Wismar, Medieval harbor city in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany.
Wismar is a harbor settlement on the Baltic coast in northwestern Mecklenburg with a well-preserved old quarter. Red brick houses shape the townscape alongside three large church ruins and the old harbor district that borders the center directly.
The settlement received town rights in 1226 and joined the Hanseatic League in 1259, securing trade and prosperity for centuries. After the Thirty Years' War it belonged to Sweden until 1803, leaving many architectural traces behind.
The name Wismar likely comes from a Slavic word referring to its coastal position on the Baltic Sea. Visitors today can see the brick Gothic gables around the market square that recall the harbor's former importance in maritime trade.
The streets around the market square are mostly flat and lead directly to the harbor, where you can watch boats and walk along the quay. In summer the old town is easy to explore on foot, though in winter wind and dampness from the sea can occur.
The Grube is an open water channel that has flowed through the old town since medieval times and was once used for craft and drainage. Today ducks swim there, and you can cross the narrow channel at several bridges leading into the old lanes.
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