Schwerin is a quiet and cozy town. Schwerin Cathedral. Castle interiors. Guardian Spirit Peter the Little Man
If locality well located with geographic point view, there is no doubt that the place has been inhabited since ancient times. But subsequent generations, as you know, need specifics. Therefore, for chronological reference, the first mention in historical sources is usually taken. This initial date, of course, is more or less approximate, but documented. The same thing happened in our case.
About foundation modern city Schwerin was told by the medieval chronicler Titmar of Merseburg. According to written evidence, it was laid by Duke Henry the Lion, and this happened in 1160. Of course, from the mentioned date, they began to count the anniversary. However, it turned out that on the site of Schwerin there already existed a city that belonged to the Slavic tribe of Obodrites, who once inhabited Northern Germany. Heinrich Leo came up with a quite typical scenario: old world destroy, and on its ruins raise new world. The date, as usual, was recorded - and everything from scratch! But if that were the only way, then the story would be ordinary and less exciting.
Schwerin's predecessor was named Zverin. This Slavic city is mentioned in many historical documents, but in different versions: Suerinum, Zuerin or Zwerin. According to archaeologists, the settlement existed at least from the 1st millennium BC. e. Moreover, the place for it was chosen almost ideally, near a beautiful system of lakes, which allows not only communication with neighbors, but also simply feeding at any time of the year.
It was in these lands that the main blow of the knightly invasion fell, which brought a change of faith and the destruction of the usual way of life for the Slavic pagans. As they would say today, the expansion was quite effective, because it was carried out in a complex way: both with a stick and a carrot. Of course, the Slavs tried to resist the conquest and subsequent colonization, but despite short-term successes, the resistance was unsuccessful. In August 1160, the leader of the uprising, the Slavic king Niklot, was killed.
But the Germans acted quite practical. Here is what the chronicler Helmold wrote about the founding of Schwerin: “Having devastated the whole country, Duke [Heinrich the Lion] began to rebuild Zverin and strengthen the castle. And he put there a certain noble and warlike husband Gunzelin with an army. After that, he returned his mercy to the sons of Niklot.
Today's citizens and tourists admire the remarkable monument to Niklot, which is located in the center of Schwerin. Streets in Mecklenburg cities are named after him, and historians dedicate their research to the life of the Slavic king. By the way, Niklot is considered the founder of the ruling dynasty of the princes of Mecklenburg. The one who later became related to the Russian Imperial House. Over time, the descendants of the Slavs in Northern Germany perceived German and the Protestant way of life. And only toponymy and some personal surnames remained evidence of the past history of the region.
Like many other Mecklenburg names, Zwerin-Schwerin finds direct analogies in Russia. And the question here is not only in a single word formation in the Slavic languages. It is obvious that in the Middle Ages there were stable historical ties between the regions. From Northern Germany there was a constant Slavic migration through Prussia to Rus', associated with the impending colossus of German colonization. Natives of these areas received the nicknames "from the German" or "from the Prus", and many of them became the ancestors of the most famous Russian surnames. I hope that we will talk about this in the framework of our historical rubric.
Returning to the name of Schwerin-Zverin, ancient Novgorod comes to mind. Here, on the left bank of the Volkhov, there is a monastery of the same name - Zverin, the first mention of which dates back to 1148. In the annals there was a message that this year it was “lit from thunder”, that is, it burned down when struck by lightning wooden church Cover. The monastery itself was built surrounded protected forests, which were called "animal", or "menagerie", according to the abundance of animals that lived in them.
Is this coincidence of names accidental? As you know, it was Novgorod that received mainly immigrants from south coast The Baltics, who did not want to put up with German colonization. Some noble Novgorod families came "from the Germans." But, of course, it would be naive to directly connect the Mecklenburg Zverin with the Novgorod monastery. However, if at the same time in different areas there are the same names, then this leads to certain thoughts. At least that people who speak the same language, with the same ideas about grammar, are involved in them.
Many similar names have survived in the vicinity of today's Schwerin, in the land of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Once I happened to pass a place called Russov. Naturally, I immediately drew attention to him. But the usual scientific skepticism did not allow us to immediately succumb to the temptation and draw parallels. Indeed, suddenly the name appeared at a later time? For example, after the victorious Northern war when Russia gained influence in the Baltic and, in particular, in the Mecklenburg region.
