Wismar (Germany)

Wismar is a Baltic Sea cruise port located in Germany's Mecklenburg-Vorpommern state, approx 45 km (28 mi) east of Lubeck (Travemunde). The city covers a total area of approx 41 km2 (16 mi2) and has population around 43,000.

Port Wismar is in the in Bay of Wismar - natural harbour protected by a promontory (raised land mass). During season 2016, the cruise port handled a total of 8 ship calls and around 4,300 passengers. Season 2018 had scheduled all 11 ship calls with expected around 10,000 passengers.

On March 7, 2018, the shipbuilder MV Werften signed a land purchase agreement with Wismar City. The site was used for building an warehouse for storing prefabricated cruise ship cabins. The new EUR 4 million facility (83x76 m) has capacity for 300+ cabin units stored on 3 levels. Warehouse's construction started in June, with scheduled completion by December 2018.

The German shipbuilding company Meyer Werft GmbH & Co KG was founded in 1795 and currently headquartered in Papenburg. Meyer Werft (part of Meyer Neptun Group) builds cruise ships, ferries (passenger and Ro-Ro), tanker ships, boxships, livestock carriers, research vessels. MV Werften operates 3 shipyards - in Papenburg, Rostock and Turku Finland, plus the module fabrication facilities in Wismar and Stralsund.

During the period of the Deutsche Demokratische Republik (German Democratic Republic), from 1949-1990, Wismar city was developed as a shipbuilding settlement and port, becoming East Germany's 2nd-largest port, after Rostock. Nordic Yards Wismar is a famous shipbuilder located in Wismar. Shipbuilding has existed at the site since 1946.

Since 2002, the town is on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Site. Among its landmarks and attractions are the Old Town's Market Place, the Wasserkunst (Holland-made fountain), Town Hall (built in the 18th century), Burgerhaus (13th-century home), St Georgen-Kirche (14th-century church), Marienkirche (13th-century church), Nikolaikirche (14th-century church), Furstenhof (ducal residence palace), Baumhaus (art gallery).

The large Market Place, in the Old Town is one of the biggest in northern Germany (10,000 m2), surrounded by buildings in styles ranging from Gothic to Romanesque to Art Nouveau. The focal point is Wasserkunst - wrought-iron fountain imported from Holland (1602). In the square's northern side is the Town Hall (built 1817-1819). Another notable building is Burgerhaus (patrician's home, built late-14th-century).

Saint Nicholas Church (Nikolaikirche, built 1381-1460 and Marienkirche (St Mary Church) are regarded as great examples of the influence exercised by the large Saint Mary Church in Lubeck. The Town Hall (rebuilt in 1829) has a collection of pictures. Baumhaus (Municipal Gallery) is in Wismar's old harbor area.