Große Wasserstraße, Medieval street in Rostock, Germany.
Große Wasserstraße is a historic lane in Rostock that runs in a curved line from New Market past the southern wing of the town hall to Grubenstraße. The street is lined with buildings from different periods, including several structures with brick facades and steep roofs typical of this Hanseatic city.
Große Wasserstraße is first mentioned in 1418 and received its prefix 'Große' only in the 19th century to distinguish it from the nearby Kleine Wasserstraße. The street thus became an important part of Rostock's medieval urban fabric.
The Kerkhoffhaus from around 1470 and Krahnstöver House show rare examples of Gothic merchant buildings that shape this street. These structures tell of the time when wealthy traders built their homes here.
The street is easy to reach on foot and requires no special preparation for a visit. After walking through, you can easily continue to the New Market or explore other historic parts of Rostock nearby.
A Renaissance portal was reconstructed between 2010 and 2012 as the entrance to a new connecting building for the town hall extension and has shaped the area's appearance since then. This portal connects the preserved old fabric with modern additions and creates an interesting contrast between periods.
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