Islands, lakes, and beautiful port towns – these are but a handful of the many beautiful things Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania has to offer. Officially formed as a state on 1947, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (sometimes translated as Western Pomerania) still exudes the beauty that it possesses even after a thousand years when the first Celtic inhabitants settled along the region.

Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania is one of the sixteen states of Germany. It is located north of Germany, along the coast of the Baltic Sea. It is bordered to the West by Schleswig-Holstein, to the southwest by Lower Saxony, to the south by Bradenburg, and to the east by the West Pomeranian Voivodeship.

MV, the informal name for the state, has its administrative seat in Schwerin, a beautiful city surrounded by many lakes. The southern part of the state is home to many lakes, of which, the largest is Lake Muritz. Aside from the lakes, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania boasts of its beautiful coastal area.

The coastline provides a panoramic view of the Baltic Sea and the many islands that dot the vast blue horizon. One of the state’s islands is Rügen, Germany’s largest island. A state of rich agrarian resources, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania prides itself with its gently rolling hills, green forests, bountiful meadows and pastures. Greatly gifted by nature’s riches, this state counts in as one of the most breathtaking spots in Europe, and if not, for the rest of the world.

A Rich Tapestry of History

If history is a tapestry, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania would be a creatively magnificent piece of work with two vividly colored threads swirling and creating intricate patterns that would perfectly manifest the rich history of the state. Long before Mecklenburg and Western Pomerania are considered as one state, they are of two different places having two entirely different histories. Western Pomerania, for instance, was largely under Swedish rule or many years.

Afterwards, it became a province of Pomerania under the Prussian regime. Mecklenburg, on the other hand, was an independent part of the German Empire. On 1701, Mecklenburg was divided into Mecklenburg-Schwerin and Mecklenburg-Strelitz but they were reunited again on 1934. Mecklenburg and Western Pomerania were united after the Second World War; dissolved then reunited again on 1990 under the Federal Republic of Germany.
Mecklenburg and West Pomerania distinguishes itself with its architecture. Brick Gothic architecture celebrates the state’s old Hanseatic culture as seen on the cities of Rostock, Wismar, Stralsund, and Greifswald.  The most well-known landmark of the area is the palace that has been the former residence of the grand dukes of Mecklenburg-Schwerin.
The State Museum houses a magnificent collection of European art, including 17th century Dutch and Flemish paintings. The architecture of the Museum itself marks the impact of Gothic art as it, along with the State Theater stands as one of the most outstanding examples of Brick Gothic Architecture.

Rostock, the state’s largest city is known for its seaside resort Warnemünde and for the “Hanseatic Port Days”. An astronomical clock situated in the city’s Church of St Mary dates way back from the 15th century. The old city of Neubrandenburg stands as a citadel with its medieval tinged city gates that have survived through centuries.

Industries of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania

Eight-years after the switching of a state-controlled economy to a market economy, the restructuring of the state’s economy has been very well. Granting that agriculture comprises a large portion of the region of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, it is not as industrialized as compared to the other states of Germany. Nevertheless, the state has its own distinct share in the economic pie of Germany as a whole.

Since the state is topographically situated near the Baltic, shipbuilding has been one of the primary and most important industries in the area. The ports of Rostock and Mukran play a huge part in trade industries that around the areas near the Baltic. Long, long ago, the coastal areas witnessed the trading of the early settlers with the people from Scandinavia. And today, the ports continue its legacy as the door to the adjoining countries of the Baltic.
Aside from the shipbuilding industry, food, luxury food and beverage industry also thrive in the area. The fertile pastures and bountiful meadows of the region homed principal crops such as grain, oilseed, and potatoes.

One can also commend the booming construction industry, mechanical engineering, building materials industry and wood industry that is now gaining a name in the region.
With all these, it is fascinating and worth speaking that the region has successfully struck a balance between its industrial and agricultural resources. However, this would seem as a relatively small achievement as compared to what the state is famous for: it’s Tourism Industry.

The Treasure of the Baltic

The southern part of the region gives you a breathtaking picture of beauty at its finest. Imagine deep-set crystal clear lakes scattered and sewn upon a seemingly endless carpet of emerald green meadows. These lakes are a favorite of sailing and fishing enthusiasts. Tourists also flock the area to experience and have a taste of Medieval Europe with the state’s nearly two-thousand castles, palaces, and manor houses.  Most of the time, they serve as venues for concerts and festivals.

The northern part, the area near the Baltic is famous for its spectacular views of the Baltic coast and the islands in it. Of all these, it is the Rügen who attracts the most number of visitors. The white chalk cliffs and the crooning sound of the waves as they lapse gently to the shore creates a beautiful and melodramatic harmony of sights and sounds for the captivated beholder to see. Aside from this, the Störtebeker Festival and the Granitz Hunting Lodge also draws tourists’ attention in the region.

As it is greatly gifted with Nature’s Gift, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania takes great responsibility and care for its natural industry. Today, there are 296 nature reserves, 110 landscape reserves, and three of Germany’s fourteen national parks in the state.
Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania is just one of the many beautiful spots in Europe. Nevertheless, its distinct aura that manifests a melting pot of different and traversing variety of culture, history, and natural resources provides a rich combination of exquisite wonder only Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania can give.