During a short vacation at the Baltic Sea, we visited the two cities of Wismar and Lübeck. We had both cities on our “Germany bucket list” for a long time, as Wismar, Lübeck and Stralsund are both World Heritage Sites. So we went on a tour of the Hanseatic city on a Saturday to see the most famous sights.
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Interesting facts about Wismar
The old Hanseatic city of Wismar is nestled in the coastal landscape of the Baltic Sea in the federal state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. With around 42,000 inhabitants, it has a pleasantly manageable yet lively feel – perfect for travelers who want to combine maritime flair with cultural highlights. Wismar is part of the Hamburg metropolitan region and is easily accessible by train or car. We parked our car in a free parking lot on Weidendamm (location in Google Maps) and walked from there to the old town in just a few minutes.
Wismar was first mentioned in a document in 1229 and played an important role in Baltic trade during its history as a Hanseatic city. Even today, mighty brick churches such as St. Nikolai, St. Marien and St. Georgen tell of this era. St. George’s Church is particularly impressive and has been welcoming visitors again since 2010 following extensive restoration work – including a panoramic view from the tower. The Old Harbour is another highlight: here, historic sailing boats bob alongside fishing trawlers, from which freshly caught fish is sold daily. And enthroned on the market square is the impressive Wismar Water Art, an ornate Renaissance fountain that once ensured the city’s water supply.
The Hanseatic city of Wismar on the Baltic Sea
Tourist information & UNESCO award for Wismar
When we explore cities, our first port of call is usually the tourist information. Here we first try to get a city map to get an initial overview of the size of the city and the number of sights. The city maps often include circular routes that lead past the city’s most beautiful and interesting landmarks. On the Wismar city map, for example, there is a World Heritage nature trail marked in red that runs right through the city.
Right next to the Wismar tourist information office, we discovered the so-called World Heritage House, which is located in a restored merchant’s house from the 14th century at Lübsche Straße 14. The museum is accessible free of charge and has housed a 400 m² exhibition on the Hanseatic city’s UNESCO World Heritage since June 2014. Here you can learn a lot of interesting facts about the history of Wismar and the significance of its World Heritage status. A floor plan of the town, interactive elements and audio stations bring the medieval town structure and its former wealth through trade to life.
Incidentally, Wismar has not been awarded World Heritage status because of a single sight, but because the town is an outstanding example of a fully preserved Hanseatic town complex from the late Middle Ages. The old town of Wismar has retained its original layout, many historic buildings and important examples of brick Gothic architecture, including the churches of St. Georgen, St. Marien and St. Nikolai. Together with the city of Stralsund, 140 km away, Wismar was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2002 with the title “Historic Old Towns of Stralsund and Wismar”, as both cities document the cultural and economic heyday of the Hanseatic League in exemplary fashion.
Places of interest in Wismar
Marketplace & Wasserkunst
From the Welt-Erbe-Haus, we walked along Lübsche Straße towards the city center: We walked over cobblestones and past gabled houses until we reached the generously designed market square. The market was bustling at the time. We bought a delicious bratwurst here and strolled through the rows for a while. The selection ranges from seasonal vegetables and cheese from the region to honey, sausage and homemade products from small manufacturers. Especially nice: many traders come directly from the countryside or from the coast around Wismar.
The marketplace is really huge and is one of the largest marketplaces in northern Germany. It is surrounded by beautiful town houses with typical brick Gothic and classicist façades. One of the most striking buildings on the square is the Alte Schwede, which now houses a restaurant. The name alone arouses curiosity – and it is indeed one of the oldest town houses in Wismar, built in 1380. We really liked the Gothic brick façade with its stepped gables and small details.
Directly opposite is the Wismar Wasserkunst, which was once a technical masterpiece: in the 17th century, it supplied Wismar with fresh drinking water. Today, with its copper dome and delicate decorations, it is a popular photo motif. On the north side of the market square is Wismar’s town hall, built in 1819 on the remains of a building dating back to 1319. From the outside, it looks almost inconspicuous – white plastered and with a classicist façade.
