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Wismar is one of the historic North German Hanseatic cities, where you can see many old buildings in the so-called Brick Gothic architecture. The architecture is typical of the once prosperous cities of the Hanseatic League, and among other things, the three major churches radiate the atmosphere from the city’s economically thriving commercial history.
The churches of St. Georgen and St. Nikolai stand beautifully as the great old churches that are. The third of Wismar’s three mighty churches, the Marienkirche, was destroyed during World War II and is today it is only the church tower with the contours of the other buildings which remains. It provides an interesting perspective in the old center of the city.
Wismar was once one of Sweden’s most important cities in their North German possessions, and in Wismar the Swedes have made their greatest mark in the region, where not least the famous Swedish heads can be seen in the city and on the water on a harbor cruise. The Bay of Wismar and the harbor are added dimensions to a visit to the Hanseatic city.
There are many interesting places to see around the city. Wismar is a good starting point for trips to other Hanseatic cities such as Lübeck and Rostock. There is great nature as well, and an excursion to the German Baltic Sea coast is a good choice. Towns like Heiligendamm and Kühlungsborn are examples of fashionable seaside resorts close by.
The time of founding
Wismar’s prehistory was under the name of Reric, which was a Slavic or Saxon trading ground near the present city. The Danish king Godfred destroyed Reric in 808 and took the place’s merchants to Hedeby, which was the political center of Denmark at the time.
Reric’s good location on the Baltic Sea with natural protection of the Bay of Wismar made the place attractive, and a boatyard named Wismar appeared and was mentioned for the first time in 1147. From 1211 there is a document authorizing Schwerin’s inhabitants to use the port of Wismar, but this port exact location is unknown.
Today’s Wismar is believed to have been founded by the Mecklenburg Duke Henrich Borwin I in 1226, and not many years later, rights were introduced after Lübeck as an example. In the first decades, the settlements around Nikolaj Church and Maria Church grew together, and the city quickly expanded to what is today the center of the old town.
Wismar’s trade
The trade flourished quickly for the well-located city on the Bay of Wismar, and in 1259 met, among others, envoys from Lübeck and Rostock in Wismar. They were to take steps against the increasing number of pirates, which posed a threat to the development of the northern German cities. The meeting was the start of establishing cooperation between the Vendean Hanseatic cities, which in the Middle Ages became important members of the Hanseatic League.
The population grew steadily, and around 1300 there were about 5,000 people living in Wismar. In 1350, the plague came to the city and about 2,000 inhabitants were affected.
The 1300-1500s became a time of both rise in city trade and internal strife. Thus, in the first half of the 1400s, there were political disputes, and after a defeat to Hansen’s navy against Denmark, naval commander Hinrich van Haren and Mayor Johann Bantzkow were executed in Wismar. The city had lost 12 ships to the Danish navy.
The Swedish era
During the Thirty Years War, Wismar was occupied by Sweden in 1632. In the Westphalian Peace, entered into in the cities of Münster and Osnabrück in 1648, Wismar and considerable Pomeranian areas came under the Swedish crown. In 1653, Sweden established the supreme court in the country’s possessions on the south side of the Baltic Sea in Wismar.
During the Skåne War between Denmark and Sweden, Wismar was occupied by Denmark 1675-1680. After those years, the Swedes expanded Wismar with such extensive defense works that the city became one of the best-fortified shipping cities in Northern Europe. However, after Swedish defeat during the Great Nordic War in the early 18th century, the defense had to be shut down again.
The Swedish era was long overdue for the city, and it actually ended in 1803, when Sweden pledged the city to Mecklenburg-Schwerin for 99 years. At that time, about 6,000 lived in the city.
19th century harbor and trade
Throughout the 19th century, Wismar continued to develop as a trading town and the population numbered to around 20,000. In 1848 a railway line to Schwerin was opened and the network was continuously expanded over the following decades. In 1881, Rudolph Karstadt opened the store that would eventually become the Karstadt department store.
Between 1869 and 1904 the medieval city wall was demolished including gates and defense towers. The old defense system was thought to be a constraint to the city’s economic growth, and so Wismar was allowed to develop regardless of what had been the old city within the walls.
