Schwerin (; Mecklenburgian

Low German : : : : : (70,000) (30,000) (8,000) , familycolor = Indo-European , fam2 = Germanic , fam3 = West Germanic , fam4 = North Sea Germanic , ancestor = Old Saxon , ancestor2 = Middle L ...

: ''Swerin''; Latin: ''Suerina'', ''Suerinum'') is the

capital Capital may refer to: Common uses * Capital city, a municipality of primary status ** List of national capital cities * Capital letter, an upper-case letter Economics and social sciences * Capital (economics), the durable produced goods used f ...

and second-largest city of the northeastern German state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern as well as of the region of Mecklenburg, after Rostock. It has around 96,000 inhabitants, and is thus the least populous of all German state capitals. Schwerin is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Schwerin (''Schweriner See''), the second-largest lake of the

Mecklenburg Lake Plateau The Mecklenburg Lake Plateau or Mecklenburg Lakeland
- Federal Ministry of Economics ...

after the Müritz, and there are eleven other lakes within Schwerin's city limits. The city is surrounded by the district of Northwestern Mecklenburg to the north, and the district of Ludwigslust-Parchim to the south. Schwerin and the two surrounding districts form the eastern outskirts of the

Hamburg Metropolitan Region The Hamburg Metropolitan Region (German: Metropolregion Hamburg) is a metropolitan area centred around the city of Hamburg in northern Germany, consisting of eight districts (''Landkreise'') in the federal state of Lower Saxony, six districts ('' ...

. The name of the city is of Slavic origin, deriving from the root "zvěŕ" (''wild animal'') or "zvěŕin" ('' game reserve'', ''animal garden'', '' stud farm''). Schwerin was first mentioned in 1018 as ''Zuarina'' and was granted

city rights Town privileges or borough rights were important features of European towns during most of the second millennium. The city law customary in Central Europe probably dates back to Italian models, which in turn were oriented towards the tradition ...

in 1160 by Henry the Lion, thus it is the oldest city of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. As main residence of the House of Mecklenburg, a dynasty with Slavic roots also known as the Obotrites or Niklotides, Schwerin was the capital of the

Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin The Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin was a duchy in northern Germany created in 1701, when Frederick William and Adolphus Frederick II divided the Duchy of Mecklenburg between Schwerin and Strelitz. Ruled by the successors of the Nikloting Hous ...

from 1379 to 1815, of the Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (after the duke was elevated to the title of a grand duke) from 1815 to 1918, of the

Free State of Mecklenburg-Schwerin The Free State of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (german: Freistaat Mecklenburg-Schwerin) was a state in the Weimar Republic that was established on 14 November 1918 following the abdication of the Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin following the German ...

from 1918 to 1934, of the State of Mecklenburg (after it was merged with the Free State of Mecklenburg-Strelitz) from 1934 to 1952, and of the District of Schwerin from 1952 to 1990. The

romantic Romantic may refer to: Genres and eras * The Romantic era, an artistic, literary, musical and intellectual movement of the 18th and 19th centuries ** Romantic music, of that era ** Romantic poetry, of that era ** Romanticism in science, of that e ...

Schwerin Palace, situated on Castle Island between Lake Schwerin and Castle Lake, known for its golden dome, the Castle Church, the throne room, and the Niklot statue, used to be the seat of the dukes and grand dukes of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, and since 1990, it is the seat of the state parliament of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Schwerin's silhouette is completed by the towers of Schwerin Cathedral, St Paul's Church and St Nicholas' Church. Because of only minor damage in World War II, the city has a largely intact building structure, both in the Altstadt (Old Town) and Schelfstadt ( Reed City) quarters. Major industries and employers include high technology, machine building, healthcare, government agencies, railway supply, consumer goods and tourism. Schwerin has two academic colleges, the Schwerin campus of the "Fachhochschule des Mittelstands" (''University of Applied Sciences of the Mittelstand''), and the Schwerin campus of the "Hochschule der Bundesagentur für Arbeit" (''University of the

Federal Employment Agency Federal or foederal (archaic) may refer to: Politics General * Federal monarchy, a federation of monarchies * Federation, or ''Federal state'' (federal system), a type of government characterized by both a central (federal) government and states ...

