The city of Bergen is situated in the centre of the picturesque Baltic island of Rügen. The town’s history goes back more than a thousand years. In the 12thcentury a former Slavic castle declined and gave way to a monastery that dominated the settlement until the 15thcentury. Bergen was granted town rights in the 17thcentury. In the 19thcentury, the urban infrastructure was modernised in the course of industrialisation.
The Bergen office also includes the municipality of Ralswiek, in which the famous Störtebeker festival takes place every year since 1993, between end of June and beginning of September. The most highly regarded outdoor theatre in Germany is performed right on the Großer Jasmunder Bodden. Episodes are being told, from the life of legendary pirate Klaus Störtebeker, who, at the end of the 14thcentury, terrorized the Baltic Sea as leader of the Victual Brothers. Elaborate special effects, four ships, horses and more than 150 actors make this play an unforgettable experience.
A popular destination in Bergen is the Rugard with its Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-Tower, which allows for a panoramic view over Rügen. A good twenty minutes by car away are located the chalk cliffs in Jasmund National Park. From the platform of the 118-meter-high Königsstuhl (“King’s Chair”), one has a splendid view of the Baltic Sea. Furthermore, beaches and the sea offer a whole range of possibilities to spend the summer holidays by the Baltic Sea. On a day trip one can visit Cape Arkona with its Slavic Jaromarsburg and its two lighthouses; Bergen and its surroundings can be explored on extensive bike rides. Well-developed cycle paths ensure a relaxed family holiday on bike.
Discovering the Baltic island on hiking trails is also perfectly possible. A clear, well signposted network of paths, as well as maps, provide help when going on tour in Bergen and its surroundings. One can gain insight into Rügen’s diverse history by visiting the Bergen museum. The three-aisle basilica, which once belonged to the former monastery church St. Marien, is the oldest preserved brick building in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. When being on family vacation on the island of Rügen, a day-trip to the summer toboggan run in Bergen is highly recommended as well.
