Schwerin is the smallest state capital in northern Germany, yet its grand castle and seven surrounding lakes create a striking impression.
This city of 95,000 people offers visitors a rare combination of natural beauty and architectural sophistication, without the tourist crowds found in more popular German destinations.
Aerial view of Schwerin castle
The city's centrepiece, Schwerin Castle, rises from an island in Lake Schwerin like something from a fairy tale.
Although it is often compared to Bavaria's Neuschwanstein, this castle is older than its southern counterpart and is used as a working seat of government rather than being a mere tourist attraction.
Water is central to daily life here. The lakes offer recreational activities for locals and visitors alike, including boat tours, waterfront restaurants and walking paths connecting the city's various districts.
Schwerin is an ideal destination for those seeking an authentic German experience away from well-trodden tourist paths.
Markets still operate in medieval squares and local cafés serve regional specialities alongside contemporary cuisine.
Schwerin is located in the northern German state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, around 110 kilometres east of Hamburg and about 210 kilometres north-west of Berlin.
The city sits on the southwestern edge of a vast lake district, with Lake Schwerin being its most prominent natural feature.
This location puts Schwerin within easy reach of the Baltic Sea coast (40 kilometres north) and the cultural attractions of other major German cities.
The surrounding region of Mecklenburg is one of Germany's least developed areas. It is characterised by agricultural land, nature reserves and small historic towns. This has helped Schwerin maintain its traditional character while serving as the state's administrative centre.
Schwerin's location on the Hamburg-Rostock railway line makes it easily accessible.
The city is a gateway to the Mecklenburg Lake District, which is Germany's largest continuous network of lakes and canals. This extensive waterway system extends eastwards towards Poland and provides access to hundreds of lakes and waterways popular with boating enthusiasts.
The nearby cities of Rostock and Lübeck both have international airports, although the choice of international destinations is limited.
Distance to Lübeck Airport: 66km
Distance to Rostock Airport: 79km
Distance to
Hamburg Airport: 115km
Distance to Berlin Brandenburg Airport: 233km
Most visitors arriving by air will use Hamburg airport and Berlin Brandenburg airport. Both have plenty of European and long-haul destinations and international carriers and transport is convenient by both road and rail services.
Schwerin's main railway station ('Schwerin Hauptbahnhof') is located a kilometre to the northwest of the old town.
It is an important transit point for rail services from towns on the Baltic coast and can offer InterCity services from cities around Germany, such as Frankfurt, Bremen, Cologne and Leipzig. Regional train services connect Schwerin with Berlin, Hamburg and the Baltic coast cities of Rostock, Stralsund, Wismar and Lübeck.
Schwerin is linked to other major cities by the A14 motorway, which runs north to Wismar and the Baltic coast and, to the south, links to the A24 motorway connecting Hamburg and Berlin.
The city maintains several well-signposted car parks near the centre, though vehicle access is largely restricted in the historic district itself. Visitors at weekends should note that parking can become scarce during the summer months, when day-trippers arrive from Hamburg.
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The story of Schwerin begins in 965 CE, when Slavic tribes established a fortress on an island in Lake Schwerin. Known as Zuarin, this settlement marked the beginning of the city's strategic importance in the region.
Henry the Lion, Duke of Saxony, conquered the area in 1160, establishing German control and transforming the tribal fortress into a medieval town.
The city's golden age began in 1352, when it became the seat of the Dukes of Mecklenburg.
Over the next five centuries, these rulers shaped the city's character, commissioning grand buildings and establishing Schwerin as a centre of arts and culture.
Their most visible legacy is Schwerin Castle, which was rebuilt in its current fairy-tale style between 1845 and 1857 to replace an earlier Renaissance structure.
View over the old town of Schwerin
The nineteenth century saw significant changes as Schwerin adapted to industrial modernisation while retaining its role as a government centre.
Unlike many other German cities, Schwerin emerged from the Second World War relatively unscathed, preserving much of its historic architecture.
The city served as a regional administrative centre during the Soviet occupation and subsequent East German period (1945–1990), though development slowed considerably.
Schwerin reclaimed its position as the state capital of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania after German reunification.
The city underwent careful restoration, striking a balance between preserving its historical character and meeting modern development needs. Today, it is one of the best-preserved examples of 19th-century urban planning in northern Germany and has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Schwerin Castle ("Schweriner Schloss") is one of Germany's most impressive examples of Romantic Historicism, combining elements of the French Renaissance and Gothic Revival styles. Built between 1845 and 1857 on the site of earlier fortifications, the castle is located on its own island and connected to the city by bridges. Although it still serves as the state parliament building, most of its 653 rooms are open to visitors and showcase the state apartments, a throne room and extensive art collections.
Schwerin Castle Gardens ("Schlossgarten") cover 160 hectares of landscaped grounds designed by court gardener Theodor Klett in the English landscape style. The gardens blend formal features close to the castle with more natural areas further afield. Highlights include historic greenhouses, an orangery and numerous sculptures. The grotto is a real gem and the walking paths along the lakeside offer a variety of views of both the castle and the city.
The castle gardens in Schwerin
Schwerin Cathedral ("Schweriner Dom"), with its 117.5-metre tower, dominates the old town skyline and is one of northern Germany's finest examples of brick Gothic architecture. Construction began in 1172, although most of the current structure dates from the 14th and 15th centuries. Inside, the cathedral houses significant medieval art, including a bronze baptismal font dating from 1335 and a high altar triptych. Visitors can climb the tower to enjoy panoramic city views, and the cathedral's excellent acoustics make it a popular venue for classical concerts.
Schwerin cathedral
The medieval street layout of Schwerin Old Town ("Altstadt") is still clearly visible, and the area features buildings from multiple centuries. The Market Square features the eighteenth-century Town Hall alongside well-preserved merchant houses, and narrow lanes reveal hidden courtyards and specialist shops. Notable buildings include the sixteenth-century Schleswig-Holstein-Haus and the Arsenal, which now houses shops and restaurants.
Lake Schwerin (Schweriner See), the fourth-largest lake in Germany, covers more than 60 square kilometres and has a significant impact on city life. The lake features multiple islands, including the Schlossinsel, and offers a variety of recreational activities. Pleasure boats offer regular tours around the lake, while the waterfront promenade (Schlossgartenallee) is a popular destination for evening walks.
The Residenzensemble of Schwerin brings together a magnificent castle, government buildings, lakes and parks to create a unified cultural landscape. At its centre stands Schwerin Castle, surrounded by Lake Schwerin and six smaller lakes. The castle gardens flow into the city parks, and bridges and walkways connect these different areas.
The design dates back to the 1800s, when the rulers wanted to create the perfect small capital city. They constructed new government buildings while preserving the medieval street layout. Every detail was planned to work together — for example, the castle would be visible from certain streets, and parks would lead naturally to important buildings.
Schwerin State Museum
Visitors today can see how the city planners used the lakes and hills to create beautiful vistas and integrated the castle, government buildings and parks into a unified design. It is this complete example of a small European state capital city from the 19th century that led to Schwerin being nominated for UNESCO World Heritage status.
The Schwerin tourist information office is located in the town hall on Marktplatz in the historic town centre. It is open every day in summer, with slightly restricted hours at the weekends, and closed on Sundays during the winter period.
Website: www.schwerin.de