Contrasts in Rostock - history meets the present

The start and finish of the city walk through the eastern part of the old town, the Gerberbruch and the city harbour is the Neuer Markt in Rostock's historic old town. Enjoy the Hanseatic flair with gabled houses, the striking silhouette 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 the Neuer Markt, follow the Große Wasserstraße (between the town hall and Hotel Sonne) down to Grubenstraße, the former natural border between the old town in the east and the city centre with St Mary's Church and the Neuer Markt. On the way, you will pass one of Rostock's oldest houses, the Krahnstöver merchant's house, dating 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 the Schwibbogen, which leads directly to the 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). The Gothic spire, which was destroyed during World War II, was rebuilt in 1994.

After the view from the top, take a stroll through the charming old town streets:   Altschmiedestraße, Brauergasse and Wollenweberstraße invite you to take a stroll with their small shops and places to stop for a bite to eat. Following the city walk, you will reach the Petrikirche church again after approx. 800 metres, which you pass to reach the city wall. Pass through the archway below the small viewing platform and turn right, where a beautiful, approx. 550 metre long footpath (Karl-Planeth-Weg) - always along the city wall and past a large playground - leads you to the crossing of the tram tracks. Cross these and Warnowstraße (traffic lights) and then you will reach Mühlendamm. Following Fischerbruch, you reach the idyllic banks of the Warnow. The neighbourhood, which was once historically settled by tanners, is an area rich in water.

The term "Bruch", which is still used in street names today, refers to an area rich in water with canals and water connections, which gives the modern residential area its name "Gerberbruch". Watch the recreational water sports enthusiasts, sunbathe on one of the many green seating areas and treat yourself to a break. The next destination on the city walk is the Holzhalbinsel, a former harbour and trading area where a residential quarter has been created in recent years and where people now live and work in an urban, idyllic setting right next to the water.

From the eastern side of the small harbour basin, where young and old often meet, you can see the silhouette of the old warehouses and the main administration building of the AIDA cruise line. Take the small pedestrian bridge over the harbour basin and then continue along the water until you reach the Kempowski Ufer and the pedestrian traffic lights across the busy street "Am Strande". Cross the road here and immediately afterwards Grubenstraße. Sandtraße and Koßfelderstraße take you a short distance back to Neuer Markt.

Take the opportunity here to visit St Mary's Church, Rostock's most beautiful and important church. Among other things, the astronomical clock with the apostle's gallery from 1472 and the bronze baptismal font from 1290 are worth seeing.

Depending on your mood - camera for taking photos and / or a cool drink for a break in between.

Numerous refreshment stops along the way

Take enough time for the tour - it's worth staying a while!

Rostock is easily accessible via the A19 and A20 motorways.

Paid parking spaces and car parks are available in Rostock city centre. Detailed information can be found at www.rostock.de

Arrival e.g. by tram to Rostock "Neuer Markt". From Rostock main station there is a regular connection with tram lines 5 and 6.

City map Rostock & Warnemünde

City map Rostock & Warnemünde

All information about the Hanseatic and University City of Rostock

Town hall at Neuer Markt

Town hall at Neuer Markt