Rugen is an island located in the very north of Germany, washed by the waters of the Baltic Sea. More precisely, this is an archipelago consisting of 18 islands that form incredibly beautiful bays, capes and small bays. Where the island of Rügen is located, how to get to it, what sights you can see - about all this in the article.
A bit of history
The first mention of the island of Rügen was back in the Stone Age, evidence of this is considered to be found during excavations of the vital objects of the first settlers. At the beginning of the new era, tribes of rugs came to the island, which, according to scientists, became the founders, and also gave it a name.
Over time, they migrated to the southern part of the country, and the West Slavic tribes arrived in their place, who were able to subjugate almost the entire Baltic coast with their power and strength. But such assertiveness caused discontent among the Danish tribes, so in 1168 they subjugated the local nobility, organizing the capture and defeat of the Slavic fortress, located on Cape Arkon along with the temple of the god Svyatovit.
From this time a new era began, although it did not last long. Already at the beginning of the new century, German settlements entered the territory and conquered it from the Danes. Beginning in the 15th century, assimilation of the population took place and the Slavic dialect completely disappeared.
From the history of the island of Rugen, it is known that further it belonged to Pomerania, then Sweden, and at the beginning of the XIX century Napoleonic troops dominated on its territory. But the story does not stop there, after Napoleon was defeated, the island returned under the protection of Denmark, and soon passed into the possession of Prussia.
Before the start of World War II, a health company was developing in full swing on the island, sanatoriums were being built, but during the war all this was suspended. The revival of the tourist destination began only in the 60s, and free access to recreation was provided only after the unification of the two Germanys.
Currently, the tourist destination is developing in full swing and one of the main things for the local population is that, despite the rapid development of infrastructure, they are trying to preserve the natural landscapes.
Geographical location and climate
The total area of the Rügen archipelago is about 974 square meters. km, and the coastline directly stretches for 574 km. As for the beach area, its length is approximately 56 km. It is represented by magnificent sandy beaches. Geographically, the island is part of the lands of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.
Climate
Despite the fact that the island of Rügen, whose photo you can see in the article, is located in the northernmost point of Germany, the climate here is very mild and easy to tolerate. The geographical location not only allows you to enjoy beautiful landscapes, but also favorably affects the body due to the presence of sea air, centuries-old green spaces and just a pleasant atmosphere.
January is considered one of the coldest months of the year, but even with this in mind, temperature indicators do not fall below zero. As for the summer period, you can sunbathe, plunge into the warm waters of the Baltic Sea in July until mid-August. The air temperature at this time warms up to +25 degrees, water - up to +22 degrees. The water in the lagoons and bays is much warmer, so it is perfect for bathing children. The average annual temperature is +8 degrees.
Spring on the island is one of the most beautiful seasons, since the island is dressed in a variety of shades thanks to floral arrangements. They can be seen not only in the flower beds in the park or alleys. Most of the population plant them on their balconies, loggias. As a result, there is a feeling that the island is buried in flowers and greenery.
In total, there are about 200 sunny days on the island throughout the year, which is much more than throughout Germany, therefore it is rightfully considered the sunniest.
Cape Arkona
One of the most visited places on the island is considered the extraordinary beauty of Cape Arkona, where you can see the remains of the ruins of Slavic fortifications and the temple of the same name. It is located on the Witt peninsula, namely in its northern part. In addition, the lighthouse built in 1826-1827 is considered no less significant, today it works as a museum. In the immediate vicinity in 1902, another lighthouse was built, which to date has been functioning according to its purpose.
Jasmund Park
In the north-east of the island of Rugen, there is another attraction, which is especially popular among tourists and local residents. This is Jasmund National Park. Its area is not very large (3,000 ha), but there are such remarkable places as chalk cliffs covered with green spaces, the Royal Throne (a cliff that rises to 118 meters) and one of the highest points - Pickberg, whose height reaches 161 meter.
Chalk cliffs of Jasmund Park
The main attraction of Jasmund Park are chalk cliffs. Cretaceous mining on the peninsula was in ancient times and before the beginning of the XIX century. The cessation of production of chalk occurred due to the threat of complete destruction of a truly rare landscape, and in 1990 the designated territory was initially declared a reserve, and later a national park.
National Park of the Western Pomeranian Lagoons
This park is the exact opposite of Jasmund Park, since most of its area is occupied by the coastal waters of the Baltic Sea and it is located on the western side of the island of Rügen. On its territory you can see seals, visit the spawning place of the Atlantic herring and watch the cranes when they stop to gain strength for further flight. All this is spread among the picturesque natural landscapes, and in the aggregate it represents an extraordinary beauty where you can enjoy pristine nature.