''). There is a regional airport in Parchim, southeast of the city, while Hamburg Airport serves as the city's main airport.

History

Early years

Schwerin is enclosed by lakes. The largest of these lakes, the ''

Schweriner See Lake SchwerinObotrite (dated back to the 11th century). The area was called ''Zuarin'' ( Polabian ''Zwierzyn''), and the name ''Schwerin'' is derived from that designation. In 1160, Henry the Lion defeated the Obotrites and captured Schwerin. The town was later expanded into a powerful regional centre. A castle was built on this site, and expanded to become a ducal palace. It is supposedly haunted by the small, impious ghost, called Petermännchen (''"Peterman"''). In 1358, Schwerin became a part of the Duchy of Mecklenburg, making it the seat of the duchy from then on. About 1500, the construction of the Schwerin Palace began, as a residence for the dukes. After the division of Mecklenburg (1621), Schwerin became the capital of the

. Between 1765 and 1837, the town of Ludwigslust served as the capital, until Schwerin was reinstated.

Recent times

In the mid-1800s, many residents from Schwerin moved to the United States, many to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Today Milwaukee and Schwerin are sister cities. After 1918, and during the

German Revolution German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) **Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ger ...

, resulting in the fall of all the German monarchies, the Grand Duke abdicated. Schwerin became capital of the

thereafter. During World War II, Schwerin was hit by bombs in July 1940, on 7 April 1945 and 19 April 1945. At the end of World War II, on 2 May 1945, Schwerin was taken by United States troops. It was turned over to the British on 1 June 1945, and one month later, on 1 July 1945, it was handed over to the Soviet forces, as the British and American forces pulled back from the line of contact to the predesignated occupation zones. Schwerin was then in the Soviet Occupation Zone which was to become the German Democratic Republic (GDR). Initially, it was the capital of the State of Mecklenburg which at that time included the western part of Pomerania ( Vorpommern). After the states were dissolved in the GDR, in 1952, Schwerin served as the capital of the Schwerin district (Bezirk Schwerin). After reunification in 1990, the former state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern was recreated as one of the '' Bundesländer''. Rostock was a serious contender for state capital but the decision went in favour of Schwerin.

Geography

Lakes

The 12 lakes within Schwerin's city limits and their size in km²: * Lake Schwerin (''Schweriner See'') 61,5 * Brick Lake (''Ziegelsee'') 3,0 * Lake Ostorf (''Ostorfer See'') 2,1 * New Mill Lake (''Neumühler See'') 1,7 * Lake Medeweg (''Medeweger See'') 1,0 * Lake Lankow (''Lankower See'') 0,5 * Foul Lake (''Fauler See'') 0,5 * Heaths Lake (''Heidensee'') 0,2 * Clergymen's Pond (''Pfaffenteich'') 0,1 * Castle Lake (''Burgsee'') 0,1 * Lake Grimke (''Grimkesee'') 0,04 * Big Karausche (''Große Karausche'') 0,02

Islands

*Rabbit Ait (''Kaninchenwerder'') in Lake Schwerin *Brick Ait (''Ziegelwerder'') in Lake Schwerin *Castle Island (''Schlossinsel'') between Lake Schwerin and Castle Lake *Big Murrkiten Island (''Große Murrkiteninsel'') in the Brick Lake *Small Murrkiten Island (''Kleine Murrkiteninsel'') in the Brick Lake *Big Stone (''Großer Stein'') in Lake Schwerin

