Schwerin.

Schwerin is the capital of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, built around a chain of lakes that reach into the city center. Schwerin Castle stands on its own island in the Schweriner See, connected to the old town by a bridge lined with gardens. Rebuilt in the 19th century as the residence of the Grand Dukes of Mecklenburg, it combines turrets and towers with ornate facades in a romantic historicist style; its state rooms are open to visitors.

Below the castle, the old town centers on a market square framed by gabled merchant houses, with Schwerin Cathedral rising nearby. Its Gothic brick nave has anchored the skyline for centuries. Narrow streets lead past cafés and small shops toward the lake edge, where paths follow the water past reed beds and boat landings. Rowing boats and small ferries cross the Schweriner See in summer, reaching lakeside parks and wooded shores.