Schwerin Hotels

Schwerin in Germany is a beautiful and unusual town and the second-largest city in northern Germany, with a population of over 95,000 people. Known for its mixed architecture and fascinating buildings, it's recognized instantly by its castle and seven famous lakes. The town is a surprising find in this part of North East Germany and has an interesting history, being formerly under communist rule for 45 years. Visitors to Schwerin are generally struck by the feeling of going back in time - many of the buildings and Schwerin hotels were built between the 16th and 19th centuries and the people go about their lives in a slower, more old-world way that feels wonderful for those escaping busy working lives and urban cityscapes.

The town is easy to get to via train. There are regular scheduled services from Hamburg, Stralsund, Rostock and Berlin, as well as direct trains from Wismar. Equally, many visitors to this part of the world travel by road- whether that's by car (or hire car) or by organized coach travel and the route from Rostock is well sign-posted. In summer there are ferries from the Pfaffenteich and once in town it's easy to get around on the network of city trams and buses, which offer cheap daily passes for cost-effective travel.

The town offers charming and low-key attractions, ideal for a relaxed break. The cathedral is impressive and dates back to the fourteenth century - an imposing example of Gothic North-German architecture with a tower that beats the Rostock Petrikirche by an arm's length (the locals will remind you of this constantly, at the slightest opportunity!) Not only a beautiful building inside, with some interesting tours for visitors, but the tower also offers excellent views of the city and surrounding areas.

Culture fans will also enjoy the State Art Museum which holds one of the most important collections of Art in Germany and has fantastic examples from the Dutch masters, including Rubens and Rembrandt and other collections by Marcel Duchamp, Lucas Cranach and Ernst Barlach sculptures.

Once you've had your fill of art, take in some more history at the Schloss - a large palace set on a lake island, which was once the seat of dukes and is now home to the state Parliament. It's a dizzying confection of turrets, towers, opulent rooms and pretty domes. There are also some lovely old buildings in the old garden square, including the city theater that dates back to 1886 and the town hall which was built in the 18th century.

It's also worth heading out of the city boundaries to explore the nearby attractions. The surrounding lakes are a particular draw and the largest - the Schweriner Sea is over 40 miles square. There was once an ancient settlement here dating back to the eleventh century, where Henry the Lion defeated the Obotrites in war in 1160 and took the rule of Schwerin. This led to the city's growth as a large and powerful center of the region, whereupon the castle was built and extended over time as it grew in importance. Interestingly, many of the residents of the mid 1800's were amongst the first settlers in the United States, particularly to Wisconsin and today Milwaukee is a sister city of Schwerin.

For visitors to Schwerin hotels and attractions are in good supply. There are plenty of excellent local restaurants to enjoy the regional food in and also sample international dishes and enjoy the local ambiance. Schwerin also has some great old pubs which serve local German beers and ciders and some of the newer bars also sell excellent local wines. There are plenty of places to stay in Schwerin hotels and guest-houses are offered year-round, although it's worth checking in advance for local festivals and keytourist dates, to help book the best rooms and get good prices.

It's also worth booking a hire car if you're likely to be exploring the region independently, or take a bike to explore the wider area in greater detail. The surrounding countryside is particularly beautiful and the local people are friendly and will help advise of places to visit and explore more of. All in all, a wonderful destination for a quiet and culturally interesting holiday, to see authentic north Germany and learn more of the local people and their fascinating history.

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