Barth: Hotels, Bodden Location and City History

Barth lies on the southern shore of the Barther Bodden, within the chain of lagoons separated from the Baltic Sea by the Fischland-Darß-Zingst peninsula. The townscape and its exhibitions offer different ways to encounter history: St. Mary’s Church, remains of the medieval fortifications, and the Vineta Museum.

Churches and historic buildings

Construction of St. Mary’s Church in Barth began around 1300; its oldest part is the eastern choir, built in the Early Gothic style. The church has an organ built by the Berlin organ maker Buchholz, which is especially valuable for its unique sound. The seasonal period for organ concerts is between June and September; check specific dates in advance. The church tower can be visited up to 30 minutes before the church closes, when the reading café is open. Check the current visiting conditions before your visit.

Remains of fortifications and Baroque architecture

The Dammtor and Fangelturm together are among the few surviving remains of the town’s medieval fortifications. Fangelturm dates from the 16th century. The Adlige Fräuleinstift, a two-winged Baroque complex built between 1733 and 1741, also stands in the heart of Barth.

Museums and hands-on activities

The Vineta Museum of the town of Barth documents the town’s history and notable figures from art, literature and science across four floors. Its permanent exhibitions include the Barther Bible, the history of Barth and the legend of Vineta, which gave the museum its name.

At the St. Jürgen Low German Bible Centre, visitors can print on a replica of Gutenberg’s printing press by prior arrangement. The Windjammer Museum organizes tours and lectures on request about regional maritime history and the era of the last large sailing ships. The offerings differ in subject and format: hands-on printing is the focus at the Bible Centre, while the Windjammer Museum focuses on regional maritime history. Both require prior arrangement or an advance request.

Passenger boats and regional context

Barth’s town harbor is the departure point for passenger boats to Zingst and Hiddensee. If you would like to include a boat trip in your plans, check the timetable in advance.

Vorpommern-Rügen in regional context

The Vorpommern-Rügen district includes the Fischland-Darß-Zingst peninsula chain, the island of Rügen, and the outlying islands of Hiddensee and Ummanz. There are an estimated 60 museums in the district. In Ribnitz-Damgarten, the Galerie im Kloster preserves the district’s art collection. It comprises around 500 works of painting, graphic art, sculpture, ceramics, silk painting and textile design, dating from the late 19th century to the present day. The old town of the Hanseatic city of Stralsund is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Historic Centres of Stralsund and Wismar.” The beech forests in Jasmund National Park on Rügen are part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe.”

Discover more destinations: Kenz-Küstrow, Lüdershagen, Karnin, Divitz-Spoldershagen, Pruchten, Löbnitz, Bartelshagen Ii Bei Barth, Trinwillershagen.

Go to the overview of the wider travel area: Amt Barth.