But what was my surprise when it turned out that for the first time Russov was mentioned in sources in 1305. Naturally, it is mentioned as an existing settlement. Therefore, it was founded earlier, but this moment, alas, was not recorded. historical documents. And it would be very interesting! As well as where the German chronicler Balthazar Russov, who wrote the famous Livonian Chronicle, published in 1578 in Rostock, got his surname from.
Of course, the Slavic influence in Northern Germany is no secret. Remained a variety of traces of the rich cultural heritage. But many of them lead not just to the past, but to ancient Russian history. So the recently celebrated anniversary of Schwerin reminded of the previous historical events. Schwerin is 850 years old, and Zverin is much older ... And this is an indisputable, obvious fact.
Schwerin(German Schwerin [ʃvɛˈʁiːn, ʃvəˈʁiːn], N.-German Swerin, lat. Suerinum, Squirsina, Zuarina, weaker Zverin, n.-puddle. and v.-puddles. Zwěrin, ist. Czech Zvěřín) - a city in Germany, the administrative center federal state Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. It is located among a system of lakes, the main of which is the Schweriner See.
Story
As the German chronicler Titmar of Merseburg testifies, Schwerin arose near the Slavic fortification Zverin (Zuarin, v. Ludg. Zwěrin) defeated in 1018 in 1160 at the direction of Henry the Lion, while becoming the first city in the territory conquered from the Slavs. During the years 1167-1648 it was the seat of the bishop and the spiritual center of the entire region. In 1358, the Duke of Mecklenburg, Albrecht II, inherited the city, which had the right to be the seat of the count, and settled in the castle, which, with the exception of two interruptions, served as the residence of the Dukes of Mecklenburg until 1918. In 1628-1631, the dukes were forced to leave it as punishment for their allied relations with Denmark and in 1756-1837, when their residence was in Ludwigslust.
Attractions and museums
Schwerin castle
Schwerin castle
Schwerin Castle was built on an island on the site of an older structure. The building is an irregular pentagon in plan, formed by five outbuildings and is considered the most famous building in the city. Modern look acquired the castle in 1845-1857. Before that, Duke Friedrich Franz II sent his court architect Georg Adolf Demmler, already known for his work in the city, which he had carried out since 1825, and the builder Hermann Willebrand on a business trip to England and France.
Niklot, Prince of the Obodrites
They set off in 1844 and were most impressed by the Château de Chambord on the Loire, whose features are clearly visible in the appearance of the building, which is a mixture of different styles and is not the best example of the generalized eclectic style that was fashionable at that time. At the suggestion of Gottfried Semper, the main 70-meter tower was attached to the building. In 1851, for political reasons, Demmler had to retire from work, which was continued by Friedrich August Stüler. On the facade facing the castle garden, he made a deep niche in which he placed an equestrian statue of the Slavic prince Niklot, treacherously killed in battle. The statue was made by Christian Genshov.
On May 26, 1857, the Duke and Duchess moved into their new residence with great pomp. In front of the wing overlooking the Castle Lake, in 1935, a sculpture of the Grand Duke Paul Friedrich, made back in 1849 by Christian Daniel Rauch, was installed. Currently, some rooms of the castle are occupied by the Landtag, while the rest are museum expositions.
Museum
The museum building was built by Hermann Willebrand in the late classical style on the site of the duke's palace begun by Demmler. The collection of this museum originates from the former Museum of the Grand Duke (1877-1882), which was expanded in 1901-1902. This building, with its monumental staircase and portico formed by Ionic columns, is part of the Schwerin State Museum.
Mecklenburg State Theater
State Theatre. In the background is the tower of the cathedral
Schwerin has a rich theatrical tradition. IN summer times grandiose performances of operas are held in the open air. The theater building with its monumental central risalit is located on the site of the burnt building built by Demmler. The building was built by Georg Daniel in 1883-1885 in neo-Renaissance style.
Schwerin Cathedral
The modern building of the cathedral is the third church building on this site. In 1228, a Romanesque basilica was consecrated in its place, from which the main portal at the southern side nave has been preserved. The three-aisled basilica was built in 1270-1416. The modern look of the cathedral was acquired only in 1988. By its size, it is considered one of the largest buildings built in the brick Gothic style. By the length of its main nave, equal to 100 m, it is considered the largest church of the Hanseatic period in the Baltic. The height of its tower, built only in 1889-1892 by Georg Daniel, is 117.5 m. The temple contains a bronze epitaph to Duchess Elena, cast in the Nuremberg workshop of Peter Fischer in 1527.
palace garden
Considered an outstanding example landscape gardening art, one of the monuments of national cultural significance in Germany. The park was created by the Prussian royal director of parks, Peter Josef Lenne, and after reconstruction it was opened to the public in 2001.
