Rostock

Geography

Rostock is located practically at the center of the Baltic coast of the Mecklembourg-Poméranie-Western. Rostock extends on 21,6 kilometers from the the Baltic until the south and on 19,4 kilometers of is in west. The coastal part of Rostock, Rostock- Warnemunde, is located at approximately 16 km in north of the historical center of the city. The parts densément populated city are at the west and at south-east, the international port is located at the east of Rostock.

History

Genesis

With the XIe century the Polabe S established on Eastern bank of the Warnow river around a camp comprising a castle (burg) and an agglomeration called Roztoc (what means where the river widens ); from where the name Rostock derives.

The king of the Denmark Valdemar Ier made set fire to the city in 1161 on this occasion the Danish chronicler Saxo Grammaticus mentioned first this one.

It is in 1189 that for the first time one mentions an agglomeration with German tradesmen and craftsmen installed on other bank and bearing the name of Rostock. In the beginning, then in this place three distinct cities were.

Altstadt (Old city) around the Alter Markt (Old market) and of the Church Saint-Pierre de Rostock

Mittelstadt (City of the Medium) around the Neuer Markt (New market) and of the Church Notre-Dame de Rostock.

Neustadt (New city) around the Hopfenmarkt (Gone Hops, current public garden of the University) and of the Church Saint-Jacob de Rostock, demolished since.

The urban right of Lübeck was granted to this agglomeration the June 24th 1218 by prince Heinrich Borwin 1st; it is about the oldest document attesting the existence of the city which one does not know the precise creation date.

Hanseatic League

With the the Middle Ages, Rostock was an important member of the Hanse. The Hanseatic League ensured the city a significant development, for this reason the architecture of the downtown area with the ramparts, the doors and the warehouses built out of bricks of the Brandebourg strongly carry the print of this time. In XIVe century, while Lübeck passed for the pearl of Hanse, Rostock was the most important city of Mecklenburg, a powerful port of 12.000 inhabitants and one of the richest cities of this alliance. The ships of Hanse intended to sail in the Baltic entaient built in Rostock. In 1419 the university of Rostock was the first founded in the area of the Baltic. The city counted moreover more than one hundred of small breweries. Rostock at the time enjoyed a great reputation for its russet-red beer with the excellent taste.

XVe at the XVIIIe century

At the end of the XVe century the Duc S of Mecklembourg succeeded in reinforcing their capacity on the town of Rostock, which hitherto was only theoretically fixed to actually be able to them but primarily independent. They instrumentalisèrent for this purpose a riot known under the name of Domfehde , a rising without success of the poor populations . The later conflicts with the dukes and persistent plundering led finally the city to a loss of economic and political capacity.

The strategic situation of Rostock caused the desire of the external powers. Thus, the Danes and the Swedes twice occupied the city, the first during the Thirty year old Guerre (1618 - 48) and again 1700 with 1721. Later, French of Ier|[Napoleon], occupied the city during nearly one decade until in 1813. It was here that Blücher, which precisely was born in Rostock and which was one of the generals still fighting after the battle of Iéna, went to French in 1806. Following terrible street battle during which it ordered some load of cavalry itself; the Prussians, exhausted, went to course food and ammunition.

With these fights of influences, were added a fire which destroyed the city in 1677 accentuating the decline of Rostock, it is only in the middle of the 19th century that industrialization made it possible the town of take again its dash.

XIXe century

In first half of the XIXe century Rostock regained much of its economic importance, first of all because of the trade of the Blé, and, as from the years 1850, because of industries and more particularly of naval constructions. It is in Rostock that the first German vapor with propeller was launched.

XXe century

The city grows in the face and population, from new districts emerged in the south and the west of the old limits of the city. Two developments of residential districts notable were added in answer to the population growth around 1900:

Steintor-Vorstadt in the south, extending from the old wall at the new Railway station " Lloydbahnhof" (now Hauptbahnhof). It was conceived like a district living and is composed especially of large simple houses, inhabited by the rich citizens.

Kröpeliner-Tor-Vorstadt in the west, conceived to place the working population also accommodating industrial plants like " Mahn and the Brewery of Ohlerich" (now Hanseatische Brauerei Rostcok). The principal shipyard, " Neptun" was close to the other coast of the river.

