Schwerin

Schwerin is the capital and second-largest city of the northeastern German state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. With around 96,000 inhabitants, it is the least populous of all German state capitals. The city is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Schwerin, the second-largest lake in the Mecklenburg Lake Plateau.

The name Schwerin has Slavic origins, possibly coming from words meaning "wild animal" or "game reserve." First mentioned in 1018 and granted city rights in 1160 by Henry the Lion, Schwerin is the oldest city in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Throughout history, it has served as the capital of various states and duchies, including the Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and the Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin.

Today, Schwerin's famous landmarks include the romantic Schwerin Palace with its golden dome and the towers of Schwerin Cathedral. Because it suffered only minor damage in World War II, the city retains much of its historic building structure. Major industries in Schwerin include high technology, machine building, healthcare, and tourism. While there is a regional airport in nearby Parchim, Hamburg Airport serves as the main airport for the area.

Geography

Schwerin is a city in Germany that borders several nearby areas such as Klein Trebbow, Seehof (Mecklenburg), and Leezen (Mecklenburg). It also has a small part that belongs to Klein Rogahn.

The city is home to many lakes, with twelve lakes inside its borders. Schwerin has a mild climate, influenced by the nearby Baltic Sea. Winters are cool, and summers are warm, with temperatures usually between 1 °C in winter and 18 °C in summer.

History

Schwerin is surrounded by beautiful lakes, with the largest being the Schweriner See. Long ago, a group called the Slavic Obotrites lived there. In 1160, a leader named Henry the Lion took over the area and built a castle that later became a grand palace.

In 1358, Schwerin became very important as the center of a region called the Duchy of Mecklenburg. Over the years, it grew and changed with history. Many people from Schwerin moved to the United States in the mid-1800s, especially to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and today the two cities are friends. After World War II, Schwerin was under the control of Soviet forces and later became part of a new state in Germany. In 1990, after Germany reunited, Schwerin was chosen to be the capital of the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern again.

Demographics

Schwerin is the capital city of the German state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. As of 2022, it has about 96,000 people, making it the smallest state capital in Germany. By the end of 2025, the population grew to around 99,700, and it may soon become a larger city with over 100,000 people.

In 2007, Schwerin had a higher crime rate than many bigger cities in Germany. This was partly because certain actions, like riding a bus without a ticket, were counted as crimes in Schwerin but not in other places.

Politics

Schwerin has a city council that was elected in June 2024. The mayor of Schwerin is Bernd Nottebaum from the CDU party, who has been in office since 2026.

Before 1919, Schwerin had two mayors at the same time. Since 1800, many people have served as mayor of Schwerin, including Rudolf Christian Heinrich Kahle, Ernst Julius Gottlieb Bernien, Friedrich Strempel, and many others up to the present day.

Infrastructure

Schwerin has city buses and trams that help people move around, run by a local service called NVS. The main train station in Schwerin connects the city by rail to big places like Berlin, Hamburg, and Rostock. The closest airport is Hamburg Airport, about 116 kilometers away.

The city has two colleges, but it is special because it is the only state capital in Germany without a full university. These colleges are part of larger schools, one focusing on business and the other on work and jobs.

Sights

Schwerin has many interesting places to see. The most famous is Schwerin Palace, located on an island in Lake Schwerin. It was home to important leaders of Mecklenburg for many years and is now where the state parliament meets.

Another important building is Schwerin Cathedral, built between 1260 and 1416 in a special style called Brick Gothic. The Alter Garten square has old buildings like the Altes Palais and the Staatliches Museum Schwerin, which shows beautiful artworks. There is also a city hall from the 1700s and the Schelfkirche, a church rebuilt after a storm.

Museums

The Staatliches Museum Schwerin-Kunstsammlungen has many artworks, including old Dutch paintings and pieces from famous artists. The State Museum of Technology used to be in Schwerin but moved to the nearby city of Wismar in 2012.

Twin towns – sister cities

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Germany

Schwerin is twinned with several cities around the world. These partnerships help bring people together and share knowledge and culture. The twin towns of Schwerin include places far and wide, showing friendship across borders.

Notable people

Schwerin has been home to many interesting people over the years. Some were leaders and rulers, like Albert II, Duke of Mecklenburg and Sophia Louise of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. Others made their mark in the arts, such as actor Konrad Ernst Ackermann and painter Johann Heinrich Suhrlandt.

Many from Schwerin have also achieved success in politics and science. For example, August Kundt was a physicist who invented Kundt's tube, and Walther Flemming helped start the study of cells. In sports, athletes like rower Manfred Schneider and swimmer Andrea Pollack have won Olympic medals for their achievements.