- Shelf Church
- Paul's Church
- Buildings by architect G. A. Demmler
- town hall
- Russian Orthodox Church Moscow Patriarchate in Schwerin
Gallery
Aerial view of the city
View of Schwerin from the bell tower of the Cathedral
View of the northern part of Schwerin
Market square, castle and lake
Monument to Friedrich Franz II
Column of Victory. Monument to those killed in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71. Architect Hermann Willebrand (1874)
Sculpture Megalopolis on the Victory Column
Demmler House
Market Square in the morning
Schwerinsky Cathedral. View from the market square
Altar of the Cathedral
Schwerin Cathedral. View from Lake Pfaffenteich
The smallest capital of the German federal state deserves the attention of a tourist not only because of its amazing castle and palace garden, but also for the many cultural events that are held annually in Schwerin.
Geographic location of Schwerin
The cozy city of Schwerin is located in northern Germany, surrounded by a number of beautiful lakes. Schwerin is the capital of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and the old seat of the Grand Dukes of Mecklenburg. Schwerin is located close to the port cities of Wismar, Rostock and Hamburg, as well as a two-hour drive from the German capital, Berlin. Also near Schwerin are the seaside resorts of Darss, Binz and Heiligendamm.
The geographical position of Schwerin has always been its advantage.
Climate Schwerin
The climate in Schwerin cannot be described as temperate continental as in the rest of Germany. Maritime climate prevails here
In summer, the average air temperature in Schwerin is + 20C, and in winter - about 0. But the proximity Baltic Sea makes itself felt: the summer in Schwerin can hardly be called hot, but the winter here is quite mild. Precipitation is frequent and regular, especially in the form of drizzle. The weather in Schwerin changes frequently: sunny days alternate with cloudy and rainy.
Schwerin. Historical information about the city
According to the German chronicler Titmar of Merseburg, the city arose near the Slavic fortification called Zverin, destroyed in 1018. Already in 1160, by order of Heinrich the Lion, Schwerin became the first city on the territory conquered from the Slavs. Since then, it has been the spiritual center of the region and the seat of the bishop, and remained so until 1648.
In 1358, the town was inherited by the Duke of Mecklenburg, Albrecht II, who settled in the castle, which served as the residence of the Dukes of Mecklenburg until 1918. Only twice the dynasty was forced to leave the castle: in 1628-1631 due to an alliance with Denmark and in 1756-1837, when the residence was moved to Ludwigslust.
Since the 16th century, Schwerin has been called "Northern Florence".
In 1918, Schwerin became the capital of Mecklenburg, which became part of East Germany after World War II.
Things to do in Schwerin
It is believed that all the sights of the city can be seen in one day. It is quite possible, but it is very important to devote enough time to visit the main advantage of Schwerin - its castle, which is located on a separate standing island at Lennestrasse 1.
Once upon a time, there was an earlier building on the site of the current castle, but, alas, even its ruins have not been preserved. Schwerin Castle acquired its modern look in the 19th century, while retaining the features of earlier eras.
His "father" was Georg Adolf Demler, the court architect of Duke Friedrich Franz II, on whose orders he went to study the architecture of England and France. By that time, Demler was already known, because in 1825 he built the Arsenal, the town hall, the stable, the residential building on Mecklenburgstrasse and the building of the State Chancellery in Schwerin.
Together with Hermann Willebrand, the court builder, Demler went to the castle of Chambord on the Loire, the features of which would later appear during the construction of the Schwerin castle. Thanks to Gottfried Semper, the castle was supplemented with a main 70-meter tower. The political situation forced Demler to leave the work, which was continued by Friedrich August Stüler. It was on his orders that a niche with a statue of the Slavic prince Niklot was made on the facade facing the garden.
The Duke and Duchess moved to their new residence on May 26, 1857, but the history of Schwerin Castle did not end there. In 1935, a sculpture of Grand Duke Paul Friedrich by Christian Daniel Rauch was erected in front of the wing overlooking the Castle Lake.
The result is a castle that is an example of eclecticism, in which Byzantine style, elements of Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque are mixed.
Today, part of the castle is occupied by the Landtag, while the rest houses museum exposition and greenhouse.
