Rostock, Port city and university center in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany.
Rostock sits on both banks of the Warnow River, which curves through the city toward the Baltic Sea, lined with red brick warehouses and wide harbor basins. The old town centers around Neuer Markt, while shipyards and ferry terminals stretch downriver toward the coastal suburb of Warnemünde.
The settlement gained town rights in 1218 and joined the Hanseatic League in 1251, rising to become a key trading hub in the Baltic region. Centuries of commerce with Scandinavia and Russia shaped its architecture and economic character well into the 20th century.
Students fill the old town streets during term time, bringing energy to cafés and bookshops tucked among the brick facades. Locals gather at weekend markets on Neuer Markt and spend summer afternoons by the river or at nearby beach resorts along the coast.
The main train station links the city to Berlin, Hamburg and Copenhagen, while ferries run regularly to Sweden and Denmark. The old town is easy to explore on foot, and trams connect outer districts and the beach at Warnemünde in about half an hour.
The annual Hanse Sail festival gathers around 300 traditional sailing vessels and up to one million visitors who celebrate maritime heritage. The city is also home to one of northern Europe's oldest universities, founded in 1419, with over 16,000 students today.
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