Border Hunting Castle
The Border Hunting Castle is considered very popular among foreign tourists, which is located on one of the highest hills in the southern part of Rügen - on the Temple Mount. The building was built in the Renaissance style in the middle of the century before last and today is a visited place. In addition, the castle has an observation tower, which offers an extraordinary view of the entire island.
Seebrücke Sellin Pier
The highlight of the island of Rügen (Germany), the photo of which is posted in the article, is the Seebrücke Sellin marina, which goes into the sea for almost 400 meters. It has become not only a tourist attraction, but a kind of symbol of the island. The facility was built in 1925. But during World War II it was a little destroyed. According to historical facts, its length at that time was 500 meters.
Rugen Island Attractions
On the territory of the island there are a large number of buildings that have significant architectural value not only for local residents, but also for the country as a whole. Among the attractions of the island of Rugen are popular:
- St. Mary's Monastery, built in 1193.
- The village church dating from 1312 is located in Landow.
- A holiday home, built by architects in the early twentieth century and other buildings built in accordance with the direction of "resort-architecture".
What is remarkable about the island for tourists
It is worth noting that the main industry on the island is tourism, so the infrastructure in this direction is very developed. In addition to attractions and beach vacations, everyone can choose for themselves other entertainment programs. For example:
- For outdoor enthusiasts, there is the opportunity to go windsurfing, and for those who like to sail, there is a dedicated coastline 600 km long.
- In addition, you can carry out horseback riding in the local surroundings, enjoy playing golf.
- Rugen Island is also known as a cultural center: here you can visit various festivals, go to the cinema or visit the theater.
- One of the exotic attractions for tourists is the old Rasender Roland train. Its route passes through all the resort sights of the south-eastern part of the island of Rügen, and a little more than 100 years ago it was possible to ride in it all over the island.
Significant cities of the archipelago
The island consists of 4 large cities and 39 villages, each object being remarkable in its own way. The resort cities of Rugen include the following.
Binz
It is considered a popular resort on the island and is located between Prorer Vic and Schmachter Lake. The status of an official resort by this town was obtained in 1884, and already towards the end of the 19th century the tourist infrastructure began to develop very rapidly here. Today , tourists come here to admire the architectural buildings near Promnad, spend an unforgettable vacation on the pier Seebrücke.
Sellin
The city is remarkable for tourists for its unique architecture, white beaches and, of course, magnificent nature. Its main attraction is a bridge-pier with a length of about 400 meters. In addition, for families with children there is an opportunity to spend an unforgettable vacation by visiting the Selliner Seepark water park.
Guerin
The highlight of this city is that its territorial location allows you to have two separate beaches at once, since it is washed by the Baltic Sea from two sides. More than 125 years ago, Gueren was a small fishing village, and over time it became a significant resort city of the island. But if you walk along the streets, you can see some traditions that have still survived from those times.
Bergen
This city is located in the very center of Rügen, its location is not entirely noticeable, since it is located on a hill. Due to the fact that strong winds blow on its territory, local residents often suffered serious fires that destroyed most of the historical sites. But despite this, to this day one of the ancient houses of the early 16th century, as well as the Church of the Virgin, built in 1180, has been preserved.
Interesting Facts
The main event for the Germans was the opening of the Strelasundquerung bridge (2007), which connected the island of Rügen with mainland Germany. This automobile bridge is considered one of the longest motorways in the country - its length is 4,104 meters. At the same time, it is quite high and is capable of passing the largest vessels under it.
Since ancient times, the island was famous for its natural attractions, as well as the wealth of local waters and good land, so it is not surprising that agriculture and fishing are very widely developed.
One of the main prerequisites for the development of a tourist destination was the presence of mineral springs in the territory of the island in Zagard, and today such spa resorts are located in Baba, Sassnitsa.
During the Nazi rule, the island of Rugen (Germany) was of particular importance at the state level. The thing is that this territory was planned as a sanatorium health resort. For this, a special organization “Strength through Joy” was created. Its purpose was the development of recreation facilities for Aryan citizens.
Rugen Island: how to get there
The easiest way to get to Rügen from Russia is considered to be a flight to Hamburg, and then you need to make a transfer to a high-speed train going through the city of Binz and further. Those already in Germany can also take the high-speed train that departs from Stralsuden. In addition, local trains will allow you to get to cities such as Binz and Sassnitz, but other resort towns need to be reached exclusively by the old Rasender Roland trains.
As for the question of how to get directly to the island itself, it is connected to the main territory of Germany by two bridges, so the trip can be made by bus and by car. But these are not the only ways to get there: you can visit it using the services of cruise ships and ferry services.