To the south of the castle is the Palace Garden of Schwerin, known since the middle of the 17th century. It can be safely attributed to the world masterpieces of landscape art. Here you can also find drawbridge, and a statue of the Grand Duke Friedrich Franz II and a wonderful garden pavilion. Adjacent to this garden English garden, and the Old Garden is located closer to the center of Schwerin Castle. It is on the territory of the English Garden that the Drama Theater is located, Art Museum, Old Palace And State Chancellery.
Among other attractions of Schwerin, it is worth noting the monument to the famous archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann, which is located on east coast Lake Pfaffenteichs and the 18th century Grinding Mill, which is still functioning and invites you to get acquainted with the system of grinding granite stones for 2 EUR. The mill can be accessed from Friday to Sunday from April to November and is open from 10 am to 5 pm.
You can not ignore the Schwerin Cathedral, built in 1988 on the site of an earlier building. With a nave length of 100 meters, this cathedral is considered the largest among other similar buildings of the Hanseatic period on the Baltic coast.
Other important religious building Schwerin is the shelf church of St. Nicholas, built in the early 18th century on the site old church St. Nicholas. This baroque church is the tomb of the representatives of the grand ducal family. The altarpiece by Gaston Lente and Frizet's organ are also interesting.
The third church worthy of the attention of a tourist is the Gothic Paul Church, built on a hill in the western part of the center of Schwerin, near railway station.
Excursions from Schwerin
In the absence of your own car, it is better to travel by train in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, since the region's bus service is poorly developed.
From Schwerin, it is very easy to get to Hamburg with the Regional Express train, which goes to Rostock. Travel time is 1 hour 20 minutes Intercity train- only 50 minutes. On the same train you can get to Karlsruhe and Frankfurt am Main. You can take the regional express train to Berlin, Wismar or Ludwigslust.
Schwerin also has links with Cologne, Stuttgart, Lübeck and Hannover.
Day cruises are often organized from Schwerin, starting at Lake Schwerin and continuing on the Elbe and Havel rivers, as well as on Lake Müritz.
Places for entertainment and shopping in Schwerin
If you are traveling with children, then by all means take a look at the Schwerin Zoological Garden, a collection of 120 species of animals will surely impress and delight young tourists. The zoo is located in the north of Schwerin, around it there are at least interesting places: Lake Schwerin in the east, Lake Faulen in the west and Lake Ostorfer in the south. From October to February, the zoo welcomes visitors from 10 am to 3 pm, in March - from 10 am to 4 pm, and from April to October - from 9 am to 5 pm (on weekends - until 6 pm). You will have to pay 6 euros to enter the zoo.
If there is time left after exploring the city, you can spend it on a wooded island in Lake Schwerin called Kaninchenwerder, which is a very popular place for eco-tours. You can also visit the resort of Zippendorf, located on the southern shore of this lake.
An alternative could also be a photo shoot on the Schwerin TV tower, which is 136 meters high. At a height of 100 meters there is a restaurant and an observation deck with a beautiful view of Schwerin. You can climb the tower from 11 am to 10 pm daily, on Friday and Saturday - until 23 pm.
Every year in May, Schwerin hosts a film festival and a parade pleasure boats"Weisse flotte", in June and July - a pottery fair, a run around the five lakes, a sailboat festival and even a gay parade. In early autumn, a wine festival and the Old Town Festival are held, in October - "Weeks of Cultures". In November, the city holds a traditional folk festival in memory of Martensmann, a man from Lübeck who annually brought a barrel of wine to the people of Schwerin as a gift for St. Martin's Day.
This eventful festival program ends with a Christmas fair.
In Schwerin, the Schlossfestspiel theater festival is also worth a visit.
You can make purchases in large mall"Schlosspark", which is open from 9.30 to 20.00, or in shops on Friedrichstraße and Kuznechnaya Street.
Conclusion
In Schwerin, you can see not only the wonderful urban architecture, which is known far beyond the borders of Germany, but also admire untouched nature just a few minutes drive from the city center. Here you can see the knight's castles, and windmills, and idyllic villages.
Schwerin is considered the smallest capital of the German federal state. The city is administrative center"Country of a thousand lakes" - the land of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. The population of Schwerin after the reunification of Germany is about 96 thousand people.
Schwerin is considered the smallest capital of the German federal state. The city is the administrative center "Country of a thousand lakes" - the lands of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. The population of Schwerin after the reunification of Germany is about 96 thousand people.
