Peenemünde: History, Nature and Maritime Excursions

History and Technology in Peenemünde

The Peenemünde Historical Technical Museum takes visitors through the town’s historical periods in 28 thematic sections. The exhibits span the first recorded mention of the town, the Thirty Years’ War and the experimental facilities under National Socialism, through to the NVA site in the GDR and the far-reaching structural changes that followed German reunification. The museum’s scope therefore includes both the town’s earlier history and its various military uses, as well as the changes after 1990.

The A4 rocket, developed in Peenemünde, is part of this history. Today, it is regarded as the forerunner of both military and civilian launch vehicles. If you would like to explore the physical traces of the past, you can book guided tours of the memorial landscape through the Historical Technical Museum. A 25-kilometre circular route leads to 23 stops where remnants of the military past can be discovered.

The Memorial Chapel is also part of the town’s culture of remembrance. After falling into disrepair, it was extensively rebuilt in a historicising style and rededicated on 18 August 1993. It also serves as a memorial to the victims of Peenemünde. The town thus brings together the history of technology and remembrance of the victims, without reducing either to a single narrative.

Exhibitions to Explore

At the Peenemünde Toy Museum, you can see more than 25,000 exhibits from three centuries. The collection offers a unique way to explore the history of toys over a long period. At Phänomenta Peenemünde, visitors are actively encouraged to touch the exhibits. The Usedomer Bäderbahn regional train takes you directly to Peenemünde station; from there, Phänomenta is about a five-minute walk. Multilingual audio guides at the Historical Technical Museum enhance the visit for guests who would like to explore the exhibition with an audio tour.

Nature and Circular Routes

The DBU Peenemünde Natural Heritage Area covers around 2,100 hectares and comprises three sections: the Peenemünder Haken, the Struck peninsula and the island of Ruden. Its preserved habitats include old oak and beech forests, pine forests on dunes, and wet alder and downy birch carrs. Brackish-water reed beds, small sandy islands, and seagrass and salt meadows provide important resting, moulting and feeding grounds for many waterbirds. Two pairs of white-tailed eagles also live and breed year-round in their territory within the area.

An approximately 22-kilometre circular route leads from Peenemünde via Karlshagen and lets visitors experience part of the landscape of the Peenemünder Haken, Struck and Ruden nature reserve. It differs in length and theme from the 25-kilometre circular route through the memorial landscape: one offers a way to experience part of the natural landscape, while the other leads to sites with remnants of the military past. Peenemünde is also connected to several cycle routes.

Harbour and Other Experiences

Passenger boats from Peenemünde harbour offer excursions to Greifswalder Oie, Ruden and the mainland. You can also reach Ruden from Peenemünde aboard the motor vessel “Seeadler”. For another perspective on the town, bus tours are available from Peenemünde airfield. You can also visit a real submarine in Peenemünde.

Every autumn, the turbine hall of the former Army Research Centre becomes a concert venue for the annual Peenemünde Concerts. As part of the Usedom Music Festival, the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra and renowned soloists also perform there. If you are comparing other destinations, Mölschow, Zinnowitz, Karlshagen and Trassenheide may also be of interest.

For the overview of the wider area: Amt Usedom-Nord.