Tourist Attractions in Stralsund
The former Hanseatic town of Stralsund, on the sound of the same name, is a treasurehouse of historic buildings. The old town with its famous Town Hall, Gothic parish churches, old monasteries, fortifications and burghers' houses is surrounded by beautiful lakes and gardens.
Lying off Stralsund, linked with it by a causeway, is the island of Rügen with its seaside resorts and the little port of Sassnitz (ferry to Trelleborg in Sweden).
Lying off Stralsund, linked with it by a causeway, is the island of Rügen with its seaside resorts and the little port of Sassnitz (ferry to Trelleborg in Sweden).
Read More
Burghers' Houses
There are several noteworthy Burghers' Houses in Stralsund, ranging from the Late Gothic Wulflammhaus and a Baroque building which was the headquarters of the Swedish commandant.
Katharinenkloster
In Mönchstrasse, near the Knieperwall in Stralsund, can be found the old monastery of St Catherine (Katharinenkloster), a Dominican convent founded in 1251, which now houses two museums.
Town Hall
In the Stralsund Alter Markt stands the Town Hall (Rathaus), begun in the 13th C. in brick-built Gothic style. The main front is one of the finest examples of secular brick-built Gothic architecture in North Germany.
Town Walls
Stralsund has preserved considerable stretches of its old town walls, with a number of wiekhäuser (houses built into the town walls) on the Knieperwall and near the Johanniskloster, and two town gates, the Kütertor (1446; now a youth hostel) and the Kniepertor (early 14th C.; now a dwelling house).
Facilities
On-site accomodations
Church of Holy Ghost St James's Church
Two other notable churches in Stralsund are the Church of the Holy Ghost (Heiliggeistkirche) in Wasserstrasse, a Late Gothic brick-built hall-church (15th C.), with the Hospital of the Holy Ghost, and St James's Church (Jakobikirche), at the east end of Böttcherstrasse, a brick-built Gothic basilica (originally a hall-church, 14th-15th C.).
Johanniskloster
Northeast of the Stralsund Alter Markt, in Schillstrasse, are the ruins of the Franciscan friary of St John (Johanniskloster; founded 1254), which have been left as a memorial to the destruction of the church in 1945. Concerts and other events are now held here. During restoration work fine medieval frescoes were brought to light.
Museum of Cultural History
The Stralsund Museum of Cultural History (Kulturhistorisches Museum) displays a wide range of material (early medieval gold jewelry from the island of Hiddensee, medieval religious art, folk traditions, history of the town).
Museum of the Sea
The Museum of the Sea (Meeresmuseum) in Stralsund has one of Europe's largest aquariums for tropical fish (1984; tank with a capacity of 50,000liters/11,000gallons) and a variety of displays on life in the sea, fishing, the Baltic coast and beach flora and fauna.
Hours
June 1 to September 30
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 |
October 1 to May 31
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 |
Always closed on:
New Year's Day (January 1)
Christmas Eve - Christian (December 24)
Christmas Eve - Christian (December 24)
Guides
Guided tour available as optional extra.
St Mary's Church
To the south of the Stralsund Neuer Markt is St Mary's Church (Marienkirche), a massive brick-built Gothic church (from 1382, incorporating earlier work).
St Nicholas's Church
Immediately east of the Stralsund Town Hall is St Nicholas's Church (Nikolaikirche; 1270-1350), also brick-built Gothic. Richly furnished interior (panel paintings).
