Schwerin

The state capital Schwerin lies just south of Wismar, a little over 35 kilometres inland from the Baltic coast. Set amid seven lakes—including Lake Schwerin, one of the largest in Germany—and rich in reminders of the past, the city of Schwerin makes an attractive day-trip destination for Baltic holidaymakers.
The city’s history and present-day character are shaped by its former role as the residence of the Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. Schwerin Castle, now the seat of the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern state parliament, is one of the finest buildings in northern Germany. Together with the palace gardens, the Mecklenburg State Theatre, the State Museum Schwerin with its art gallery, and the Marstall, it forms a unique architectural ensemble around the Alter Garten on the shores of Lake Schwerin. The annual castle festival held there is as much of a draw for tourists as boat trips on Lake Schwerin, the spacious Schwerin Zoo in the Zippendorf district, and the municipal beach there.
The state capital Schwerin also marks the western edge of the Mecklenburg Lake District, which is connected via the Stör Canal, the Elbe and the Havel to both Hamburg and the federal capital, Berlin, for pleasure boaters.



Places of interest in Schwerin and Mecklenburg