Until the Second world war the city counted two building sites aeronautics. As of the Twenties the engineer Ernst Heinkel founded here the Heinkel-Flugzeugwerke company as of the Twenties and made begin in Marienehe the construction of the first jet of the world. The Arado factories with Warnemunde being second establishment of air construction.

At the same time as the production of planes developed, the number of the inhabitants increased quickly by immigration and incorporation of the close villages, all that supported by the come to power of the Nazis. Rostock became an important city. During the Second world war the downtown area was severely bombarded by the Allies in 1942 and 1945 and had to be rebuilt. The construction of plane ceased completely at the end of the war.

The city continued to grow after the war - especially with the rebuilding of great sectors of dwelling; the new seaport located at the Breitling became the large port of GDR and counts still today like one of the most important ports of the the Baltic.

The German Réunification caused a decline, marked in August 1992 by aggressions against foreigners in the Lichtenhagen district who were to still mark several years the image of the city. A response of Rostock to this situation was the initiative› multicoloured and nonbrown. It remains that one has still evil to disentangle the political implications which made it possible the conflict to burst. Multicoloured was also, in 2003, the international exhibition of horticulture (IGA) organized by Rostock. In the same year, the tunnel under Warnow was open. The candidature of the city associated with Leipzig for the organization with the Olympic Games with summer in 2012 however was not retained during the international preselection by the IOC the May 18th 2004.

Policy

Symbols

In the long story of Rostock, the city had three different blazons known as Signum , Secretum and Sigillum . Signum, which goes back to 1367, was the last adoptee and constitutes the modern blazon of the city. The blazon is not only visible on the flags, the houses and the bus stops but also on the bridges, barriers, ships and restaurant what shows its importance in the identity of the city.

The flag represents a Griffon of gold a field of azure and the colors of the Hanse, money and red.

Administration

Since the XIIIe century, the body controlling the city is the municipal council ( Rat ), made up of 10 then later of 24 advisers ( Ratsherren ). The president of the council was the mayor of the city. With the XIXe century it y' have even three mayors at the same time. Since 1925, the chief of the executive of the city carries the title of mayor. After electbeing elected during centuries by the municipal council, he is henceforth elected directly by the inhabitants of Rostock, after a reform going back to 2002.

The Parliament of the city ( Bürgerschaft ) represents the inhabitants, its representatives are elected for five years. Currently the number of its representatives is of 53.

13
13 PDS
11
6
3
3 Rostocker Bund
4 others

The Parliament of the city is chaired by the Präsident der Bürgerschaft . It directs and prepares the sessions, and represents the city with the Mayor jointly.

Roland Methling (Independent), was elected Maire of Rostock to the first turn by 58,2% of the voters the February 27th 2005.

Twinnings

Rostock is twinned with: }

Attractions

One of the places most typical of Rostock is the Neuer Markt (Place of the new market) including/understanding the Town hall built at the origin in XIIIe century out of brick and of style Gothic, but transformed in-depth at the XVIIIe century by the addition of a frontage baroque and a room of the banquets. The place also preserves six original houses with pinion well preserved, restored beautiful way dating from XVe and XVIe centuries. The other old houses of Hanseatic style which bordered the place being destroyed during an air raid combined in 1942.

The Kerkhofhaus of XVe century (located Große Wasserstraße, behind the Town hall) is regarded as the Gothic brick house best preserved city.

The Marienkirche (Notre-Dame Church), located at Ziegenmarkt, is an imposing Gothic brick church. Built in XIIIe century, it was increased and modified at the end it XIVe century to arrive at the basilica in the shape of current cross. Its high tower was not completed before the end of the XVIIIe century. Inside the tower is located a astronomical Horloge built in 1472 by Hans Düringer.

The main artery pedestrian is Kröpeliner Straße , which leaves to the East the new market until the Kröpeliner Tor , an old municipal door of XIVe century. The principal building of the University of Rostock, older university of Northern Europe, is located on Universitätsplatz, near the medium of this street, in front of the fountain of the peel of life (Brunnen der Lebensfreude) .

The Kloster St Katharinen (Convent Holy-Catherine) is old a Monastère founded Franciscain in 1243, increased several times during XIVe and XVe centuries. It is now the seat of the Academy of music and theater (HMT-Rostock).

