DISTANT PLACES
Travel tips by Bremen sehenswert far from the Hanseatic City of Bremen
Hanseatic City of Rostock - A Travel Guide
From Kröpeliner Tor to the New Market and on to the City Harbor
Gabled houses in Kröpeliner Straße
The Kröpeliner Tor, the most magnificent preserved city gate in the old city fortifications, is an excellent starting point for exploring the city, especially due to the underground parking garage right next door where you can conveniently park your car beforehand. From the gate, the path first leads through Rostock’s pedestrian street, Kröpeliner Straße. Despite the destruction caused by the British Royal Air Force’s four-day bombing in 1942 during the war - both in the Hanseatic city and along Kröpeliner Straße - the car-free street has since the 1960s presented a mix of modern present-day life with shops, restaurants, and cafés alongside impressive historical architecture.
The Fountain of Joy – without bubbling water in the cold season
Since reunification, significant funds have been invested in restoring the preserved bourgeois houses with their Gothic gabled roofs or equally remarkable facades from later periods. Particularly at Universitätsplatz, home to the "Fountain of Joy" (locally nicknamed the "Pornobrunnen"), the long Hanseatic history of the city - where the Mecklenburg dukes would have preferred more power than the Rostockers granted them, despite the princely palaces on the square - blends with the modern lifestyle of the 21st century.
The partially gilded "Rostocker Stundenuhr" by Lutz Holland (1986) at the Five-Gabled House
The street then leads directly to the New Market, the old central market square that became the city’s focal point after the merger of the three original settlements into Rostock in 1265 and has remained so ever since. Dominating the scene is the old Gothic town hall from the 13th century with its Baroque pink facade added in the 18th century - a prime example of the impressive North German Brick Gothic architecture found in this Hanseatic city. The market square in front of the town hall hosts a weekly market (www.rostocker-wochenmarkt.de) from Tuesday to Saturday, where stalls are set up and carousel rides spin during festivals, or tourists and locals dine in restaurants and cafés with views over the square. Walking around the town hall reveals further architectural landmarks of Rostock’s history, such as the Kerkhoffhaus or Walldienerhaus. Following the tram tracks that run past the town hall to the right (when facing the town hall) leads you to another former city gate, the Steintor, which is a stop on a second tour through the city.
Bronze sculpture "Playing Children" by Lore Plietzsch (1979) near St. Mary's Church (Marienkirche)
However, the path to the city harbor goes in the opposite direction, and here your gaze falls upon St. Mary's Church, Rostock’s largest church, whose construction took over 160 years to complete - a visit is absolutely worth it, including a small donation for maintenance. Passing by the fountain in front of the church entrance, the route continues along the west facade of the basilica onto Lange Straße, where on the left side you can feel the old town in miniature bronze.
The old town of Rostock in bronze on Lange Straße
Despite the significant car traffic and tram tracks, the broad street does not give the impression of being a protected monument. Nevertheless, Lange Straße as a whole is designated as a heritage site due to its massive brick buildings from the 1950s, which were architecturally inspired by North German Brick Gothic. Passing on the left side of the tallest building in the row, stairs lead up to Schnickmannstraße, where at the corner stands the Wittesche Speicher, a half-timbered house built in 1795 that owes its name to its user, a manufacturer of pharmaceutical products. In the parallel street to the right stands another gem of North German brick culture and architectural design: the Hausbaumhaus, which hides behind its charming facade a warehouse with an oak tree trunk in the center supporting the building - hence its name (in german: Haus = House, Baum = Tree).
Statue with Wittesche Speicher in the background
At the end of the otherwise also picturesque Wokrenterstraße, you must cross the busy bypass Am Strande to explore the expansive city harbor.
Exploring the city harbor
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Rügen by the Baltic Sea
Active holiday featuring cycling and hiking
Enjoy an active holiday featuring cycling and hiking along the Baltic coast in Mönchgut on the island of Rügen. Long sandy beaches, rolling hills, and lush forests provide a varied and beautiful setting for your getaway. Often, the only thing breaking the peace is the distant whistle of the historic 'Rasender Roland' steam train. Despite its name (which suggests something "racing" or fast), it’s actually quite the opposite. A journey by train is simply part of the holiday experience.
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