Wismar is located on theBay of Wismar of theBaltic Sea, directly opposite the island ofPoel, that separates the Bay of Wismar from the largerBay of Mecklenburg. The city lies in the middle between the two larger port cities ofLübeck in the west, andRostock in the east, and the state capital ofSchwerin is located south of the city onLake Schwerin. Wismar lies in the northeastern corner of theHamburg Metropolitan Region, and is the capital of the district ofNorthwestern Mecklenburg. The city's natural harbour is protected by apromontory. The uninhabited island ofWalfisch, lying between Wismar and the island ofPoel, administratively belongs to the borough of Wismar-Wendorf.
It is estimated that Wismar was founded in 1226 underHenry Borwin I, Lord of Mecklenburg from theHouse of Mecklenburg, a German dynasty of Slavic origin also known as theObotrites or Niklotides. In 1259, the city became part of theHanseatic League. Throughout its history, the city has been under control of various German states as well as theSwedish Empire. It was part of Sweden from 1648 until 1803 (de jure until 1903, when Sweden officially renounced its claims to the city), and this Swedish chapter of the city is celebrated annually with a large "Sweden Celebration". From 1815 until 1918, Wismar lay in theGrand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and later in theFree State of Mecklenburg-Schwerin.
Wismar is a typical representative of theHanseatic League with its city-wideBrick Gothic structures and iconic gabled patrician houses and was inscribed on theUNESCOWorld Heritage List alongside the historical old town ofStralsund in 2002.[3] Wismar is the seat ofHochschule Wismar, a university ofapplied sciences, one of nine institutions of higher education in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. WithMV Werften Wismar, the city is one of three cruise ship-producing locations ofMV Werften (along with Rostock andStralsund), and the shipyard with its tall white-blue hall is one of the city's largest employers. St. George's,St. Nicholas' and St. Mary's, of which only the tower is left standing, are the three iconic sacred buildings dominating the skyline of Wismar.
The name of the settlement was first recorded in the 12th century as Visemer, Wismar (1147, 1167), Wyssemaria (1229)[1][4]and is probably of Slavic origin although finally disputed. Wismar could have the sameOld Saxon origin like the German city Weimar.[5]Wismar was part of the Western SlavicObotrites' territory.
The exact date of the city's foundation is not clear. In the oldest existing document of Wismar of 1229 its civic rights are already established. In 1301 Wismar came under the rule of theHouse of Mecklenburg.[6] In 1259 Wismar joined a defensive agreement with Lübeck andRostock, in order to effectively counter the numerous Baltic pirates. Subsequently more cities of the northernHoly Roman Empire would agree to cooperate as commerce and trade was increasingly coordinated and regulated. These policies would provide the basis for the development of theHanseatic League. By the 13th and 14th centuries Wismar had grown into a flourishing Hanseatic trading hub and an important center of wool processing. Although around 2,000 of its inhabitants perished during the plague of 1376, the town remained reasonably prosperous until the 16th century.[7][8]
With thePeace of Westphalia of 1648 Wismar came under the territorial control ofSweden. Through the acquisition of Wismar and otherdominions in theHoly Roman Empire, theKings of Sweden in their role asimperial princes were entitled to a seat in theImperial Diet. Wismar became administrative center of Wismar town and the districts of Pod andNeukloster, and after 1653 theFürstenhof (prince's court) served as the seat of the supreme court for all Swedish dominions in the Holy Roman Empire. Wismar's fortifications were extended into an effective all-round defence system under the supervision of Field MarshalErik Dahlbergh. Remains of these fortifications have been preserved, among other places, in the ‘Lindengarten' to the east of the wall of the old city.[9][10] During theScanian War, the town was besieged and captured byDanish forces in 1675.