Boroughs

The urban area of Schwerin is subdivided into 17 local districts, each with a local council. The districts consist of one or more boroughs. The local councilors have between 5 and 15 members depending on the number of inhabitants. They are determined by the city council for the duration of the election period of the city council after each municipal election. The local councilors are to hear important matters concerning the district and have a right of initiative. However, the final decisions are made by the city council of the city as a whole. The 17 districts and 26 boroughs: * Schelfstadt, Werdervorstadt, Schelfwerder (1) *Altstadt (Old Town), Feldstadt, Paulsstadt, Lewenberg (2) *Großer Dreesch (formerly ''Dreesch I'') (3) *Neu Zippendorf (formerly ''Dreesch II'') (4) *Mueßer Holz (formerly ''Dreesch III'') (5) *Gartenstadt, Ostorf (formerly ''Haselholz'', ''Ostorf'') (6) *Lankow (7) *Weststadt (8) *Krebsförden (9) *Wüstmark, Göhrener Tannen (10) *Görries (11) *Friedrichsthal (12) *Neumühle, Sacktannen (13) *Warnitz (14) *Wickendorf, Medewege (15) *Zippendorf (16) *Mueß (17) There is a small

enclave An enclave is a territory (or a small territory apart of a larger one) that is entirely surrounded by the territory of one other state or entity. Enclaves may also exist within territorial waters. ''Enclave'' is sometimes used improperly to deno ...

between the boroughs of Neumühle and Görries, belonging to the neighbouring municipality of

Klein Rogahn Klein Rogahn is a municipality in the Ludwigslust-Parchim district, in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. Notable people * (1921–2006), martial music composer * (1904–1994), political commissar ( SED) and vice admiral of the National Peop ...

. Schwerin clockwise borders the municipalities of

Klein Trebbow Klein Trebbow is a municipality in the Nordwestmecklenburg district, in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in E ...

(N), Seehof (Mecklenburg), Leezen (Mecklenburg) (lake border and border on Paul's Dam (''Paulsdamm'') only),

Raben Steinfeld Raben Steinfeld is a municipality in the Ludwigslust-Parchim district, in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. References Ludwigslust-Parchim {{LudwigslustParchim-geo-stub ...

(E), Plate, Banzkow,

Lübesse Lübesse is a municipality in the Ludwigslust-Parchim district, in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. References Ludwigslust-Parchim {{LudwigslustParchim-geo-stub ...

(S),

Holthusen Holthusen is a Municipalities of Germany, municipality in the Ludwigslust-Parchim district, in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. References

Ludwigslust-Parchim {{LudwigslustParchim-geo-stub ...

, Pampow,

(W),

Wittenförden Wittenförden is a municipality in the Ludwigslust-Parchim district, in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. The municipality has a seat in the Office of Stralendorf from where it is administered. It lies on the western boundary of Schwerin Schwer ...

Brüsewitz Brüsewitz is a municipality in the Nordwestmecklenburg district, in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Eur ...

, and

Pingelshagen Pingelshagen is a municipality in the Nordwestmecklenburg district, in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in E ...

Transport

City buses and trams are run by NVS (Nahverkehr Schwerin). Schwerin Hauptbahnhof (central station) is connected by rail to Berlin, Hamburg and Rostock.

Main sights

* The landmark of the city is the Schwerin Palace, located on an island in the lake of the same name (

Schweriner See Lake SchwerinDukes of Mecklenburg and today is the seat of the '' Landtag'' (state parliament). * Schwerin Cathedral, built in 1260–1416 in

Brick Gothic Brick Gothic (german: Backsteingotik, pl, Gotyk ceglany, nl, Baksteengotiek) is a specific style of Gothic architecture common in Northeast and Central Europe especially in the regions in and around the Baltic Sea, which do not have resourc ...

style. * The ''Alter Garten'' (Old Garden) square, surrounded by buildings such as the 18th-century ''Altes Palais'' (Old Palace), the neoclassical ''

Staatliches Museum Schwerin The Staatliches Museum Schwerin (State Museum Schwerin) is an art gallery and museum in Schwerin in Germany. It was established by Frederick Francis II, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin in 1882 its historicist Haupthaus as the ''Staatsgalerie'' ...