St. Nicholas Church
The St. Nicholas Church in Wismar is an impressive example of North German brick Gothic architecture and was built between 1381 and 1487 as a church for sailors and fishermen. With its 37-meter-high central nave, it is one of the highest churches in Germany and is the second-highest vault in the brick Gothic style after the Marienkirche in Lübeck. The church is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Old Town of Wismar and remained largely undamaged during the Second World War, making it one of the best-preserved medieval sacred buildings in the region.
The interior of the St. Nicholas Church is particularly impressive, with works from different eras. These include a monumental winged altarpiece from the 15th century, which originally came from St. George’s Church, and a baroque high altar from 1774. The church also houses two baptismal fonts: one made of granite from the 13th century and a bronze font from around 1335, which is supported by three kneeling young men.
Tour of the old town
The historic city center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site for good reason – a walk here is like a journey back in time to the heyday of the Hanseatic League. There are beautiful photo opportunities, colorful houses and winding alleyways everywhere. Here you will also find the Grube, an artificial watercourse dating back to the 13th century, and is considered to be the last surviving medieval city canal in an old town in northern Germany. The pit connects the mill pond with the Old Port and crosses the historic city center over a length of around two kilometers. In the city center, the Grube is divided into the Mühlengrube, Frische Grube and Runde Grube sections, following the direction of flow. The roads running parallel to the watercourse are named after the sections.
Originally, the mine was used to supply water, drive mills and as a transportation route for goods such as grain and salt. In the event of fires, it could also be used as a fire-fighting water reservoir by damming the outflow through iron gates. Today, the mine is a picturesque place that delights visitors with its historical flair. There are numerous listed buildings along the watercourse, including the old town mill, the Schabbellhaus and the so-called Gewölbe – a half-timbered house that spans the Runde Grube.
We also really liked the blossoming Japanese cherry trees in Claus-Jesup-Straße. The street itself was once known as the “Faule Grube” – a reference to the open watercourse that flowed through it and served as a sewer. Archaeological finds provide evidence of medieval bank fortifications and a pavement from the 14th century. We also really liked Krämerstarße, the main shopping street in Wismar.
Old harbor
The old harbor in Wismar goes back to a natural Baltic Sea bay. It is the maritime heart of the Hanseatic city and a living relic of its long trading tradition. Even in the Middle Ages, the port was an important transshipment point for goods such as salt, timber and grain, which were shipped from here to other Hanseatic cities or to Scandinavia. The port still characterizes the cityscape today with its restored warehouses, historic cranes and brick architecture.
Along the promenade, fish stalls, cafés and restaurants invite you to linger – often with freshly caught fish straight from the cutter. The queues at lunchtime were correspondingly long 🙂 In summer, events such as harbor festivals, markets and concerts take place here regularly.
For us, the most beautiful photo motif in Wismar was the vault. The vault is a remarkable example of North German half-timbered architecture and an important cultural and historical monument. It is located at Runden Grube 4, right next to the old harbor, and was built in the middle of the Built in the 17th century. The two-storey half-timbered house stands on two barrel-vaulted bridge bays, under which the Runde Grube flows. This construction method is unique in Wismar and emphasizes the close connection between urban architecture and waterways. Originally, the building was integrated into the town fortifications and served various purposes, including as a checkpoint for wines delivered by the so-called wine lords in the 17. and 18th century. It was later used as a fish and eel smokehouse.
Today, the vault is a restored individual monument that preserves the historical atmosphere of the Hanseatic city of Wismar. Following extensive renovation work, it now houses three vacation apartments that offer visitors an authentic stay in the immediate vicinity of the Old Port.
We really enjoyed our day visit to Wismar. Wismar really is a beautiful city with lots of interesting photo opportunities 🙂