Rostock
Hanseatic City and Northern Gateway
Northern Germany has always been a gateway of sorts with her busy ports of trade with Scandinavian countries and prominence in the Hanseatic League. Today the grand medieval homes and public buildings still stand in monument to the booming commerce of the Middle Ages.
Eight hundred years of history have shaped this "Gateway to the North": Rostock has preserved much of the charm that it once possessed as one of the most important members of the Hanseatic League. The gabled houses dominating the skyline attest to this, as well as the imposing brick warehouses, massive gates and fortifications, and awe-inspiring churches.Important examples of medieval and Renaissance architecture abound in Rostock’s Old Town. There is the 1490 Hausbaumhaus (Hausbaum House), one of the few wooden structures remaining in the city. The Marienkirche (St. Mary’s Church), from the same period, continues to cast a dramatic shadow, although the 355-foot steeple of the Petrikirche (St Peter's Church) tops the skyline (climb the 196 steps or take the half-minute elevator ride). Adjacent to the "Marienkirche" stands the 13th-century Rathaus (Town Hall) with its 18th century baroque makeover. Traditional gabled patrician houses line Wokrenterstrasse.
Some of the original city wall still remains, especially along the park-like Wallstrasse. Beyond the wall, villas and residences were built in the 1850s for an expanding middle class. The lively Kröpelinerstrasse (Kröpeliner Street) in the pedestrian zone is usually bustling with window-shoppers and friends chatting at sidewalk cafes. At its mid-way point, the Universitätsplatz (University Square) is a magnet for students, children and other young people. Typical Rostock hospitality is found above all in the so-called "KTV" (Kröpeliner Tor-Vorstadt) with its pubs, restaurants and bars - many of them the favorite haunts of Rostock students.
Plan on a trip to nearby Warnemünde while in the neighborhood. Although Warnemünde has been part of Rostock since 1323, the two cities are different. For some visitors, the beach - as wide as a football field is long - is the prime attraction. Many visitors also come to Warnemünde resorts for their spa offerings. On the side of the Alter Strom (Old Stream), fishing boats lie tied to cleats as their crews sell from tables heaped with fish. Cross the footbridge over the "Alter Strom", and walk through narrow alleys lined with centuries-old gabled fishermen’s houses. Where the old and new channels meet, the 92-foot-high Warnemünde Leuchtturm (Lighthouse) has spread its protective beacon since 1897.
Past the Warnemünde Lighthouse, the "Westmole", a 1600-foot breakwater topped with a wide cement walkway, extends into the Baltic and provides the best vantage point for watching ships make their way to sea. At a right angle to the breakwater, a promenade runs from the lighthouse, along the beach and out of sight.
The "Rathaus" (Town Hall) has been the city administration headquarters since the 13th century, a construction nearly 750 years old combining Gothic and Baroque architectural styles.
At the base of the lighthouse is Warnemünde's famous "Teepott" (Teapot), a round building with a curved roof, built in 1967/68. Cafés and restaurants offer a unique view of the beach and sea.
The "Steintor" (Stone Gate) was built in the style of the Dutch Renaissance on the site of the former Gothic southern main gate. The picturesque city side features the city's seal and coat of arms as well as the inscription "Sit intra te concordia et publica felicitas" (let harmony and general well being reign within thy walls).
With its 355-foot spire topping the city skyline, the "Petrikirche" (St. Peter's Church) marks the area where the town was founded. Its viewing platform affords a stunning view as far as the Baltic.
The church was first mentioned in 1252 and is at least 800 years old. Interestingly, it was built with some breaks. For instance, in 1311 when Rostock was at war with the Danish king, the towpeople took some of the church's stones to build a defense tower on the Baltic in Warnemünde. From the viewing platform (climb the 196 steps or take the half-minute elevator ride), guests can look out over the entire city, along the Warnow River up to Warnemünde and the Baltic.
Building started mid 13th century, but in 1398 the nearly finished building collapsed. After that a cross-shaped Basilica emerged, built in the style of the French cathedral style and the "Marienkirche" in Lübeck. Its tower is Baroque. The art treasures of the "Marienkirche" (St. Mary's Church) are worth seeing including the astronomical clock built in 1472, the bronze baptismal font consecrated in 1290, the Rochus altar from around 1530 and the Baroque organ. 
Where the old and new channels meet, the 92-foot-high Warnemünde Lighthouse has spread its protective beacon since 1897. In more recent years, it has become a tourist attraction as well, offering one of the best views of the sea, harbor and town.
The "Katharinenkloster" (St. Catharine's Convent) was a Franciscan monastery as early as 1223. Following recent restoration and construction work, the church shows an interesting interplay of ancient and modern architecture. After the Reformation, the 13th century building ensemble was at various times a poorhouse, hospital and old people's home and later as a school. In the early 19th century, the church contained a French military hospital.
Large sections of Rostock's "Stadtmauer" (City Wall), which once surrounded the medieval city, are still preserved today. The city wall itself with gates, towers, watch houses and ramparts was built during the second half of the 13th century - including the "Kuhtor" (Cow Gate), the oldest town gate in Mecklenburg (first mentioned in documents in 1262). The longest section of the City Wall, at 450 meters, stretches from the "Kröpelintor" (Kr
"Alter Strom" - the old stream used for nearly 500 years but closed off in 1903 when the new channel was widened - recalls days long gone by.
The seaside district Warnemünde is full of maritime charm with belle époque villas, lighthouses and the old timber-framed houses for the fishermen and sailors. 