Güstrow

Güstrow is a town of around 30,000 people in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern that stretches along the Nebel River. The townscape features a Renaissance palace from 1589 and a Gothic cathedral built between the 13th and 14th centuries.

From 1520 to 1695, the town served as residence for the dukes of Mecklenburg-Güstrow until the line ended with the death of the last duke. After that, it lost its role as a ducal seat and became part of the united Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin.

The cathedral houses the Floating Angel by Ernst Barlach, created as a memorial for those who fell in the First World War. The bronze figure hangs suspended in space and draws visitors with its simple form.

The town sits at the southern end of the Rostock S-Bahn line and connects via regional bus routes operated by rebus GmbH. The train station and bus terminal link the area with surrounding regions and the Baltic coast.

The name comes from the Polabian word Guščerov, meaning a place of lizards in the old Slavic language. This linguistic root points to early Slavic settlement in the region before German expansion eastward.

Location: Rostock District

Inception: 1219

Elevation above the sea: 14 m

Website: https://guestrow.de

GPS coordinates: 53.79389,12.17639

Latest update: December 13, 2025 16:23