'' (State Art Museum, built in 1877–1882), and the '' Staatstheater'' (City Theater, erected in 1886). * The city hall (18th century). *

Schelfkirche The Schelf Church of St. Nicholas (german: Schelfkirche St. Nikolai) is an Evangelical Lutheran church dedicated to Saint Nicholas in the Schelfstadt quarter of Schwerin in Germany. The church is owned and used by a congregation within the Evangeli ...

(Saint Nicolai Church), originally built 1238, but rebuilt in 1713 after destruction by a storm. * TV Tower Schwerin-Zippendorf.

Museums

* The Staatliches Museum Schwerin-Kunstsammlungen (State Art Museum) houses a remarkable collection of 17th-century Dutch paintings and German art from medieval and renaissance masters up to the present day. There are also a collection of Greek vases, the notable collection of Paintings of Jean-Baptiste Oudry, a collection of sculptures of Houdon, German 18th-century court paintings, and works by such modern artists as Max Liebermann, Franz Stuck, Marcel Duchamp etc. The Graphic cabinet houses rich collections of Dutch and German drawings and prints (Jan van Goyen, Dürer, Cranach, Rembrandt, Merian) and a notable collection of coloured graphics from the time of the GDR. * The

State Museum of Technology The Mecklenburg-Vorpommern State Museum of Technology (german: Technisches Landesmuseum Mecklenburg-Vorpommern) was founded in 1961 in Schwerin as the Polytechnic Museum (''Polytechnisches Museum'') and was located in several rooms within Schweri ...

(''Technische Museum''), housed in the former ''Marstall'' (Royal Stables). In 2012 the Technische Museum moved to the city of Wismar located 40 km north of Schwerin.

Crime rate

According to the official 2007 Crime Report for Germany, Schwerin was the only German city with a crime rate over 17,000 total offenses committed per 100,000 inhabitants; thus being 1st in the list of Germany's most dangerous cities. The larger cities, such as Berlin, Frankfurt am Main, or

Bremen Bremen (Low German also: ''Breem'' or ''Bräm''), officially the City Municipality of Bremen (german: Stadtgemeinde Bremen, ), is the capital of the German state Free Hanseatic City of Bremen (''Freie Hansestadt Bremen''), a two-city-state consis ...

, all have crime rates ranging from 14,000 to 16,000 total offenses committed per 100,000 people. However, Schwerin is the only city where riding a bus (or tram) without a ticket and social security fraud is counted towards the crime rate, significantly boosting the numbers.

Twin towns – sister cities

Schwerin is

twinned Twinning (making a twin of) may refer to: * In biology and agriculture, producing two offspring (i.e., twins) at a time, or having a tendency to do so; * Twin towns and sister cities, towns and cities involved in town twinning * Twinning inst ...

with: * Odense, Denmark * Piła, Poland *

Reggio Emilia Reggio nell'Emilia ( egl, Rèz; la, Regium Lepidi), usually referred to as Reggio Emilia, or simply Reggio by its inhabitants, and known until 1861 as Reggio di Lombardia, is a city in northern Italy, in the Emilia-Romagna region. It has abou ...

, Italy * Tallinn, Estonia * Vaasa, Finland * Växjö, Sweden * Wuppertal, Germany

Notable people

* Konrad Ernst Ackermann (1712–1771), actor *

Heike Balck Heike Balck (born 19 August 1970 in Schwerin) is a retired German high jumper. Biography Her personal best jump of 2.01 metres, achieved in June 1989 in Karl-Marx-Stadt Chemnitz (; from 1953 to 1990: Karl-Marx-Stadt , ) is the third-largest c ...

(born 1970), athlete *

Hermann Baranowski Hermann Baranowski (11 June 1884 in Schwerin – 5 February 1940 in Aue) was a German politician and military figure. A member of the Nazi Party, he is best known as the commandant of two German concentration camps of the SS Death's Head un ...

(1884–1940), Nazi SS concentration camp commandant * Heidrun Bluhm (born 1958), politician (The Left) *

Ludwig Bölkow Ludwig Bölkow (30 June 1912 – 25 July 2003) was one of the aeronautical pioneers of Germany. Background Born in Schwerin, in then north-central Germany, in 1912, Bölkow was the son of a foreman employed by Fokker, one of the leading air ...

