Wismar Bay tells stories of sailors, merchants, pirates, and the Swedish influence that can still be felt today. Amid the sea, salt marshes, and countryside, you’ll discover not only the magic of nature but also stone monuments that shape the region’s character: churches of breathtaking size and romantic castles that transport you to another era.
Die Hansestadt Wismar, Teil des UNESCO-Welterbes, beeindruckt durch ihre monumentalen Kirchen.
Die St.-Georgen-Kirche is a masterpiece of Brick Gothic architecture. This Gothic church is one of the city’s three main churches. Its massive walls and light-filled interior have impressed visitors for centuries. The church’s 35-meter-high tower features a viewing platform from which visitors can enjoy a view of the Old Town—a UNESCO World Heritage Site—as well as the harbor and the Baltic Sea—a panorama that never fails to impress guests from near and far. Especially in the summer, cultural events such as exhibitions, plays, organ concerts, and readings fill the sacred building with life and offer an incomparable acoustic experience.
Right next to it, the St.-Marien-Kirche to the heyday of the Hanseatic League. After the war, only the outline of the former nave remains, but the 80-meter-high tower continues to rise as a navigational landmark. Enjoy a guided tour of the tower, which rises to a height of 63 meters. From up there, you’ll not only have a spectacular view of the Old Town and the harbor, but you’ll also experience the architectural history of Brick Gothic up close through a 3D animation.
Die Nikolaikirche, once the sailors’ church, enchants visitors with its dizzying height and the rich detail of its interior—a place where you can truly feel the magic of the Hanseatic era. Today, it serves as a venue for world-class concerts. Anyone who sits here in the evening, as music and acoustics blend into an almost mystical experience, will understand why this church is one of the largest brick structures in Northern Europe. Incidentally, the historic street Schweinsbrücke is located right next to St. Nicholas Church. In the Middle Ages, herds of pigs were driven down this street into the city to be sold at the market.
If you’d like to learn more about Wismar and its history, the museum in the Schabbelhaus is the place to go. This impressive 16th-century building houses 800 years of the city’s history, bringing it to life and making it an engaging experience for visitors of all ages.
Klütz & Klützer Winkel: A Baroque "Little Piece of England"
Just a few kilometers from the coast lies Klütz, the cultural heart of the Klützer Winkel region.
Bothmer Castle, the largest Baroque castle complex in Mecklenburg, is located in Klütz.
Surrounded by parkland featuring magnificent tree-lined avenues, moats, and bridges, it feels like a little piece of England on the Baltic Sea. No wonder—it was built according to the English model. Today, it is considered a fairytale setting for weddings. A special feature: The Festonallee at Bothmer Castle, a 250-year-old avenue of linden trees that have been artfully pruned, is one of the most beautiful avenues in the state. Visitors can experience very special atmospheres here throughout the year: In the spring, the castle park invites visitors to take walks through blossoming avenues; in the summer, opera performances, garden concerts, and open-air events draw crowds. In the fall, a golden glow blankets the avenue, and in the winter, the castle’s festive lighting creates romantic moments.
Smaller castles and manor houses in the Klützer Winkel also invite visitors to linger. St. Marien Klütz is one of the oldest churches in the region, marking the transition from the Romanesque to the Gothic period.
Poel Island – Where Idyll and History Come Together
The island of Poel is an oasis of calm in the bay, yet history is ever-present.
Kirchdorf Island Church: This Romanesque-Gothic brick church, with its striking tower, once served as a landmark for sailors.
What makes it special: the historic ramparts. Right next to the church are the remains of a star-shaped fortress dating from the Thirty Years' War, which visitors can explore today on a walk.
Boltenhagen and the Surrounding Area: Nature and Hidden Manor Houses
Boltenhagen itself is known primarily as a seaside health resort with a spa building and a pier, but it is surrounded by historic noble estates.
Evangelische Kirche Boltenhagen: A simple, modern building right behind the dune—perfect for a moment of quiet between trips to the beach.
Schloss Kalkhorst: Ein neugotisches Backsteinschloss nahe Boltenhagen.
One of the highlights is the arboretum: The castle grounds are home to over 100 different tree species from all over the world, including gigantic sequoias and exotic plane trees.
