Rostock – beach and more
Mayors reveal their insider tips in the deutschland.de series “My city”. Part 26: Mayor Roland Methling from Rostock.
Mayor Methling, what is special about your city?
Rostock has its own sea resort in Warnemünde with its wonderfully broad fine sandy beach. The former fishing village has belonged to our Hanseatic city for almost seven centuries and can today be considered the jewel of Rostock. We have the sea and the river Warnow, the large forested area of the Rostocker Heide and, of course, the university, which is one of the oldest in Germany. It is this combination, this diversity, that makes Rostock unique.
What do you see when you look out of your office window?
The gabled houses of Neuer Markt. In the past, rich merchants wanted to show how successful they were and they liked changing the appearance of their houses. This gave rise to a very colourful row of gabled facades, at the end of which stands the proud St Mary’s Church.
Where in your city do you most like to spend your time?
At the harbour, because there’s always something going on. Not only ferries and cruise ships awaken the desire to travel, but also the many freighters and special vessels. We northern Germans know we are home when we can hear the squawking of the seagulls and feel the wind ruffling our hair.
Which of your city’s personalities do you value most?
Many people are examples for me because they are always there for others, because they pursue a very special goal or have the energy to inspire others and get them involved. However, I am especially proud of one Rostocker: our honorary citizen Joachim Gauck. The present Federal President was one of the voices and faces of the autumn 1989 peaceful revolution in our city. He can also be credited with the fact that it was possible to achieve democracy in our city so peacefully.
What would you like to show tourists?
Hall 207 on the grounds of the Neptunwerft, the former shipyard. Today our association Förderverein Tradition Ostseeschifffahrt uses it as a venue for events, but if you look and listen carefully, you can still imagine all the welders, fitters and electricians who once built ships here. Next to it there is still an old shipyard crane on the former slipway. It is freshly renovated and we hope that citizens of Rostock will soon be able to marry there – with a magnificent view of our Hanseatic city.
Where can visitors best get to know the people of your city?
Mecklenburgers are considered reserved and aloof. But that’s not true. They want to be approached and wooed. And that can very definitely be achieved on the lawn in front of Universitätsplatz, in Kröpeliner Strasse, at the city harbour and along the Alter Strom. The best time to come is the second week in August. That’s when Rostock celebrates Hanse Sail with visitors from all over the world. This maritime festival of German reunification is no longer only an obligatory event for traditional sailors from around the globe. For us in Rostock it has almost become something like a second Christmas – and that in the middle of summer!
And where do you most like to spend your vacations?
On the other side of the Baltic Sea – in Sweden. There I do not only have peace and seclusion, but also many friends who don’t see me primarily as mayor – and a little distance from the challenges in Rostock.