(1912–2003), industrialist *

André Brie André Brie (born 13 March 1950 in Schwerin, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern) is a German politician and from 1999 to 2009 Member of the European Parliament for the Party of Democratic Socialism, part of the European Left and sits on the European Parliam ...

(born 1950), politician (The Left) * Heinrich von Bülow (1792–1846), diplomat and Prussian statesman * Heinrich Cunow (1862–1938), politician (SPD) and writer *

Franziska Ellmenreich Franziska Ellmenreich (28 January 1847 in Schwerin – 20 October 1931 in Herrsching am Ammersee) was a German stage actress. Ellmenreich is regarded as the last heroine of the German theater. Family background Ellmenreich was born into ...

(1847–1931), actress * Walther Flemming (1843–1905), biologist and founder of cytogenetics * Heinrich Friese (1860–1948), entomologist and bee researcher *

Paul Gösch Paul Gösch (30 August 1885 – 22 August 1940), also Goesch or Göschen, was a German artist, architect, lithographer, and designer of the early twentieth century; he was associated with the main elements of German Expressionism. Beginnings G� ...

(1885–1940), painter and architect, Nazi victim *

Stephan Gusche Stephan Gusche (born 13 February 1990) is a German former footballer A football player or footballer is a sportsperson who plays one of the different types of football. The main types of football are association football, American football, ...

(born 1990), footballer *

Wilhelm Gustloff Wilhelm Gustloff (30 January 1895 – 4 February 1936) was the founder of the Swiss NSDAP/AO (the Nazi Party organisation for German citizens living outside Germany) at Davos. He remained its leader from 1932 until he was assassinated in 1936 ...

(1895–1936), Nazi party leader *

Gabriele Hinzmann Gabriele Hinzmann (née Trepschek; born 31 May 1947, Schwerin) is a retired track and field athlete who competed mainly in the discus throw, such as at the 1976 Summer Olympics held in Montreal, Quebec, Canada where she competed for East Germa ...

(born 1947), athlete * Karl Albert von Kamptz (1769–1849), lawyer, Prussian Minister of Justice * Verena Keller (b. 1940), mezzo-soprano * Friedrich Klockmann (1858–1937), mineralogist *

Hans von Koester Hans Ludwig Raimund von Koester (29 April 1844 – 21 February 1928) was a German naval officer who served in the Prussian Navy and later in the Imperial German Navy. He retired as a Grand Admiral. Career overview Born Hans Ludwig Raimund Koeste ...

(1844–1928), naval officer *

Rosemarie Kother Rosemarie Gabriel ( Kother, born 27 February 1956) is a retired German swimmer. She competed at the 1972 and 1976 Summer Olympics in five events in total and won a gold medal in the 4 × 100 m medley relay in 1976, swimming for the East German ...

(born 1956), swimmer *

Detlef Kübeck Detlef Kübeck (born 22 February 1956 in Schwerin, Bezirk Schwerin) is a retired East German sprinter who specialized in the 200 metres. At the 1982 European Championships he won a silver medal in the 4 x 100 metres relay with teammates Thomas ...

(born 1956), sprinter * August Kundt (1839–1894), physicist * Friedrich Ludwig Schröder (1744–1816), actor, theatre director and playwright *

Karl Lemcke Carl von Lemcke, or Karl (von) Lemcke, who sometimes wrote as Karl Manno (26 August 1831 – 7 April 1913) was a German aesthetician and art historian who also wrote songs and novels. He was born in Schwerin. Between 1852 and 1856 he studied art h ...

(1832–1913), art historian, songwriter, rector at the University of Stuttgart * Alexandrine of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (1879–1952), duchess *

Adolf Friedrich of Mecklenburg Adolf Frederick (1710–1771) was King of Sweden from 1751 until his death in 1771. Adolf Frederick, Adolphus Frederick or Adolf Friedrich may also refer to: *Adolphus Frederick I (1588–1658), Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin *Adolphus Frederick II ...

