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Rostock (slavic origin: roztoc) is a city in northern Germany. It is the largest city in the State of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Rostock is located on the Warnow river; the quarter of Warnemünde 12 km north of the city centre lies directly on the coast of the Baltic Sea.
Historical Notes
In the 11th century there was a Slavic settlement at the Warnow river called Roztoc (which means broadening of a river); the name Rostock is derived from that designation. The Danish king Valdemar I set the town aflame in 1161. Afterwards the place was settled by German traders.
The rise of the city began with its membership in the Hanseatic League. In the 14th century it was a powerful seaport town with 12,000 inhabitants. Ships for cruising the Baltic Sea were constructed in Rostock. In 1419 the oldest university in Northern Europe, the University of Rostock, was founded.
At the end of the 15th century the dukes of Mecklenburg succeeded in capturing the town of Rostock, which had until then been independent. They took advantage of a riot known as Domfehde, a failed uprising of the impoverished population. Subsequent quarrels with the dukes and persistent plundering led ultimately to a loss of power.
In the 19th century Rostock regained much of its power, due to its shipyards, constructing the first propeller-driven steamers in Germany. The city grew, was almost entirely destroyed in World War II and became a major industrial centre of East Germany with the port being developed as the primary gate to the world.
In the 20th century, important airplane facilities were situated in the city, such as the Arado Works in Warnemünde and the Heinkel Works with facilities at various places. It was at their facilities in Marienehe where the world's first jet plane made its test flights. Airplane construction ceased at the end of the Second World War.
Following the reunification of Germany after 1989, Rostock lost its privilleged position as the principal seaport of East Germany and became just another medium-sized city, now located in one of the poorest regions of reunited Germany. Because of this, and despite large infrastructure investments, the city's economy has declined. More importantly, its population dropped from 253,000 in 1988 to less than 200,000 today, primarily due to emigration to more prosperous western regions of Germany but also to suburbanisation.
Sights
- University Square Universitätsplatz with the fountain of zest for live (Brunnen der Lebensfreude)
- pedestrian precinct Kröpeliner Straße
- St Mary (Marienkirche) 13th century, with an astronomical clock from 1472
- St Nikolai (Nikolaikirche), 13th century
- Town Hall (1290)
- Medieval city wall with three town gates
- premier league (Bundesliga) soccer club FC Hansa Rostock
See also
External links
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