IN historical center Schwerin has preserved remarkable urban architecture, and on the outskirts there are typical five-story buildings from the time of the GDR. People are gradually leaving them, and the empty houses are ruthlessly demolished. The authorities plan to turn Schwerin into a first-class resort by building a solid infrastructure for recreation on its outskirts.
Schwerin is surrounded by a lake landscape - within the city there are twelve large and small reservoirs. On an island in the middle of a lake Schweriner See located main symbol Schwerin, Schweriner Schloss- fairytale castle , with its sublime appearance reminiscent of the legendary Neuschwanstein.
City `s history
The name Schwerin is derived from the Old Slavic word for "beast". The first castle on the lake was built by the Slavs from the Obotrite tribe. The "city of the beast", Zverin, arose around 965. In 1160 the Saxon king Heinrich Lev undertook a military campaign on this land. Slavic Prince Niklot, assessing the strength of the enemy and the inability to defend his fortress, he ordered to burn it.
In the XII - XVII centuries. the city was religious center region, in the 19th century became the family residence of the dukes Mecklenburg. During these years, Schwerin flourished, but did not acquire great national importance, therefore, during World War II, it was not destroyed by bombing.
Attractions
The city has preserved many sights. Thousands of travelers annually visit "Northern Florence" (as Schwerin has been called since the 16th century). Except castle there are many interesting objects. Since the Middle Ages Lake Pfaffenteich costs Schwerin Cathedral (Schweriner Dom). The height of its tower is 117 m; the length of the main nave is 100 m. The temple was rebuilt more than once, but its main portal has been preserved since the 12th century.
On a green wooded hill, to the west of the city center, there is a Gothic Paul Church (Paulskirche). Baroque Shelf Church of St. Nicholas, built in the 18th century, serves as a family burial vault of the grand-ducal family. Of the museum complexes of Schwerin, one can distinguish a technical exposition (Technische Landesmuseum), Archaeological Museum(Archäologische Landesmuseum), museum under open sky Schwerin-Muss (Freilichtmuseum Schwerin-Mueß), International Fire Museum (Internationale Feuerwehrmuseum). Created in the city observatory and planetarium, zoological garden. To see Schwerin from above and admire its surroundings, you need to climb TV tower (Fernsehturm) 136 m high, built in the sixties of the XX century. Upstairs are Observation deck and a restaurant.
In the city center, in the area Alter Garten and Rynek, preserved half-timbered houses. Open tourist trams move along the historical streets. chief vehicle in Schwerin, a tram is considered, and a ferry runs on Lake Pfaffenteich.
What is interesting in the vicinity
Schwerin is surrounded by pastoral villages, windmills, magnificent natural landscapes. By waterways from the city you can make day trips around the area by ferry, see neighboring cities. You can relax on the green island of Kaninchenwerder, located in the middle of Lake Schwerin, visit the Zippendorf resort.
City events and holidays
Many festive and cultural events take place in the city. It hosts film and theater festivals, even a gay parade. In May, the Weise Flotte organizes a parade of pleasure boats; in the middle of summer, rowing boat races, a marathon, and a pottery fair take place. The brightest events take place in autumn, at the Old Town Festival. In September, a wine festival is held, in November - a folk holiday in memory of Martensman. The annual cultural program ends with the Christmas Fair.
Schwerin Deutschland schwerin.de
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When thinking about my plans for spending time in Northern Germany, I looked at quite a few cities located a short distance from Hamburg (in which I lived permanently for a week). One glance at the photographs of Schwerin Castle in the book "Castles of Germany" was enough for me to include it in the list of sine qua non, that is, a mandatory condition - to visit Schwerin during the trip "Hamburg - Copenhagen".
Schwerin is the capital of the federal state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. My second (true, in both cases short-term) acquaintance with the East of Germany, in other words - with the territory former GDR. Like most names in the region, Schwerin has Slavic roots - once it was Zverin, which was defeated on the orders of the Saxon Duke Henry the Lion. The image of lions in the north of Germany is popular in any more or less significant city, and it is precisely because of this ruler-commander. True, in Schwerin sculptural composition Heinrich's lion is made in some kind of sardonic style.
From Hamburg to Schwerin railway lasts about an hour and a half. The scenery outside the window is rather banal. At the train station in Schwerin, I bought a small tourist map of the city, which is very convenient to navigate. There are few sights there, and you can get to them easily and quickly.
