Page 476 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Germany

474  NOR THERN GERM AN Y MECKLENBURG–L OWER POMER ANIA  475

1 Schwerin E Staatliches Museum A number of outstanding VISITORS’ CHECKLIST
Am Alten Garten 3. Tel (0385) 595 80. original features compare well
Despite protests from Rostock, the smaller town of Schwerin Open Apr–Oct: 10am–8pm Tue, with the finest works from Practical Information
was chosen as the capital of the newly united state of 10am–6pm Wed–Sun; Oct–Apr: Antwerp during this time. Road map D2. * 110,000.
Mecklenburg-Lower Pomerania. This was an inspired choice 10am–5pm Tue–Sun. & They include the wooden n Am Markt 14 (Rathaus) (0385-
59 252 12). _ Schloßfestspiele
as the town is picturesquely situated amid several lakes, with The state art museum stands in late-Gothic multi-panelled (Jun–Jul), Drachenboot (Aug),
Alter Garten, one of the most
Cruci fixion worked in sandstone,
a fairy-tale castle on an island, and an enchanting old town attractive squares in Germany, the 14th-century baptismal Altstadtfest (Sep).
with many Neo-Classical and historic buildings that survived where the waters reflect the font, a memorial to Duchess ∑ schwerin.com
World War II largely unscathed. Apart from a brief spell, the castle and Neo-Renaissance Helen of Mecklenburg Transport
Mecklenburg dukes resided in Schwerin from 1318–1918. theatre. The museum, which created by the Vischer work- £ Am Bahnhof.
Intellectual life flourished here in the 16th century and features lions on its façade and The Dom and houses in Schwerin shop in Nuremberg and the
so the city is known as “Florence of the North”. a portico with Ionic columns, tombstones of Duke
houses an art collection based Gebäude on the north side. This Christopher and his wife (1595). The museum contains a
on that of Duke Christian “new building” is a covered collection of Mecklenburg folk
Ludwig II, a testimony to his market from 1783–5, with a E Freilichtmuseum architecture, including 17 houses
taste and erudition. As well as showpiece façade comprising Schwerin-Muess of the 17th–19th centuries,
works by German artists such as 12 Doric columns. Alte Crivitzer Landstraße 13. which strive to recreate the look
Cranach, Liebermann and Tel (0385) 208 41-0. Open late Apr– of an original village. Combine
Corinth, and the Dutch painters R Dom St Maria und late Sep: 10am–6pm Tue–Sun; late a visit with a leisurely day on
Hals and Fabritius, it holds works St Johannes Sep–Oct: 10am–5pm Tue–Sun. & the beach in Zippendorf.
by many French artists. This Am Dom 4. Tel (0385) 56 50 14. Tower
includes 34 paintings by Jean- Open Apr–Oct: 10am–5pm Mon–Sat,
Baptiste Oudry, who was court noon–5pm Sun; Nov–Mar: 11am–2pm
painter to Ludwig XIV, as well as Mon–Fri, 11am–4pm Sat, noon–3pm
paintings by Dadaist artist Marcel Sun. &
Duchamp and sculptures by This cathedral is regarded as the
expressionist artist Ernst Barlach. most important work of Gothic
brick architecture in the Baltic
P Rathausplatz region, in spite of its Neo-Gothic
The town hall square is tower, which affords a
surrounded by the homes of marvellous view of the entire
The Neo-Renaissance Schloß occupies Burg island in the Schweriner See wealthy citizens, often with town. The basilica, dating from
19th-century façades 1240–1416, with its wide transept
Exploring Schwerin chapel built by Johan Batista concealing older walls. This is and passageway around the
The old town of Schwerin is Parra in 1560–63 has survived. true of the Gothic town hall, presbytery and its wreath of
situated between Pfaffenteich The elegant rooms in the castle which is hidden under an chapels, is reminiscent of the
railway station and Schwe riner – Thronsaal (throne chamber), English mock-Tudor-style design of French cathedrals. Houses of an earlier era in open-air Freilichtmuseum in Schwerin-Mueß
See, a vast 65-sq km (25-sq mile) Ahnengalerie (ancestral gallery), façade. Demmler was the
lake. All its major attractions can Rote Audienz (red auditorium), architect who is responsible for
-B EBEL-STR.
easily be visited on foot. Close Speisesaal (dining chamber) – numerous Neo-Renaissance Schwerin City Centre A UGUST-
by to the north is Schelf, which are decorated with gilded stucco and Neo-Gothic buildings, the 1 Schloß Hauptbahnhof
500 m (550 yards)
was once a separate town. work. Despite the proliferation showpieces of Schwerin. One FRIEDRICHSTR. MÜNZSTRASSE
of their styles these rooms of the outstanding buildings 2 Burg- und Schloßgarten Dom St Maria PUSCHKINSTRASSE GRÜNE STRASSE
+ Schloß delight visitors, transporting in the market square is Neues 3 Staatliches Museum & St Johannes
Schloßinsel. Tel (0385) 52 52 920. Open them back to the 19th century. 4 Rathausplatz Neues Gebäude B U R G S T R A S SE
15 Apr–14 Oct: 10am–6pm daily; 15 5 Dom St Maria und St Johannes RATHAUS Rathaus W ED ERST RAS S E
PLATZ
Oct–14 Apr: 10am–5pm Tue–Sun. Y Burg- und Schloßgarten
Situated on Burg Island, this The remaining part of the island SCHLOSSSTRASSE G R O S S E R M O O R
castle is often referred to as the is occupied by the Burggarten KLE INER MOOR
“Neuschwanstein of Mecklen- (fortress garden), which has an GOETHE STR A S S E Mecklenburgisches M A RSTA L L
burg”, after the famous Bavarian orangery and an artificial grotto, M EC K L ENBURGSTR A S S E Staatstheater Staatliches
Museum
ALTER
castle. It was, in fact, largely built built from granite around 1850. GARTEN
earlier (1843–57) to an eclectic A bridge leads to the larger
design by Georg Adolph Schloßgarten (castle garden), a H.-MANN-STR.
Demmler and Fried rich August favourite place for the town’s Schloss Schweriner
Stüler, who were inspired by the inhabitants to relax. The Kreuz- G R A F - S C H A C K -A LLEE See
turrets of Château Chambord in kanal, a canal built in 1748–56, Burgsee
France. Major refurbishment one of the garden’s axes, is lined Burggarten
tried to re-create some of the with copies of Baroque statues
castle’s original Renaissance including the Four Seasons, L E N
features, of which only the created by the renowned 0 metres 300 BURGSEESTRASSE
ceramic decorations have sculptor of the Dresden Zwinger, Venus and Amor (1527) by Lucas Cranach in N É S T RASS E
remained. Inside, the castle Balthasar Permoser. the Staatliches Museum 0 yards 300 Freilichtmuseum Schlossgarten
For hotels and restaurants in this area see p503 and pp532–3
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