Anklam, Hanseatic city in Vorpommern-Greifswald District, Germany
Anklam is a Hanseatic town in Vorpommern-Greifswald District, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, lying along the Peene River roughly six meters above sea level. The old town forms a compact center with church towers rising above streets arranged in a rectangular grid that preserves the medieval layout.
The settlement received town rights in 1264 after existing since the early 1200s near a crossing point on the Peene. Merchants joined the Hansa network and traded with other Baltic ports until economic shifts in the late Middle Ages reduced its commercial role.
Buildings along the main streets display brickwork from different eras, reflecting how merchants and craftsmen shaped the town over generations. The architecture shows a mix of Gothic forms and later rebuilding efforts after wartime damage.
The old town is small enough to explore on foot, with major buildings within easy walking distance of each other. Visitors find signage in German and often in English, particularly at historic structures.
Aviation pioneer Otto Lilienthal was born here and is honored with a museum on the edge of town. His name appears on street signs and memorial stones downtown, recalling his early flight experiments.
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