Discover Rostock: City Tour With Audio Guide

The historic and eastern city centre are relatively compact, so you can start the tour at any point. For example, it is just 350 metres from the start at "Universitätsplatz" to "Neuer Markt" described here.

We begin our city tour at "Universitätsplatz", the central square in the historic old town, which is a popular meeting point thanks to the Fountain of Joy, the main university building and the pedestrian zone. From University Square, walk to the left of the university building to the Convent of the Holy Cross, which today houses the Cultural History Museum, among other things. The medieval monastery complex with the monastery garden below the city wall with the ramparts is a green oasis in the middle of the bustling city centre. Leave the monastery courtyard / monastery garden via the steps that lead up through the city wall and onto the ramparts. The city fortifications with their ramparts, towers, walls and formerly 22 city gates still characterise the cityscape today. Once in the park on the ramparts, turn right and follow the green area to Kröpelin Gate, the mightiest city gate at 54 metres high. From the medieval Kröpelin Gate, you now enter a chapter of the modern era, "Lange Straße". The longest street in the historic city centre was built in the monumental Hanseatic architectural style during the GDR era and used for parades and representative purposes. Don't miss a detour to the Northern Old Town! Via "Schnickmannstraße" and "An der Oberkante" you will reach "Wokrenterstraße", which is famous for its gabled houses. Two of the gabled houses have been preserved in their original state (such as the House Tree House from 1490); the other houses are replicas.

The striking silhouette of St Mary's Church rises above Rostock's city centre, visible from all sides. Take the opportunity to visit St Mary's Church, Rostock's most beautiful and important brick Gothic church, on your city walk. Among other things, the astronomical clock with the apostle's gallery from 1472 and the bronze baptismal font from 1290 are worth seeing.

After you have visited St Mary's Church, continue to "Neuer Markt" in Rostock's historic old town. The New Market Square "Neuer Markt" is the market of the former city centre. Here you can enjoy the Hanseatic flair with gabled houses, the view of St Mary's Church and Rostock Town Hall with its seven towers. A weekly market with regional and seasonal producers is held regularly on the "Neuer Markt".

From "Neuer Markt", follow the "Große Wasserstraße" (between the town hall and Hotel Sonne), take a short detour to the Kerkhoff House, a gabled house with terracotta, which today houses the registry office and a city archive, before heading from the "Neuer Markt" to Stone Gate, one of Rostock's city gates. Here you will also find the House of the Estates, the former seat of the Mecklenburg estates; today it is the seat of the Higher Regional Court. From Stone Gate you follow the city wall again - this time heading east and past another city gate, the Cow Gate. You cross "Grubenstraße", the former natural border between the old town in the east and the centre of the city with St. Mary's Church and the New Market. On the way, you will pass one of Rostock's oldest houses, the Krahnstöver merchant's house, which dates back to the 14th century.

You will reach St Nicholas Church, one of the oldest preserved hall churches in the Baltic region, via "Mühlenstraße". The imposing brick building is open for religious and other cultural use and is mostly used as a venue for concerts, exhibitions and theatre performances. Take a look at the roof of St Nicholas Church - three residential floors were built here during the reconstruction.

You can reach "Lohgerberstraße" via "Schwibbogen", which leads directly to "Alter Markt" and St Peter's Church. 117 metres high is the tower of St. Peter's on the high bank of the Warnow, which has been a landmark for sailors and fishermen over the centuries. Today, a lift leads to the viewing platform (45 metres). In 1994, the Gothic spire, which was destroyed during World War II, was rebuilt.

After the view from the top, you descend again and follow the "Amberg" to the University of Music and Drama, a former Franciscan monastery from the 13th century with an impressive monastery. If you have enough time and are staying longer in Rostock, take a look at the university's calendar of events; public concerts are held regularly.

Tourist Information Centre at University Square

Kröpeliner Straße