In 1803, Sweden ceded both the town and lordship to theGrand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin for 1,258,000Riksdalers, but reserved the right of redemption after 100 years. In view of this contingent right of Sweden, Wismar was not represented at thediet ofMecklenburg-Schwerin until 1897. In 1903, Sweden finally renounced its claims to the town. Wismar still retains a few relics of its old privileges, including the right to fly its own flag.[7][11][12]
By the end of the 19th century Wismar's most important manufacturing branches were the production of iron and steel, roofing-felt, asphalt, paper and machine industry. International sea trade took place at the local harbour, which was deep enough to admit vessels of up to five metres (16 ft) draught at its quays. Exports included grains, oil-seeds and butter as coal, timber and iron were imported.[7] Wismar was production site for several railroad rolling stock manufacturers and since 1933 home toNorddeutsche Dornier-Werke of aircraft manufacturerDornier.[13] On 14 May 1881Rudolph Karstadt opened his first shop (Tuch-, Manufaktur- und Konfektionsgeschäft) of the now well established department store chainKarstadt in Wismar.[14]
During the 1949 to 1990 era of theGerman Democratic Republic, Wismar became East Germany's second-largest port, afterRostock and developed a shipbuilding industry. Although the GDR government had pledged to restore the local churches and historic sites that had been heavily bombed during the war, this commitment was for the most part not fulfilled.
Reconstruction of the MedievalGothicGeorgenkirche (St. George's Church) was completed in 2010.[18]
The historic old town, centered on the huge marketplace (one of the largest in northern Germany at 10,000 m2 or 110,000 sq ft), is characterized by town houses, manufacture and trading structures of the Hanseatic League, built inBrick Gothic style during the 13th to 15th centuries, 19th-centuryRomanesque Revival architecture andArt Nouveau houses. Distinctive buildings and military works, built during the period of Swedish control during the 17th and the 18th centuries provide another layer of cultural influence.[3]
The market square's focal point is theWasserkunst, an elaborate wrought-iron fountain imported from Holland in 1602. The northern side of the square is occupied by the Town Hall, built inNeoclassical style from 1817 to 1819. Another notable building on the square is aBrick Gothic patrician's home (Bürgerhaus) calledAlter Schwede (Old Swede), erected around 1380.
St. George's Church, the third so-named edifice on the site, dates from 1404. It had escaped major damage during most of World War II, but on 14 April 1945, three weeks before the end of the war it was badly damaged by "Blockbuster bombs" dropped by the British Royal Air Force. Reconstruction after German reunification, costing some 40 million Euros, was completed in 2010.
The 80-metre-high (260 ft) tower church of St. Mary's Church (Marienkirche) is the only remainder of the originalBrick Gothic edifice, built during the first half of the 13th century. It suffered heavy damage in World War II and was partially razed in 1960 during theEast German era.
St. Mary's Church and the church ofSt. Nicholas (Nikolaikirche) with its very lofty vaulting, built from 1381 to 1460, serve as prime examples ofLübeck'sSt. Mary's Churches architectural influence on the entire region.[7]
TheFürstenhof, a richly decorated specimen of early ItalianRenaissance style was once aducal residence and served later as the seat of themunicipal authorities. Built from 1552 to 1565, it was restored from 1877 to 1879. TheOld School, dating from about 1300, has not been restored yet. The town hall, rebuilt in 1829, houses a gallery of paintings.[7] The Fine Arts Municipal GalleryBaumhaus is located in the old harbour area.
Wismar (renamed "Wisborg") was the setting of the 1922 silent filmNosferatu, eine Symphonie des Grauens (Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror). ThisGerman Expressionisthorror film, directed byF. W. Murnau and starringMax Schreck as thevampireCount Orlok, was partly shot in Wismar. Filming began in July 1921, with exteriorshots in Wismar. Atake from the Marienkirche's (Saint Mary's Church) tower over Wismar marketplace with the Wasserkunst Wismar (waterworks fountain) served as theestablishing shot for the Wisborg scene. Other locations included theWassertor (Water Gate), the southside ofSt. Nicholas, theHeilig-Geist-Kirche (Holy-Spirit-Church) and the harbour area.
Wismar was also the setting ofWerner Herzog's 1979 remakeNosferatu, Phantom der Nacht. However, Herzog unable to film in Wismar, relocated his production to the cities of Delft and Schiedam in the Netherlands. The 2000metafiction horror filmShadow of the Vampire, directed by E. Elias Merhige which depicts the filming of the 1922 silent movie also takes place in Wismar.
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