20th Century to Today
Like the rest of Germany, Wismar also became part of the Nazi regime of 1933 and later an active part of the war of 1939. Industries and the port were strategically important places in the city.
During World War II, Wismar was hit by twelve bomb attacks, which in total destroyed much of the old Gothic district; including two of the city’s three major churches. However, a special target was the Dornier aircraft factory in the port area. British and Canadian troops came to the city on May 2, 1945, and on July 1, they were replaced by the Red Army, and Wismar became part of the GDR for the following decades.
During the GDR, Wismar was expanded and the port became the country’s most important after Rostock Harbor. In 1990, Wismar regained its status of Hanseatic city, after which the city was officially named Hansestadt Wismar, which is reflected, for example, on the license plates of the city’s cars. Since then, the city core has undergone a restoration and partial reconstruction that has brought much of the city back to ancient glory to the delight of locals and visitors alike.
Overview of Wismar
Wismar is one of the historic North German Hanseatic cities, where you can see many old buildings in the so-called Brick Gothic architecture. The architecture is typical of the once prosperous cities of the Hanseatic League, and among other things, the three major churches radiate the atmosphere from the city’s economically thriving commercial history.
The churches of St. Georgen and St. Nikolai stand beautifully as the great old churches that are. The third of Wismar’s three mighty churches, the Marienkirche, was destroyed during World War II and is today it is only the church tower with the contours of the other buildings which remains. It provides an interesting perspective in the old center of the city.
About the upcoming Wismar travel guide
About the travel guide
The Wismar travel guide gives you an overview of the sights and activities of the German city. Read about top sights and other sights, and get a tour guide with tour suggestions and detailed descriptions of all the city’s most important churches, monuments, mansions, museums, etc.
Wismar is waiting for you, and at vamados.com you can also find cheap flights and great deals on hotels for your trip. You just select your travel dates and then you get flight and accommodation suggestions in and around the city.
Read more about Wismar and Germany
Buy the travel guide
Click the “Add to Cart” button to purchase the travel guide. After that you will come to the payment, where you enter the purchase and payment information. Upon payment of the travel guide, you will immediately receive a receipt with a link to download your purchase. You can download the travel guide immediately or use the download link in the email later.
Use the travel guide
When you buy the travel guide to Wismar you get the book online so you can have it on your phone, tablet or computer – and of course you can choose to print it. Use the maps and tour suggestions and you will have a good and content-rich journey.
Markt • The Old Harbor • Swedish Heads • Impressive Churches
Overview of Wismar
Wismar is one of the historic North German Hanseatic cities, where you can see many old buildings in the so-called Brick Gothic architecture. The architecture is typical of the once prosperous cities of the Hanseatic League, and among other things, the three major churches radiate the atmosphere from the city’s economically thriving commercial history.
The churches of St. Georgen and St. Nikolai stand beautifully as the great old churches that are. The third of Wismar’s three mighty churches, the Marienkirche, was destroyed during World War II and is today it is only the church tower with the contours of the other buildings which remains. It provides an interesting perspective in the old center of the city.
About the upcoming Wismar travel guide
About the travel guide
The Wismar travel guide gives you an overview of the sights and activities of the German city. Read about top sights and other sights, and get a tour guide with tour suggestions and detailed descriptions of all the city’s most important churches, monuments, mansions, museums, etc.
Wismar is waiting for you, and at vamados.com you can also find cheap flights and great deals on hotels for your trip. You just select your travel dates and then you get flight and accommodation suggestions in and around the city.
Read more about Wismar and Germany
Buy the travel guide
Click the “Add to Cart” button to purchase the travel guide. After that you will come to the payment, where you enter the purchase and payment information. Upon payment of the travel guide, you will immediately receive a receipt with a link to download your purchase. You can download the travel guide immediately or use the download link in the email later.
Use the travel guide
When you buy the travel guide to Wismar you get the book online so you can have it on your phone, tablet or computer – and of course you can choose to print it. Use the maps and tour suggestions and you will have a good and content-rich journey.
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