Greifswald
Accommodation in Greifswald
Greifswald combines an old town shaped by medieval Brick Gothic architecture with the Museum Harbour on the Ryck and excursions on the Greifswald Bodden. You can choose different focuses for your trip: historic sites in the townscape, routes on foot or by bicycle, and maritime experiences on the water. The Museum Harbour is a notable starting point for the latter; from there, paths and boat trips lead towards the fishing village of Wieck.
File:Auditorium Maximum Universität Greifswald Karzer 01.jpg
Photo: Geolina163 via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Brick Gothic and Caspar David Friedrich
The historic centre is characterised by medieval Brick Gothic architecture. St. Nikolai Cathedral adds a special connection to art history: it is the baptismal church of the painter Caspar David Friedrich and a cultural monument of national significance. Those interested in the artist can consider the cathedral and other Friedrich sites as different aspects of a cultural stay in Greifswald.
The Caspar David Friedrich Centre is located in the painter’s birthplace. A guided tour there presents the family history and the history of his father’s soap-making and candle-casting business in authentic rooms. This takes the focus beyond the painter to include his family background and his father’s craft. The Greifswald Caspar David Friedrich Picture Trail has 15 stops at important places connected with the painter’s life and work in Greifswald and the surrounding area. You can explore it independently on foot or by bicycle.
Walks and routes to Wieck
The ramparts are a good choice for walks in a historic setting. They encircle the historic heart of Greifswald for more than 2 kilometres and invite visitors to enjoy leisurely walks throughout the year. This is a different way to experience the town than following the Picture Trail: here, the focus is on walking along the ramparts, while the Picture Trail connects places from Friedrich’s life and work.
Another route option leads from the Museum Harbour in central Greifswald directly to the fishing village of Wieck, following the Ryck. The well-maintained towpath is around 5 kilometres long. During your stay, you can choose between a walk along the ramparts, exploring the Picture Trail independently, and following the Ryck to Wieck. The approximate length of the towpath provides a concrete point of reference for planning your day, without implying a walking time.
Museum Harbour, Bodden and Wieck Drawbridge
Greifswald Museum Harbour is home to more than 50 ships and is considered Germany’s largest museum harbour. It is also a starting point for trips on the water: aboard the museum ships Hanne-Marie and Vorpommern, you can travel from the harbour via Wieck and out onto the Greifswald Bodden. For a seasonal excursion, the MS Stubnitz also departs daily from the Museum Harbour, travelling via Wieck and out onto the Bodden and back. You can board and disembark on the south side of Wieck; from there, you can explore the fishing village and the ruins of Eldena Abbey.
In Wieck, the drawbridge is also worth a look. It was ceremonially inaugurated on 25 July 1887. Its two leaves are each 13.30 metres long and are still raised by hand. The bridge and the towpath offer different highlights in Wieck: one centres on a historic structure with a mechanism that is still operated by hand, the other on the route along the Ryck.
Find more destinations in the directory under Amt Am Stettiner Haff, Amt Züssow, Strasburg, Amt Löcknitz-Penkun and Ueckermünde.
For the main travel overview: Vorpommern-Greifswald.
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