Excursion Tips for Western Pomerania

The mainland of Western Pomerania—its islands and peninsulas Fischland-Darß-Zingst, Rügen and Usedom are covered separately—is particularly shaped by the former major Hanseatic cities of Stralsund and Greifswald . Along the coasts of the Greifswald Bodden and the Szczecin Lagoon, smaller seaside resorts are interspersed with maritime towns such as Wolgast and Ueckermünde. The Hanseatic city of Anklam, birthplace of German aviation pioneer Otto Lilienthal, carefully preserves the legacy of its greatest son.

Museums of the City of Wolgast
The town museum is housed in one of Wolgast’s oldest buildings, the so-called “Coffee Mill,” named for its shape and located beside the historic town hall. Across five floors, it offers insights into the town’s history. The museum also includes the former steam ferry “Stralsund” in the town harbor and St. Gertrude’s Chapel. The “Runge House,” close to the harbor, is the birthplace of Philipp Otto Runge, founder of Romantic art in Germany, and offers insights into the artist’s life and work.
 
Lagoon Museum Ueckermünde
Housed in the former castle of the Dukes of Pomerania-Wolgast in the heart of Ueckermünde’s old town, the Lagoon Museum tells the story of this town on the lagoon. The duke’s costume and a suit of knight’s armor are among its most interesting exhibits. From the castle tower, the view stretches far across the Szczecin Lagoon.

Ukranenland Torgelow
Since the early 1990s, a unique, faithfully recreated medieval center has been developed, offering insights into the life of the Ukrani, the Slavic tribe that lived in the region. The open-air museum on the Uecker River has been complemented by the Castrum Turglowe, located in a castle ruin in the heart of Torgelow. Together, the two sites offer a varied program throughout the year for visitors of all ages.

Crane Information Center, Groß Mohrdorf
In the heart of Europe’s largest crane roosting area, the Rügen-Bock region, the Crane Information Center in Groß Mohrdorf, northwest of the Hanseatic city of Stralsund, provides comprehensive information about the “bird of happiness.” As if on cue, visitors may see the large birds feeding in the surrounding fields on their way to the information center in spring or autumn.