Güstrow, once the seat of the Dukes of Mecklenburg-Güstrow, lies 40km/25mi south of Rostock in the valley of the Nebel. Its great tourist attractions are the Cathedral, the Schloss and the Ernst Barlach Memorial Museum, but it has many other fine old buildings.
The Gertrudenkapelle (c. 1430), northeast of Güstrow's old town, is now an Ernst Barlach memorial (Gedenkstätte), with important examples of the sculptor's work, including the "Wanderer in the Wind", the "Apostle", the "Doubter", the "Chained Witch" and "Mother Earth".
The Cathedral interior contains a noteworthy high altar displaying panel paintings from Christ's Passion, a 14th C crucifix, and "The Floating Man", a bronze sculpture by Barlach.
Ernst Barlach's studio at Heidberg 15 in Güstrow is now a memorial museum containing most of the work he left behind (over 100 works of sculpture, together with drawings, printed graphic art and books).
Address: Ernst Barlach Memorial Museum, Heidberg 15, D-18273 Güstrow, Germany
Known as one of Northern Germany's most impressive Renaissance buildings, the Schloss was restored in the 1960s and 70s, and today the fine interior displays the art of the Schlossmuseum.
Bützow, 12km/7.5mi northwest of Güstrow, has a brick-built Early Gothic church (Late Gothic winged altar, Renaissance pulpit of 1617) and a neo-Gothic Town Hall (1846-48).
Address: Bützow Tourist Office, Am Markt 1, D-18246 Bützow, Germany
Domstrasse in Güstrow leads to the Markt, which since the 1797-98 rebuilding of the 16th C. Town Hall in neo-classical style has had a unified neo-classical character.