It has a population of 28,999 (2020) and is the seventh largest town in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Since 2006 Güstrow has had the official suffixBarlachstadt.
Güstrow is 45 kilometers south ofRostock at theNebel, an arm of theWarnow. The Bützow-Güstrow-Kanal (channel) is a navigable connection to the Warnow and used by tourists. There are five lakes (Inselsee,Sumpfsee,Parumer See, Grundloser See and Gliner See) and several forests around Güstrow.
The name Güstrow comes from thePolabian Guščerov and meanslizard place.[3]
In 1219 theWendish castle Güstrowe was built where the renaissance palace stands now. Güstrow is said to be founded byHeinrich Borwin II, a grandson ofHenry the Lion, between 1219 and 1226 and was first mentioned in 1228 in the deed of city rights ofSchwerin, confirmed by the sons of Heinrich Borwin II, who donated the cathedral ascollegiate church in 1226. Güstrow was a residence of the lords ofWerle from 1229 until 1436. In 1441 the first privileged shooting society of Güstrow was founded.
Thehost desecration-trial of 1330 ended with the burning of 23 Jews and the destruction of the synagogue. TheKapelle des heiligen Bluts (Chapel of the Holy Blood) was built on the site of the synagogue. In 1503, 1508 and in 1512 fires destroyed the town and in 1556 the palace burned down.
TheGüstrow Palace (orSchloss Güstrow in German), built in 1589 inRenaissance style, as a residence for the dukes ofMecklenburg. One of the most important works of this era in the Baltic Sea region. Between 1963 and 1981 major restoration work was carried out, and a Renaissance garden was added, modelled after descriptions appearing in old engravings.
Güstrow Cathedral, aBrick Gothic cathedral built between 1226 and 1335. Noteworthy are a late Gothic high altar (c. 1500), the tombs of DukeUlrich III and his two wives (16th century), and the celebratedSchwebende Engel ("Hovering Angel"), the most famous work of the expressionist sculptorErnst Barlach, created in 1926 as a tribute to the victims of World War I.
St. Mary's church, aBrick Gothic parish church, partly remodelled in the 19th century
Ernst Barlach'sAtelierhaus (studio), that exhibits a large collection of his works.
The town hall, originally built in the 13th century and rebuilt c. 1800 at the central market square.
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