History

History is alive in many parts along the Baltic coast. Explore long gone times by discovering Middle-Age churches, architectural masterpieces of the 19th century and examples of a more recent past including GDR times. Experience a piece of German history on guided tours and walks, round trips and boat tours or start your very own exploration of the area. Below you will find an overview of the area's history along and around the Baltic Sea.

Timeline

Hanseatic League (Hanse is old German meaning union, league alliance)

The roots of the Hanse are to be found in the middle of the 13th century. It started from a union of tradesmen and soon became an economic alliance of Low German cities which initiated a lively trade between Western and Eastern Europe and therefore dominated the North of Germany and the whole of the Baltic Sea area.
The aims of the Hanseatic League were securing trading paths across the Baltic, to extend their own privileges in other countries and give aid in wars.

The Hanse consisted of 70 cities and another 100 to 130 members that stood in lose relation to the alliance. From the southern part of the Baltic Sea the cities of Luebeck, Wismar, Rostock, Stralsund, Greifwald, Demmin, Anklam, Stettin, Danzig and Riga were members of the Hanseatic League.
Rich merchants built impressive houses for themselves and supported the building of churches financially. Today a number of witnesses of that period can still be explored.

Seaside resort of Heiligendamm

Friedrich Franz I, Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin founded on advice of his private doctor the first German seaside resort, today Heiligendamm. It was build based on the examples of already existing English resorts.

Heiligendamm used to be a grand ducal summer residence and was very popular amongst the higher society.
At the beginning two ships, so-called "sloops", served as a bathing platform. They replaced the bathing machines. Later a lido for ladies and gentlemen, of course strictly separated from each other, was opened.
Restoration of Germany's oldest seaside resort start in 1996 and is ongoing.

Horse race course between Bad Doberan and Heiligendamm

In 1823 the first horse race course in Europe between Bad Doberan and the seaside resort of Heiligendamm opened. The grand duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin who used to come to Bad Doberan as a summer residence donated the course.
Every year in August local people as well as kings and noblemen from all over the world met at the race course to see and be seen. Thoroughbreds, half bloods and cold bloods competed for prices and trophies.

Unfortunately, this tradition was interrupted for many years. First because of the two world wars and then again later after a few races (1956-1961) when money was exremely short to maintain the race course. After it had to be closed it was used for agricultural purposes. Only at the beginning of August in 1993, just in time for the 200th anniversary celebration of Germany's oldest seaside resort of Heiligendamm, it was reopened. 12,000 fans celebrated the first thoroughbred horse race since 1939. Ever since the "Ostsee-Meeting" races takes place every year.

Beach chair constructed by Wilhelm Bartelmann

Wilhelm Bartelmann, the then court basket maker, designed a beach chair on request of a woman suffering from rheumatism who wanted to enjoy the healing sea air protected from the elements. Already one year later, in 1883, a chair for two was built.

In the summer of 1883 Elise Bartelmann, wife to Wilhelm Bartelmann, ran the world's first ever beach chair hire close to the lighthouse of Warnemuende.
The beach chair is enjoying an ever growing popularity. The wicker chair is available for up to 3 people in various widths and shapes. Choose the angular-shaped chair home in the North Sea area or the round version typically found in the Baltic region. Even a model for dogs was constructed.
The wicker beach chair used for a "family" photo at the G8 summit is probably the most famous beach chair across the world. It was constructed in Heringsdorf by Germany's oldest beach chair manufacturer Korb Limited Company. The picture of the 6 metre wide chair offering space for 8 people went around the world.

Ernst Heinrich Heinkel (1888 - 1958)

Already at a very young age Heinkel was impressed by a new, ground breaking means of transport – the aeroplane. He worked his way from a designer to becoming a chief designer and later the technical director of various aircraft manufactures.

He set up his first designer offer in Travemuende which on 12. December 1922 became the "Ernst Heinkel Aircraft Manufacturer Warnemünde". Under Heinkel's management the company designed numerous types of fast training, sporting, commercial and military aircrafts of world importance. Many of them won or did extremely well in international water plane competitions.

The success of the company proofed the engineers' inventive talents and in 1981 the name "Ernst Heinkel" was added to the list of the "International Aerospace Hall of Fame" in the USA. Although the past of Heinkel looked at controversially, the inventions connected to his name, however, are undoubtedly worth mentioning in line with other aerospace pioneers from across the world.

(All statements without guarantee. We reserve the right to change.)