{"id":16923,"date":"2010-11-24T08:41:00","date_gmt":"2010-11-24T07:41:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.voyages-d-affaires.com\/allemagne-cote-baltique-la-belle-inconnue-du-nord-20101124.html"},"modified":"2025-03-24T09:25:37","modified_gmt":"2025-03-24T08:25:37","slug":"germany-baltic-coast-the-beautiful-unknown-north","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.voyages-d-affaires.com\/en\/germany-baltic-coast-the-beautiful-unknown-north","title":{"rendered":"Germany, Baltic coast: The beautiful unknown of the north"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

There's an old-fashioned atmosphere in Heiligendamm, a seaside resort that languishes on the Baltic Sea. Abandoned white villas await a potential buyer, more than 20 years after the unification of the two Germanies. And yet, just a few metres away, uniformed staff efficiently manage a ballet of Porsches, Mercedes and Bentleys on the porch of the luxurious Grand Hotel. Every weekend, the bourgeoisie from Berlin, Hamburg and L\u00fcbeck gather in this wild spot where the white sandy beaches are largely ignored by developers.<\/p>\n

Heiligendamm was Germany's first seaside resort, and its...<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

There's an old-fashioned atmosphere in Heiligendamm, a seaside resort that languishes on the Baltic Sea. Abandoned white villas await a potential buyer, more than 20 years after the unification of the two Germanies. And yet, just a few metres away, uniformed staff efficiently manage a ballet of Porsches, Mercedes and Bentleys on the porch of the luxurious Grand Hotel. Every weekend, the bourgeoisie from Berlin, Hamburg and L\u00fcbeck gather in this wild spot where the white sandy beaches are largely ignored by developers.<\/p>\n

Heiligendamm was Germany's first seaside resort, founded in 1793. Today, after a 40-year hiatus when it was used as a sanatorium for workers in the now defunct GDR, Heiligendamm has regained its popularity with a German clientele in search of luxury, peace and open spaces.<\/p>\n

And therein lies the paradox. With 4.18 million travellers in 2009, representing a market share of 19.9 %, Mecklenburg-Lower Pomerania, in the north-east of Germany, is the second most popular destination for German tourists within their own country. By contrast, it is virtually unknown to the rest of Europe. Foreign overnight stays represent just 15 % of total commercial overnight stays. \"Karl-Michael Stybel, director of the tourist office in Wismar, one of the region's most visited cities, laments: \"Our region is giving too little to international promotion.<\/p>\n

Castle life<\/h2>\n

What dismays the town councillors is, on the other hand, a godsend for visitors in search of a genuine and surprising destination. In the Middle Ages, the power of the Hanseatic League's member cities was expressed through the use of this material, which was used to build churches and cloisters, city gates and surrounding walls, and patrician houses. The severity of the exterior often contrasted with the immaculate whiteness of the interior. The churches of St George and St Nicholas in Wismar, St Mary's Church in Rostock, Bad Doberan Cathedral and St Mary's Basilica in Stralsund are home to treasures such as multicoloured medieval paintings, exquisitely delicate wood carvings, Baroque altars and organs. Unesco has declared the old towns of Wismar and Stralsund World Heritage Sites, while Bad Doberan has just submitted its application.<\/p>\n

Finally, there are the towns that have preserved their historic character when they weren't bombed during the Second World War. Wismar, Stralsund, Rostock with their medieval streets lined with gabled houses. In Schwerin, the old town, with its classical architecture, gives the impression of a fairytale castle. Set in the middle of a lake, the impressive building is a masterpiece of German historicism, where authentic sixteenth-century facades blend with others inspired by Chambord and dreamt up by the Dukes of Mecklenburg in the nineteenth century.<\/p>\n

Castle life. That's what those who venture out on the Baltic can experience. Near Wismar, Gamehl Castle is an ode to German Romanticism, with its ivory-coloured rooms and garden of three-hundred-year-old trees. Schlemmin Castle, near Stralsund, is another pleasant retreat set in an immense park. The Baltic: for a chic incentive off the beaten track.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Identity card<\/h2>\n