Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania has a population of just 1.8 million people living in an area of 23,173 square kilometres making it Germany’s most sparsely populated federal state. But when it comes to tourism it’s the country’s leader: in 2006 the north-eastern state’s hotels and guest houses notched up 25 million overnight stays – more than any other single federal state. “Meck-Pomm”, as the state is affectionately known, has 1,700 kilometres of coastline and extensive idyllic lakelands which combine to make it one of Europe’s most beautiful holiday and recreation areas. It is a paradise for nature lovers and offers extensive cycle paths and hiking trails as well as countless waterways and lakes. The coastal air here is ranked as the cleanest in the whole of Germany. Over 25 per cent of the total area is protected because of its wildlife or outstanding landscape. It is the habitat of rare species, such as beavers, storks and sea eagles.This summer TV viewers throughout the world gained an impression of the region’s beauty when international media reported on this federal state which was created in 1990 after Germany’s reunification: Chancellor Angela Merkel had invited the heads of state and government for the G8 summit to her home state and to the Baltic Sea resort of Heiligendamm. Germany’s head of government grew up in the Uckermark area and also has her constituency in the region. Heiligendamm is regarded as the oldest and finest seaside resort in Germany. France has Deauville, Belgium has Knokke and Germany has Heiligendamm – just a few kilometres to the west of Rostock. The Baltic coast is fashionable and elegant. From Ahrenshoop to Lubmin and Binz on the island of Rügen, Germany’s largest island with an area covering 1,100 square kilometers, and to Zinnowitz on the island of Usedom – the resorts stretch along the coastline like a chain of pearls. Seaside resorts and fishing villages, lighthouses and bridges across the sea, snowy white chalk cliffs and fine sandy beaches alternate in a charming medley. They are interspersed with historical Hanseatic cities, such as Stralsund, Rostock or Wismar, where visitors can saunter at their leisure. Their medieval redbrick facades glow in the sun, fishermen lay out their catches on market stalls, enchanting cafés entice customers in the narrow winding old-town streets. Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania’s seat of government is in Schwerin – Germany’s smallest state capital with its 98,000 inhabitants. But the beautiful backdrop to the parliament building is virtually unparalleled: the parliament meets in Schwerin Castle which lies idyllically at the centre of Lake Schwerin and is a tourist attraction in its own right.
But it’s not simply the unadulterated natural landscape and the great diversity of tourist attractions that make Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania so attractive. The state presents itself as a haven for healthy living with its slogan “M-WP is good for Germany”. The state’s government has progressively expanded the opportunities for wellness, sport and fitness seekers. Clinics, rehab and spa facilities treat patients and clients from the whole of federal Germany. The health and wellness sector now employs over 86,000 people in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.
© Deutschland magazine