(1873–1969), duke, Africa traveler, colonial politician and first President of the German Olympic Committee *

Cecilie of Mecklenburg-Schwerin Duchess Cecilie Auguste Marie of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (20 September 1886 – 6 May 1954) was the last German Crown Princess and Crown Princess of Prussia as the wife of Wilhelm, German Crown Prince, the son of German Emperor Wilhelm II. Cec ...

(1886–1954), duchess, last Crown Princess of the German Empire *

Rudolf Metzmacher Rudolf Metzmacher (9 June 1906 – 20 January 2004), complete name Rudolf Hans Helmut Friedrich Carl Metzmacher, was a German cellist. Life Metzmacher was born in Schwerin as son of the head teacher August Metzmacher and his wife Marie, ''née ...

(1906–2004), cellist * Robert Müller (born 1986), footballer *

Hanka Pachale Hanka Pachale-Durante (born 12 September 1976 in Schwerin) is a German volleyball player; she played for the German Women's National Team, representing them in consecutive Summer Olympics, starting in 1996. She represented her native country i ...

(born 1976), volleyball player * Andrea Pollack (born 1961), swimmer * Oliver Riedel (born 1971), musician of band Rammstein *

Sylvia Roll Sylvia Roll (born 29 May 1973) was a German female volleyball player. She was part of the Germany women's national volleyball team. In 1996 and 1997 she became the German Volleyball Player of the Year. She competed with the national team at th ...

(born 1973), volleyball player * Katrin Sass (born 1956), actress *

Bernhard Schwentner Bernhard Schwentner (28 September 1891 in Schwerin – 30 October 1944 near Brandenburg-Görden) was a German Catholic clergyman. Life Bernhard Schwentner was born in Schwerin in 1891. After finishing '' Gymnasium'', he studied in Münster begin ...

(1891–1944), Catholic priest and resistance fighter *

Hans Sellschopp Hans Karl Wilhelm Max Heinrich Sellschopp (16 April 1891, in Schwerin – 5 August 1978 in Bottighofen) was a German businessman and Nazi cultural officer at the Reichsmusikkammer, who worked as a concert promoter at Coventry Cathedral after Worl ...

(1891–1978), German businessman and Nazi cultural officer *

Matthias Stammann Matthias Stammann (born 8 May 1968) is a German former professional footballer who played as a midfielder A midfielder is an outfield position in association football. Midfielders may play an exclusively defensive role, breaking up att ...

(born 1968), footballer * Anke Westendorf (born 1954), volleyball player * Gudrun Zapf-von Hesse (1918–2019), typographer and bookbinder

Gallery

Schwerin Mecklenburgisches Staatstheater Schwerin Mecklenburg State Theatre Mecklenburg Staatstheater.jpg, Mecklenburg State Theatre Schloss Schwerin (Mecklenburg).jpg, Castle of Schwerin in the evening Blick über schwerin2016 15.jpg, View of the old town Шверин. Улочка.jpg, Schelfstadt Germany schwerin aerial view ArM.jpg, Aerial view of Schwerin 13-06-22-schwerin-50mm-by-RalfR-098.jpg, Schwerin Cathedral in the city centre Schelfstadt.jpg, Schelfstadt and its baroque Schelf Church, Lake Schwerin in the back Schwerin_St_Paul.jpg, Saint Paul's Church E-Werk Schwerin (5407745529).jpg, Former power station (''E-Werk'') Schwerin_Fridericianeum.jpg, FHM, private university 13-06-20-orangerie-schwerin-033.jpg, Castle orangerie Schwerin Staatliches Museum 2009-10-20 010.jpg, State Museum and Mecklenburg State Theatre Frühling im Schlossgarten.jpg, ''Schlossgarten'' Panorama Schwerin

References

External links

*
Tourism portal of Schwerin
{{Authority control German state capitals Cities and towns in Mecklenburg Populated places established in the 12th century Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin