Fischland, Darß and Zingst
a paradise for bathers on the Baltic Sea
The Fischland, Darß and Zingst peninsula chain is located in the far north of Germany. The originally independent islands slowly grew together in the past and were finally connected by dikes in the 19th century. Picturesque little fishing villages, the most varied of landscapes and seemingly endless sandy beaches make the region a unique travel destination for nature lovers and bathers. Zingst and Darß are part of the Western Pomerania Lagoon Area National Park. Darß is especially famous for its Darß primeval forest, which is around 6,000 hectares in size and is accessible through a network of numerous hiking trails. A popular tourist destination is the oldest town on Fischland, the seaside resort of Wustrow.
In the picturesque seaside resort of Ahrenshoop, everything revolves around art
Those who climb the church tower of Wustrow will be rewarded for their efforts with a fantastic view over the peninsula. From the harbor you can go on smaller excursions with one of the Zeesen boats. In summer you can buy smoked fish in the harbor at lunchtime. The picturesque seaside resort of Ahrenshoop has been strongly influenced by art to this day. The place became famous for the artist Paul Müller-Kaempf, who founded a painters’ colony here at the end of the 19th century. Today works of art can be admired in the New Kunsthaus, in the Bunten Stube and in the art katen.
The region is the largest resting place for cranes in all of Central Europe
The beautiful Ostseebad Prerow, located on the Prerowstrom, is the most important place on the Darß. Sights include the seaman’s church from 1726, in the interior of which you can admire old carved seaman’s houses and ship models. Also worth seeing is the Darß Museum, which primarily serves to promote homeland care. A worthwhile excursion destination in the south of Prerow is the seafaring village Wieck. In the east, at the very end of the peninsula chain, lies the Zingst spa resort, an ideal starting point for boat trips, for example to watch thousands of cranes in autumn, which take a break on their long flight to the south here in the bay and on the islands. The region is the largest resting place for cranes in all of Central Europe
Gotha
old royal seat in the heart of Thuringia
Between the Wartburg city of Eisenach in the west and the state capital Erfurt in the east lies Gotha, the former residence of the Duchy of Saxony-Gotha. The lively cultural city in the Free State of Thuringia looks back on a long history and offers a variety of attractions that are worth discovering, especially for study trips.
Friedenstein Castle
Friedenstein Castle, visible from afar, towers a good 300 meters above the city. It is one of the largest early baroque palace complexes in Germany. On its grounds there is not only the oldest English garden on the European mainland, but also one of the most beautiful baroque orangeries in the country. A walk through the rooms of the castle, the museums and the underground casemates is like a journey through the centuries. In the Ducal Museum opposite the castle, works by Cranach the Elder and Rubens, Egyptian antiquities, art treasures from Asia or the world-famous “Gotha lovers” are on display, to name just a few. The palace museum includes, among other things, splendidly furnished living rooms and representative rooms as well as the art chamber, which enjoys an international reputation.
Sights in the old town
On the north side of the Schlossberg, a path leads along the water art with its waterfalls, fountains and ponds into the historic old town. The town hall on the main market is adorned with numerous decorative elements and its north portal is one of the most beautiful Renaissance portals in Germany. Also on the main market is the guild hall, which is closely associated with Ernst Wilhelm Arnoldi, one of the city’s greatest personalities. In addition, the Margarethenkirche, the Augustinian monastery with its vaulted passage and the Augustinerkirche, where Martin Luther once preached, are also part of a visit to Gotha.
Festivals
On the first weekend in May, the city celebrates its patron saint with the Gothardus Festival, and in July / August the Ekhof Festival offers a very special theater experience in a time-honored ambience at Friedenstein Castle. The castle is also the scene of the baroque festival that takes place on the last weekend in August.
