Hanseatic Wismar – A Tour of the Historic Old Town
- Written by Portal Editor
In our previous articles on the Hanseatic City of Wismar, we have already discussed the Old Harbor, the Waterworks, and the so-called Brick Gothic architecture, particularly from the Hanseatic period.
So, we have now embarked on a city tour that will familiarize us with the historic old town of Wismar, which has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List since June 2002.
The Importance of the Hanseatic League for the Urban Development of Wismar
The Baltic Sea city of Wismar was an important member of the Hanseatic League in the Middle Ages and quickly flourished thanks to its enterprising merchants, thus making Wismar one of the wealthiest cities of the Middle Ages. Since the effective collection of taxes for state purposes, the proceeds of which came primarily from the trade turnover of city merchants and the wages of free townspeople, required the cooperation of the city's financial authorities, the introduction or modification of each individual tax was subject to the approval of the Estates, to which Wismar belonged, at their state assemblies.
Their origins date back to the beginning of the 14th century, when the knighthood, the collective body of vassals in Mecklenburg, which had met irregularly since the 13th century, invited representatives from the cities that formed the region. The Hanseatic period for Wismar began when envoys from Lübeck and Rostock met in Wismar on September 6, 1259, to conclude a treaty of protection against increasing piracy. In 1280, Wismar, along with Stralsund, Rostock, Lübeck, and Hamburg, formed the so-called Wendish League of Cities on the Hanseatic Baltic Sea Road.
Our tour through Hanseatic Wismar's old town
Many buildings from this period have been preserved or extensively restored, making the old town particularly attractive for tourism.
The 100 by 100-meter market square is one of the largest squares in Northern Germany. It is home to a city landmark, the Renaissance-style Wismar Waterworks from 1602 (see the article "Wismar Waterworks").
The following historic buildings are located on Wismar's market square:
- The neoclassical town hall, built between 1817 and 1819, with a temporary permanent exhibition on the city's history in the basement vault
- A brick-Gothic town house, built in 1360, now the "Alter Schwede" restaurant
In the area surrounding the market square, the numerous renovated streets with gabled houses ranging from medieval to neoclassical deserve the attention of tourists.
Behind the town hall on Rudolph-Karstadt-Platz in the pedestrian zone is the headquarters of the Karstadt department store group.
The building in its current form dates from 1908.
The historic staircase and the small museum on the ground floor are worth seeing and visiting.
The Fürstenhof (Prince's Court) is remarkable, built in the Brick Renaissance style and richly decorated with terracotta from the workshop of the Lübeck artist Statius von Düren.
In this context, it is worth mentioning the craftsmanship of the bricks, which were first systematically laid in the 13th century.
Today, the Fürstenhof houses the local district court.
Not far from St. Nicholas Church is the Hanseatic City of Wismar's City History Museum, located in the architecturally significant Schabbellhaus.
The World Heritage House is a listed hall house dating back to the 14th century. Since June 2014, it has housed an exhibition on UNESCO World Heritage sites.
Since a special experience later occurred in St. George's Church, another article will follow shortly, focusing on the churches in Wismar, so stay tuned.
Hanseatic Wismar - The Old Harbour with the Water Gate
Also of interest are the historic Old Harbor with the Water Gate, the last remaining city gate of Wismar's original five, and the southern Baltic coast, the so-called Vault, and the replica of the Poel Cog, whose home port is Wismar's Old Harbour. There, you'll also find the tree house with two replicas of the Swedish heads, Wismar's landmark, in front of the house entrance.
The Old Water Tower, the last remaining defensive tower of the city fortifications, which was converted into a water tower in 1685, is also one of the Hanseatic city's medieval relics. South of the tower is the Linden Garden, a green space funded by donations. The water tower at the Turnplatz, a 28-meter-high, neo-Gothic brick tower, dates from 1897.
Archaeological excavations are currently underway in the Old School with the aim of securing the building and rebuilding it.
Reformation and Thirty Years' War - Swedish Rule
The Reformation in Wismar originated with the Franciscans. Heinrich Never, a monk of the Graues Kloster (Grey Monastery), adopted the new Lutheran doctrine early on. The Graues Kloster became a school around 1540 and then a Latin school.
After the Thirty Years' War, the city came under Swedish rule in 1648, which lasted until 1803 (de jure 1903), a fact commemorated by the annual Swedish Festival in Wismar. During World War II, the city suffered several air raids starting in June 1940, with the Gothic Quarter, with its main churches of St. Mary and St. George, as well as the Old School, suffering the most damage. Much of it has since been rebuilt and renovated in accordance with historic preservation requirements.
Increasing Importance of Tourism for Wismar
Today, Wismar is the district town and home of Wismar University. Thanks to its location on the Baltic Sea, its cultural and historical significance, and its old town, Wismar is a frequently visited tourist destination in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania – increasingly also for cruises. Also economically important are the industrial port and shipping industries, such as the MV shipyards and suppliers, various mechanical engineering companies, the wood processing and solar industries, as well as the restaurants and retail sectors.
Numerous buildings in the old town are worth exploring their history – perhaps a worthwhile destination for you to explore the city of Wismar in depth.
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