LOCATION
A city in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern in Germany. You can reach Barth by car, bus or train, as well as by plane (airport in Stralsund-Barth). Barth is located on the south bank of the Bodden sea, which is why you can also get here by yacht. 54°22′N 12°43′E
photo source: wikipedia.
SCENIC CHARACTER
The origins of Barth are unknown. Some say that it was founded by the survivors of the sunken city of Wineta. The first mention of the city dates from 1255 when the Prince of Rügen made in the document to thank the city of Barth. The last prince of Rügen, Wisław III, built a castle here in 1315. After his death, the city came under the rule of the princes of Western Pomerania from the Griffin dynasty. The most distinguished ruler of the city was Bogusław XIII, whose city owes to the sewage system, the pharmacy and the school. He also founded the first printing house, in which 700 copies of Luther’s Bible (in the years 1584 – 1588) were printed in modern technology. You can get to know this story by visiting the Bibel Centrum in the former church of St. George. In the place of the former castle, there is today a palace in which there is a nursing home. In Barth, it is worth visiting the gothic St. Mary’s Church. Pay attention to one of the chandeliers that presents the suffering griffin. It is dedicated to the memory of the dead six children of Bogusław XIII. In the Church there is crypt were those children were buried. In the place of the former defensive walls, there are tenement houses and above the bay, there is a marina.
ATTRACTIONS
Tsunami on the Baltic.
Once upon a time at the Baltic Sea at the mouth of the Oder River, located one of the largest city of Europe of that time. The city name was Wineta. It was a great port and commercial centre. Information about this city can be found in old chronicles. It is not known exactly where the Wineta was located, because no found any residue this city. However, there is no doubt that it was in the current Pomeranian Bay. In myths, this Slavic city is described as very rich, even luxurious. Most probably, the city experienced a flourishing around the eighth century. Apparently, the residents ran a dissolute and sinful lifestyle. Someday bang and powerful thunder coming from the depths of the sea and suddenly high waves hit the coast and they entered far to land, wreaking havoc, drowning people and animals. It was to be punishment for ungodliness and debauchery. This event is confirmed by historical and scientific evidence. After the catastrophe, the Swedes have taken gold, silver, tin, marble and it was transported by ship to the Gotland. It is believed that the inhabitants of Wineta, who managed to survive the disaster, founded the city, called Barth. There is a museum dedicated to Wineta and in the city every year takes place Wineta Festival. Wineta is gone, but the memory of this great city has remained to this day not only in Germany, in Barth, but also in Wolin, where there is an open-air museum of the Slavs and Vikings Center in Jomsborg – Vineta Wolin where every year in the first weekend in August there is a festival of Slavs and Vikings during which you can find echoes of the former Wineta.
INFORMATION SOURCES
Heritage Class: [ C ]Cultural Heritage
Subclass [MS] : Monuments and sites
WEB PAGES
