World Heritage in Germany

This weekend, the German towns of WISMAR and STRALSUND will get their charters for being in the UNESCO list of World Heritage.


Stralsund and Wismar town centres are typical examples of the Hanseatic towns at the peak of their development during the prime of the Hanseatic League in the 14th century. The ancient town centres have retained their medieval layout and bear wit-ness to the establishment of towns thriving on shipping business according to the "Law of Lübeck".

The original buildings, amongst them a number of distinctive monuments, serve to illustrate the political impact and the extraordinary wealth of the medieval Baltic towns. Wismar is the most authentically preserved Hanseatic town on the southern Baltic.

Stralsund is marked by its characteristic insular location between the Strelasund and the 13th century lagoons. A cluster of six monumental redbrick churches affords a frame of reference concerning the renowned sacred architecture typical of the Hanseatic towns.


above:
GOTHIC CURCH AT STRALSUND
below:
HISTORIC TOWN CENTER WISMAR



The complete list of towns - with more in Germany and Europe, is to be found here:
List: World Heritage

For more information, have a look at this site:
History full of life
where you'll find route-suggestions, descriptions etc.