Schwerin

Schwerin is the capital and second-largest city of the northeastern German state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. With around 96,000 inhabitants, it is the least populous of all German state capitals. The city is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Schwerin, the second-largest lake of the Mecklenburg Lake Plateau.

Schwerin was first mentioned in 1018 and was granted city rights in 1160 by Henry the Lion, making it the oldest city in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Throughout history, it served as the capital of various states, including the Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and the Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin.

Today, Schwerin is known for its well-preserved architecture, including the romantic Schwerin Palace and Schwerin Cathedral. Major industries in the city include high technology, machine building, healthcare, and tourism.

Geography

Schwerin is surrounded by several municipalities, including Klein Trebbow, Seehof (Mecklenburg), Leezen (Mecklenburg), and many others. The city includes twelve lakes within its borders, adding to its natural beauty.

Schwerin has a mild oceanic climate, influenced by its location near the Baltic Sea. The city experiences warm winters and cool summers, with temperatures ranging from about 1 °C in winter to 18 °C in summer.

History

Schwerin is surrounded by many lakes, with the largest being the Schweriner See. In the 11th century, a group called the Slavic Obotrite lived there. In 1160, a leader named Henry the Lion took control of the area. A castle was built and later turned into a grand palace. In 1358, Schwerin became very important as the center of a region called the Duchy of Mecklenburg.

In more recent times, many people from Schwerin moved to the United States, especially to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and today the two cities are friends. After World War II, Schwerin was controlled by Soviet forces. Later, after Germany reunited, Schwerin became the capital of the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.

Demographics

As of the 2022 German census, Schwerin has a population of 96,447, making it the smallest state capital in all of Germany. By the end of 2025, the population had grown to 99,721, showing signs that Schwerin might soon have over 100,000 people, which would make it a major city again.

In 2007, Schwerin had a high crime rate compared to other German cities. This was partly because certain offenses, like riding a bus without a ticket, were counted in the crime rate, which made the numbers look higher.

Politics

The most recent city council election was held on June 9, 2024.

Bernd Nottebaum of the CDU has been the mayor of Schwerin since 2026. The most recent mayoral election took place on June 4, 2023, with a runoff election on June 18.

Schwerin has had many mayors since 1800. Some notable mayors include Rudolf Christian Heinrich Kahle (1800–1843), Ernst Julius Gottlieb Bernien (1843–1848), and Friedrich Strempel (1848–1858), among others. The list includes mayors from different political parties over the years, ending with Bernd Nottebaum, who became mayor in 2026.

Infrastructure

Schwerin has city buses and trams run by NVS (Nahverkehr Schwerin). The central station, Schwerin Hauptbahnhof, connects by rail to Berlin, Hamburg and Rostock. The nearest airport is Hamburg Airport, about 116 km (72 mi) west of Schwerin.

The city has two academic colleges: the Schwerin campus of the "Fachhochschule des Mittelstands" (University of Applied Sciences of the Mittelstand), and the Schwerin campus of the "Hochschule der Bundesagentur für Arbeit" (University of the Federal Employment Agency). Schwerin is unique among German state capitals because it has no universities.

Sights

Schwerin has many interesting places to visit. The most famous is the Schwerin Palace, located on an island in the Schweriner See lake. It was home to the Dukes of Mecklenburg and is now where the state parliament meets. Another important building is the Schwerin Cathedral, built between 1260 and 1416 in a style called Brick Gothic.

The city also has lovely squares like the Alter Garten, with old buildings such as the Altes Palais, the neoclassical Staatliches Museum Schwerin (State Art Museum), and the Staatstheater (City Theater). There is also a historic city hall from the 18th century and the Schelfkirche (Saint Nicolai Church), which was rebuilt after a storm in 1713. You can also visit the TV Tower Schwerin-Zippendorf.

Museums

The Staatliches Museum Schwerin-Kunstsammlungen has many beautiful paintings and artworks, including pieces from the 17th century and modern artists like Max Liebermann. The State Museum of Technology used to be in Schwerin but moved to the city of Wismar in 2012.

Twin towns – sister cities

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Germany

Schwerin is twinned with several cities around the world. These include:

• Odense, Denmark
• Piła, Poland
• Reggio Emilia, Italy
• Tallinn, Estonia
• Vaasa, Finland
• Växjö, Sweden
• Wuppertal, Germany

Notable people

Schwerin has been home to many important people throughout history. Some came from noble families, while others made their mark in the arts, politics, science, and sports.

In the world of arts, Schwerin produced talented actors, painters, writers, and musicians. Many of these artists contributed greatly to German culture and the arts.

In politics, the city saw statesmen and leaders who helped shape the nation, including diplomats and lawmakers. Some were involved in major historical events and movements.

The city also produced notable scientists who made important discoveries, as well as athletes who won Olympic medals and other top honors in sports like rowing, swimming, and volleyball.