The Gothic brick church Nikolaikirche (Saint Nicolas's Day Church), which is the oldest church of Rostock at summer built in the middle of XIIIe century. Heavily damaged during the Second world war and restored since, the building from now on is used like concert and showroom because of its remarkable acoustic conditions.

Some sections of the medieval Wall enclosing remain always just like four medieval municipal doors.

Warnemunde

Warnemunde is the coastal part of Rostock and an important attraction of the city. The inhabitants and the tourists appreciate its old houses located in sea front, its great beach, its old port of fishing and its headlight.

Economy

The economy of the city is strongly influenced by the Tourisme, the Université of Rostock, industries maritime (particularly the naval constructions) and the service sector.

The large companies present at Rostock are:

Aker Warnow Werft, shipyard pertaining to Aker Yards
Neptun Werft, shipyard pertaining to Meyer Neptun Group
Deutsche Seereederei Rostock, transport, cruisings
Nordex, important producer of wind
Hanseatische Brauerei Rostock, German brewery belonging to Oetker-Gruppe
Liebherr, manufacturing cranes
Caterpillar, manufacturing diesel engines for boat
IKEA
Scandlines, German-Danish Company of ferry
Inros Lackner AG, Undertaken of Architecture, Engineering and of the Council

Education

Rostock accommodates one of the oldest universities in the world. Founded in 1419, the Université of Rostock is the third older university of Germany still in activity, the older second in Northern Europe (after the Université of St Andrews) and the oldest university of continental Northern Europe.

The High music school and of Theater (Hochschule für Musik und Theater) delivers diplomas in the artistic field.

Culture

Events

The city accommodates the annual festival of Hanse Sail, during which many sailing ships and ships museums are gathered, attracting more than 1,5 million visitors.

A jazz festival, the Ostsee-Jazz proceeds in June.

The other events are:

Kurfilmfestival FiSh
Rostocker Kulturwoche
To summon der Kulturen
Rostocker Hafenfest
Boulevardfest
Warnemünder Woche
Public-access television rok.tv (located Platz der Freundschaft)
private TV station tv.rostock

Museums and Zoos

Kunsthalle Rostock (art gallery)
Kulturhistorisches Museum
Dokumentations- und Gedenkstätte der Bundesbeauftragten für die Unterlagen of Staatssicherheitsdienstes DER ehemaligen Deutschen Demokratischen Republik
Heimatmuseum Warnemunde
Schiffbau- und Schifffahrtsmuseum
Rostocker Zoo
Walter-Kempowski-Archiv

Music and Thêatre

Volkstheater Rostock

Norddeutsche Philharmonic society
Rostocker Singakademie

Niederdeutsche Bühne Rostock
Company of Comedy
Kleine Komödie Warnemunde
Mechaje
Bühne 602
Festspiele Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
Ostsee Big Band (Jazz)

Sport

Transport

Car

One can reach Rostock by the Highway ( Autobahn ) has 1 coming from Hamburg via Lübeck or by has 20 and has 19 coming from Berlin.

Public transport

The Rostock Hauptbahnhof (Central station of Rostock) allows fast connections towards Hamburg and Berlin and from there towards the majority of the other European cities.

Inside the city spreads a dense network of Tramway S, drunk and ferries. The first tunnel of Germany entirely financed by private funds crosses the river Warnow and connects the oriental party of the city to the Western part.

Maritime transport

Rostock is the second larger port of the Baltic after Lübeck. Rostock is also served by a large port for ferry. It is about the base of the companies of ferry Scandlines and TT-Line, which both connect Rostock to the largest wearing of Scandinavia. Moreover, Rostock is the town of Germany receiving the greatest number of tourists leaving in cruising.

Air transport

The international airports closest to the city are located at Hamburg and Berlin. The airport of Rostock is accessible via Munich. There exist also some small aerodromes being able to accommodate planes of less importance like that of Purkshof.

Famous characters

In Rostock were born:

Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher (1742 - 1819), general Prussian who fought against Napoleon at the time of the Bataille of Waterloo, the June 18th 1815.
Jan Ullrich (1973 -), professional, victorious ex-cyclist of the Tour de France in 1997.
Britta Kamrau, sporting swimmer

Other bonds with the city

Uwe Johnson, Rudolf Steiner and Fritz Reuter studied and made research with Rostock.
Ernst Heinkel, pioneer of aviation built his factories with Rostock.

External bonds

Rostock official Web site of the city

Simple: Rostock

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