Güstrow

Location of the town of Güstrow within Güstrow district
Güstrow
Coat of arms	Location

Administration
Country	Germany
State	Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
District	Güstrow
Mayor	Arne Schuldt (Ind.)
Basic statistics
Area	70.86 km² (27.4 sq mi)
Elevation	14 m (46 ft)
Population	31,083 (31/12/2006)
- Density	439 /km² (1,136 /sq mi)
Other information
Time zone	CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2)
Licence plate	GÜ
Postal code	18273
Area code	03843
Website	www.guestrow.de
Coordinates: 53°47′38″N 12°10′35″E / 53.79389, 12.17639

Güstrow (pronounced [ˈgʏstroː]) is a town in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany. It is the capital of the district of Güstrow. Population: 34,000 (1999).

[edit] History

Güstrow was first mentioned in 1228. It is said to be founded by a grandson of Henry the Lion. Güstrow became a summer residence of the dukes of Mecklenburg in the 14th century. After the division of Mecklenburg (1621) it became the capital of the small duchy of Mecklenburg-Güstrow. (Albrecht von Wallenstein, the imperial general in the Thirty Years' War, was a duke of Mecklenburg-Güstrow.)

In 1695 the last duke of Mecklenburg-Güstrow died, and the duchy ceased to exist. Güstrow became a part of the duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin.

The famous sculptor Ernst Barlach lived in Güstrow from 1910 to his death in 1938.

Schloss Güstrow

There are several notable sights in Güstrow:

The Schloss (German for Castle), built in 1589 in Renaissance style, as a residence for the dukes of Mecklenburg. Between 1963 and 1981 major restoration work was carried out, and a Renaissance garden was added, modelled after descriptions appearing in old engravings.
The Cathedral, a Brick Gothic cathedral built between 1226 and 1335. Noteworthy are a late Gothic high altar (c. 1500), the tombs of Duke Ulrich III and his two wives (16th century), and the celebrated Schwebende Engel ("Hovering Angel"), the most famous work of the expressionist sculptor Ernst Barlach, created in 1926 as a tribute to the victims of World War I.
St. Mary church - a Brick Gothic church, rebuilt in the 19-th century
Ernst Barlach's Atelierhaus (studio), that exhibits a large collection of his works.

(alphabetic list)

v • d • e Towns and municipalities in Güstrow (district)

Alt Sührkow \| Altkalen \| Baumgarten \| Behren-Lübchin \| Bernitt \| Boddin \| Bützow \| Dahmen \| Dalkendorf \| Diekhof \| Dobbin-Linstow \| Dolgen am See \| Dreetz \| Finkenthal \| Glasewitz \| Gnoien \| Groß Roge \| Groß Schwiesow \| Groß Wokern \| Groß Wüstenfelde \| Gülzow-Prüzen \| Güstrow \| Gutow \| Hohen Demzin \| Hohen Sprenz \| Hoppenrade \| Jördenstorf \| Jürgenshagen \| Klein Belitz \| Klein Upahl \| Krakow am See \| Kuchelmiß \| Kuhs \| Laage \| Lalendorf \| Langhagen \| Lelkendorf \| Lohmen \| Lühburg \| Lüssow \| Mistorf \| Mühl Rosin \| Penzin \| Plaaz \| Prebberede \| Reimershagen \| Rühn \| Sarmstorf \| Schorssow \| Schwasdorf \| Steinhagen \| Sukow-Levitzow \| Tarnow \| Teterow \| Thürkow \| Walkendorf \| Wardow \| Warnkenhagen \| Warnow \| Wasdow \| Zehna \| Zepelin