Bad Doberan is a district in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany. It is bounded by (from the north and clockwise) the Baltic Sea, the city of Rostock and the districts of Nordvorpommern, Güstrow and Nordwestmecklenburg.

History

The region was populated by Slavic peoples until the 12th century. Remains of a Slavic castle can be found in the town of Rerik (which still bears a Slavic name). In 1160 Henry the Lion conquered the region; afterwards German monks, peasants and traders arrived to settle here. In the Middle Ages the region profited from the vicinity of the wealthy Hanseatic city of Rostock. The worst time in regional history was the Thirty Years' War, which depopulated the area almost completely.

In 1793 the bathing resort of Heiligendamm (today a borough of Bad Doberan) was established, and the region became a summer residence for the dukes of Mecklenburg-Schwerin.

In 1952 the districts of Bad Doberan and Rostock-Land were established. They were merged in 1994 in order to form the present district.

Geography

The district comprises a 62 km coastline along the Baltic Sea and its hinterland on both banks of the Warnow river. The Warnow enters the district in the south and leaves to the city of Rostock. Rostock is surrounded by the district, but no part of it.

Coat of arms

The coat of arms displays: the griffin from the arms of Rostock, symbolising the city's influence on the district the bull from the arms of the former duchy of Mecklenburg the clerical staff stands for the old and famous Cistercian monastery of Bad Doberan

Towns and municipalities

External links

• Official website (German)