Through the streets of Schwerin
Schwerin Cathedral
The city is located among a system of lakes, the main of which is the Schweriner See. There are also many small ponds. From the shore of one of them offers a view of the Cathedral:
The modern look of the Cathedral acquired only in 1988. By its size, it is considered one of the largest buildings built in the brick Gothic style. The height of its tower is 117.5 meters. This is a good landmark, as well as a viewing point. But more about him below. First, I looked at the interior.
Here the big cross attracts attention:
and a 17th-century funerary monument to Duke Christopher of Mecklenburg and Duchess Elisabeth (she was from the Swedish Royal Family):
Panoramic views of Schwerin
Then I decided to go up to get a bird's-eye view of Schwerin. I want to reassure those who are afraid of heights: the observation deck is located inside the walls of the tower (there are only small windows for viewing). Below are some photos of Schwerin.
Bourgeois Schwerin
I was wondering how much in Schwerin reminds of the times of the GDR? No, not enough - a cemetery Soviet soldiers, Pushkin Street and the conspicuous fact that the city is still poorly (relative to West Germany) mastered by immigrants from the Third World. Although there is no doubt that through the efforts of the authorities, this situation will be quickly "corrected".
The status of the capital of the federal state led to a radical restructuring; now Schwerin looks, so to speak, bourgeois. There are many respectable houses, villas, residences public institutions. For example, a beautiful house:
Schwerin Castle
In front of the castle
But now I'm not very interested in such views. Like surveyor K. from Franz Kafka's novel, I persistently strove for the Castle.
A few more minutes - and was in front of him:
The castle is located on the Palace Island, which is connected to the city and the palace garden by means of two bridges. In combination with the surrounding water bodies, the Castle looks especially picturesque:
Several buildings were built on this site: first there was an ancient Slavic fortress of the 10th century, then a castle of the 16th century (when Schwerin gained fame as the "Florence of the North") and, finally, a modern building, eclectically (but, in my opinion, organically) mixed several architectural styles, erected in 1845–1857.
The sculpture of a rider on the central tower of the castle is Prince Niklot of Obodrite, the founder of the Mecklenburg House:
For almost 30 years, he resisted the German onslaught, primarily from Henry the Lion. In 1160, the Danish King Valdemar I the Great and Henry the Lion united for a decisive campaign against the Slavic tribes. The forces of the Bodrichians could not be compared with the combined strength of the opponents, and Prince Niklot died in battle. A painting depicting the heroic death of Niklot is hung in Schwerin Castle.
One of Niklot's sons was executed, and the other, named Pribyslaw, was forced to recognize himself as a vassal of the Saxon duke and became the founder of the Nikloting dynasty, which ruled in Mecklenburg until the 1918 revolution.
Even higher on the tower are the figures of dukes and.
Castle interiors. Guardian Spirit Peter the Little Man
In the castle you can visit the Museum of Interiors; it is not very big, I would say - not intrusive. It is very interesting to look at it. Here are two images:
Extremely interesting are also paintings on the plots of ancient German epics (this idea was developed by the Bavarian King Ludwig II in castles and).
I also fell in love with Schwerin Castle thanks to one of its inhabitants. His name is Petermännchen, that is, Peter the little man. This is the spirit of the castle, 2 to 3 feet tall. His sculptural image can be seen in the castle (well, someone can actually see the little man himself):
Peter the little man dresses like a cavalier of the 17th century. Often he carries a bunch of keys and a lantern with him, because this spirit is kind and always helps those who get lost in the castle in the darkness of the night - it opens the necessary doors and highlights the path. And drives out thieves. Peter the little man also wakes up the guards who have fallen asleep, not only in case of danger of an attack, but also in order to save them from punishment for their misconduct.
Interestingly, under this sculpture there is a Latin inscription Quid si sic, meaning the question "What if so?". According to legend, this phrase is associated with the prediction of the future by Peter the little man by the color of his clothes. He is usually dressed in grey; if he is seen dressed in black, then an impending disaster can be expected. Red color - to auspicious events. Therefore, these Latin words can be interpreted: "What will happen if he appears in such clothes?".
Walk near the Castle
Then I walked around the court garden. It is small, but very beautiful, especially in sunny weather. Along the way, I examined the castle from different angles:
On this side of the castle complex there are spectacular towers in oriental style:
AND last photo castle, made from the side of the park:
I think Schwerin Castle is not in vain considered one of the masterpieces of architecture in Northern Germany.
