Scandinavian Cruise - Day 4 - Warnemunde for Berlin

Warnemunde, Germany

Warnemunde is a sea resort and district of Rostock in Mecklenburg – Western Pomerania, situated at the Baltic Sea in the North-east of Germany at the estuary of the river Warnow.

Historical Notes - Founded in about 1200, Warnemunde for centuries has been a mere fisherman’s village with minor importance for the economic and cultural development of the region. In 1323 Warnemunde lost its autonomous status as it purchased by the city of Rostock in order to safeguard the city’s access to the Baltic Sea. It was not until the 19^th century that Warnemunde began to develop into an important sea resort. Today Warnemunde counts approximately 8,400 inhabitants.

Economy - Once completely dependant on the fishery industry, Warnemunde’s economic alignment has shifted inevitably from the primary to the secondary and tertiary sector. Besides the Aker Warnow Weft shipyard, the economy largely depends on tourism. The construction of a modern cruise line centre in 2005 has contributed crucially to Warnemunde’s establishment as the most important harbour for cruise line ships in Germany.

Sights - Being a centre of maritime traffic, the district of Warnemunde comprises numerous navigational aids, the oldest of which is the lighthouse located near the beach promenade. The lighthouse, which is currently still in use, was built in 1897. In the summer

Period, the 40-yards-high tower allows visitors to enjoy an impressive view over the Baltic Sea and the Northern districts of Rostocks. The nearby Teepott (Tea Pot) with its slightly curved roof, the resort’s second famous landmark, is an interesting example of GDR – architecture. Built in the 1960’s and renovated in 2002, it today houses different restaurants and sea voyage exhibition.

In the vicinity of the canal Alter Strom (Old River), with its various restaurants, pubs and traditional fishing boats, regional specialities are offered at the fish market.

Warnemunde’s broad, sandy beaches are the largest at the German coast of the Baltic Sea and stretch out over a length of 3 kilometres.

Where we are docked - A short walk takes you into the lovely little town of Warnemunde, lots of boutiques and restaurants. Trains operate a frequent service to Rostock, and take around 25 mins, a 25 minute walk from the station or use the trams to the main square.

Currency and Language

Euro (£1 = €1.15), German, some English is spoken and understood.

Rostock – is a city in north-eastern Germany, on the estuary of the Warnow River, in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, near the Baltic Sea. Rostock is an important seaport and, with nearby Warnemünde, constitutes one of the major shipping centres of Germany, receiving a large part of the oil supplies imported into the country. Manufactures include machinery, chemicals, and processed food.

The city has the oldest university in northern Europe (1419) and a college of music. A number of old churches, including Saint Nicholas's Church, dating from the middle of the 13th century, and Saint Mary's Church, a Gothic structure begun in 1398, are located in Rostock. Saint Mary's features an astronomical clock from 1472 that is still operating. The Gothic city hall was also built in the 14th century. Rostock was founded in the 12th century on the site of a settlement of the Wends, and was chartered as a city in 1218. Subsequently, the city became a leading member of the Hanseatic League. Large sections of Rostock were severely damaged by bombing in World War II (1939-1945). In 1992, a mob attacked a hostel full of eastern European asylum seekers in Rostock. Population approx 200,500

Berlin is the capital and largest city of the Federal Republic of Germany. Administratively, Berlin also constitutes one of Germany’s 16 states. Berlin became the capital of Germany in 1871, when the numerous independent kingdoms and principalities of Germany united to form a single nation-state (see German Unification (1871)). The city quickly developed into one of Europe’s major industrial and cultural centres and became the single most important city in Germany.

From 1945 until 1990 Berlin was a divided city. Following the defeat of the Nazi regime (see National Socialism) in World War II (1939-1945), the victorious Allied Powers — the United States, Britain, France, and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR)—divided Germany into four zones, each occupied by one of the Allied Powers. They also divided Berlin, which was in the Soviet sector, into similar zones. The Soviet-controlled sector of the city became known as East Berlin, and the Western-occupied sector became known as West Berlin. In 1949 East Berlin became the capital of the German Democratic Republic (known as East Germany), one of two successor states established in Germany after the war. That same year the capital of West Germany, the other successor state, was established in the city of Bonn. West Berlin remained an urban island surrounded by Communist East Germany. The city became a focus of Cold War tensions between Communist countries led by the USSR and anti-Communist states led by the United States.

In 1990, following the collapse of Communism in the USSR and East Germany, Germany was reunified, and a united Berlin was declared its capital. The government gradually began moving its offices from Bonn to Berlin, a process that was largely completed by early 2000.