Barlach Town Güstrow
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Güstrow is one of the most beautiful towns in Mecklenburg. Thanks to its central location it is an excellent starting point for excursions to the charming surrounding area. It is only 40 km from the Baltic coast near Rostock and 60 km from the state capital Schwerin. Also worth mentioning are the good transport connections to the cities of Hamburg, Berlin and Munich and the long-distance cycle routes of Berlin - Copenhagen and Hamburg – Isle of Rügen.
Ernst Barlach​
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After years of apprenticeship and travel in Germany, Paris, Italy and Russia, the expressionist artist settled down in Güstrow in 1910 at the age of 40. The internationally renowned sculptor and writer lived and worked in this town for almost 30 years. The works of his extensive oevre have been exhibited in Gertrude Chapel since 1953 and in his studio house on lake “Inselsee” since 1978. In 1998 an exhibition forum was opened next to the studio house, a new museum building that supplements the museums of the Ernst Barlach Foundation with special exhibitions.
Güstrow Palace
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The truly princely building, designed entirely for representation, was built in the second half of the 16th century as the residence of the sovereign. Duke Ulrich zu Mecklenburg hired the Italian master builder Franz Parr and the Dutchman Philipp Brandin in two successive construction phases. In a unique blend of Italian, French and Central European tradition they created a building of European rank. The most famous military commander of the Thirty Years’ War, Albrecht von Wallenstein, liked the palace and the shape of the building so much that he chose Güstrow Palace as his residence.
Güstrow Cathedral
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The Gothic basilica dating back to the first half of the 13th century is one of the oldest large churches in our state. Just like the parish church on market square it is adorned with numerous artistic treasures, especially from the 16th century. A significant piece of art from the 20th century is the Güstrow memorial, the so-called “Floating Angel” by Ernst Barlach.
St. Mary’s Parish Church
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This large Gothic brick church is located on market square. Built at the beginning of the 14th century the church was severely damaged in 1503 during a big town fire. It was rebuilt in subsequent years and completed in 1508. In 1765 the pyramid-shaped roof of the tower was replaced by the baroque dome that still exists today. In the 19th century the church was converted into a hall church and a southern nave with a gabled roof was added. The church has a beautiful vault with colourful ribs. Like Güstrow Cathedral, St. Mary’s is adorned with numerous valuable pieces of art.
Lake “Inselsee”
The lake in the south of Güstrow is about 480 hectares in size and between 6 and 15 meters deep. It is bordered by the town district of “Südstadt” in the north and by the district of “Heidberg” in the east. The lake got its name from a small island called “Schöninsel”, which is connected to the surrounding area by a bridge. On the shore there are various hiking trails, biking and bridle paths. In summer various bathing areas invite you to swim.
Rostock
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About 40 minutes by car in northern direction, the Hanseatic City of Rostock is located close to the Baltic Sea. Being the largest city in Mecklenburg Western Pomerania Rostock is always worth a trip. Apart from its maritime flair the city has a lot to offer: Numerous museums, theaters and events invite culturally interested visitors to stay and see. If you feel like shopping you will find numerous shops in the city center or in Rostock-Warnemünde.
Boulder Barn Bollewick
Located in the Mecklenburg Lake District, Bollewick features the largest barn made of boulders in Germany. Today it is a place for culture, exhibitions and markets. Open daily, visitors can experience THE BARN with its special flair on three floors. Workshops and stores with regional products invite the guest to stroll, marvel, taste and linger.
Müritz National Park
With a size of more than 320 square kilometers Müritz National Park, founded in 1990, is the largest terrestrial national park in Germany. Almost three quarters are covered by forests and it has about 100 lakes and many small still waters. The national park is fully accessible featuring hiking trails, cycling paths, rest areas, observation towers and observation stands.
Waren​
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The town of Waren is located on the banks of lake Müritz. Particularly beautiful is the old town with its historic buildings and its numerous half-timbered houses that were restored with great attention to detail. The two churches, St. Mary’s and St. George and the old and new town hall on “Neuer Markt” are also definitely worth a visit. Small stores, boutiques, cafés and restaurants invite you to shop, linger and enjoy. A maritime quarter worth seeing has developed at the town harbor. There you can stroll and relax, watch the incoming and outgoing ships, make a boat trip on lake Müritz with one of the passenger ships or be your own leisure captain.