of six brick parish churches alone in Stralsund and Wismar, on the Mecklenburg-Western Pomeranian coast, offer a representative cross-section of Gothic church architecture in the late Middle Ages. A permanent exhibition in Wismar's Church of St. Mary explores the techniques of Gothic brick building and medieval craftsmanship as part of the European Route of Brick Gothic Architecture.
Wismar is the best-preserved Hanseatic town of its size along the southern Baltic coast and, like Stralsund, it has an abundance of charm, quaint harbourside pubs and picturesque spots. Wismar's historical harbour basin gives an accurate portrayal of the once mighty trading town, while the Alte Schwede, the town's oldest mercantile house and now a restaurant of the same name, is a compelling reflection of the proud townspeople's wealth and creative drive.
It also serves as a reminder of the Swedish rule under which both towns stood in the 17th and 18th century. There are some exceptional baroque buildings dating from this time, such as the armoury in Wismar and the Swedish government palace in Stralsund.
On Stralsund's harbour island, the Ozeaneum aquarium offers a fascinating glimpse of what lies beneath the waves of the Baltic, North Sea and Atlantic Ocean and even the waters of the Polar seas. With its modern architecture, the Ozeaneum building forms a captivating contrast to the medieval beauty of the town centre – yet it bears testimony to the great passion for all things maritime in the historical Hanseatic towns.
Stralsund und Wismar
UNESCO World Heritage since 2002
From the selection criteria
The old towns of Stralsund and Wismar are considered ideal Hanseatic cities from the heyday of the league of towns of the 14th century.
The historic city centres have almost completely retained their medieval layout and bear witness to the construction of maritime trade cities following the law of
Lübeck.Numerous outstanding monuments illustrate the political importance and the extraordinary wealth of the Baltic Sea towns in the Middle Ages and
their affiliation to the Swedish era in the 17th and 18th centuries.
Information und Kontakt
Tourismuszentrale der Hansestadt Stralsund
Alter Markt 918439 Stralsund
Tel. +49 3821-24 69 0
Amt für Welterbe, Tourismus und Kultur
Lübsche Straße 23
23966 Wismar
Tel. +49 3841-22 52 91 02