Schwerin

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Coordinates: 53°37′N 11°25′E

Schwerin
Country	Germany
State	Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania
District	urban district
Population	96,941 source (2005)
Area	130.46 km²
Population density	743 /km²
Elevation	38 m
Coordinates	53°37′ N 11°25′ E
Postal code	19001-19079
Area code	0385
Licence plate code	SN
Mayor	Norbert Claussen (CDU)
Website	schwerin.de

Schwerin is a town in northern Germany. It is the capital of the state Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. The population as of mid-2006 was 96,542.

Contents 1 History 2 Sights 2.1 Museums 3 See also

[edit] History

Schwerin is the vibrant capital city of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and is surrounded by many picturesque lakes. The largest of these lakes, the Schweriner See, has an area of 60 km². In the midst of the lakes there was an Obotritic settlement as early as in the 11th century. The area was called Zuarin, and the name Schwerin is obviously derived from that designation. In 1160 Henry the Lion defeated the Obotrites and captured Schwerin. The town was subsequently expanded into a powerful regional centre. A castle was built, and expanded upon over the centuries, on this site. It is supposedly haunted by the small, impious ghost called Petermänchen.

In 1358 Schwerin became a part of the duchy of Mecklenburg, making it the seat of the dukedom from then on. About 1500 the construction of the Schwerin castle began; it was here that the dukes resided. After the division of Mecklenburg (1621), Schwerin became the capital of the duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. Between 1765 and 1837 the town of Ludwigslust was the capital, before the status of Schwerin was reestablished at last.

After 1918 Schwerin became capital of the Free State of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. At the end of World War II, on May 2, 1945 Schwerin was taken by U.S. troops. It was turned over to the British on June 1, 1945, and one month later, on July 1, 1945 it was turned over to the Soviet forces, as the British and American forces pulled back from the line of contact to the predesignated occupation zones. Schwerin was then in the Russian Occupation Zone which was to become the German Democratic Republic (GDR). Initially it was the capital of the State of Mecklenburg which at that time included the western part of Pommerania (Vorpommern). After the states were dissolved in 1952 Schwerin was capital of the Schwerin district (Bezirk Schwerin). After reunification in 1990 the former state of Mecklenburg, now called Mecklenburg-Vorpommern was recreated as on of the Bundesland. Rostock was a serious contender as state capital but the decision again made in favour of Schwerin.

[edit] Sights

• The landmark of the city is the Schwerin Castle, located on an island in the lake of the same name (Schweriner See). It was for centuries the residence of the Dukes of Mecklenburg and today is the seat of the Landtag (state parliament).
• Schwerin Cathedral, built in 1260-1416 in Brick Gothic style.
• The Alter Garten (Old Garden) square, surrounded by buildings such as the 18th-century Altes Palais (Old Palace), the neoclassical Staatliches Museum Schwerin-Kunstsammlunger (State Art Museum), built in 1877-1882, and the Staatstheater (City Theater), erected in 1886.
• The town hall (18th century)
• Schelfkirche (Saint Nicolai, originally built 1238, but rebuilt in 1713 after destruction by a storm)
• TV Tower (close to the TV Tower there is a guyed radio mast, which is nearly twice as high!)

[edit] Museums

• The Staatliches Museum Schwerin-Kunstsammlungen (State Art Museum) houses a remarkable collection of 15th- to 19th-century Dutch and German art, including works by Rembrandt, Cranach the Elder, and Rubens. There are also German medieval collections, including porcelain (especially Dresden porcelain), 18th-century court paintings, and works by such modern artists as Max Liebermann.
• The Technische Museum (Technical Museum), housed in the former Marstall (Royal Stables).

[edit] See also

• Mecklenburg-Schwerin