Attractions and Places To See around Pölchow - Top 20

At over 700 years old, it is probably the oldest town hall in Germany built in the Gothic brick style. Between 1270 and 1290 there were already two connected gabled houses, to which a third was soon added. Later, these three houses were visually combined into one building by a high display wall with seven towers. A richly decorated Gothic porch with a portico soon followed. From the roof of this portico, the "Burspraken", the regulations issued by the council, were once read out to the Rostock residents gathered in the market, while court sessions took place below. The town hall also served as a trading center for the citizens. Both floors were used for commercial purposes. At the foot of the town hall, on the entrance column, lies a snake. The first records of it date from the early 19th century. Its meaning has not yet been clearly established. As a symbol of wisdom, it could have helped the councillors in difficult situations, been a measure of eel for the fish trade on the New Market, or it served journeymen as proof that they had also been to Rostock on their travels. The snake was damaged or stolen several times over the years. In 1998, the artist Erhard John created the mythical creature out of bronze: a snake with an eel's tail. The new snake was presented to the city on its 780th anniversary and was named "Johannes". Stroke the snake Johannes on the head - that is supposed to bring good luck! https://www.ostsee.de/rostock/rathaus.php

Beautiful town hall - there is a restaurant in the town hall cellar. If you stand in front of it and look down, you can see the glass windows in the cellar from the outside. The color scheme alone shows that people wanted to show off their wealth here.

Today's main building of the University of Rostock essentially consists of two parts. The southern wing, the New Museum, was built in 1844 as a "museum for the University of Rostock". On the site of the old university, the White College, the central building and the right wing were built between 1867 and 1870.

The transition in the street "Hinter dem Rathaus" connects the Stadthaus with the Rathaus. The Rostock griffin with the year 1907 is depicted on the façade.

Used as a car park for many years, since 2000 the Neuer Markt has been what it was for centuries: Rostock's central market square in front of the town hall. There is also a weekly market here - Tuesday to Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Rostock's town hall dates back to the 13th century and is therefore one of the oldest town halls in Germany. In any case, the Gothic brickwork is one of the most magnificent buildings on the Baltic Sea. The ensemble originally consisted of two houses connected by arcades. In the 18th century, the facade was damaged by a storm and replaced by a new baroque design; only the seven Gothic turrets on the roof are reminiscent of the original. The sculpture of a snake that seems to crawl between the pillars of the entrance is remarkable. There are various stories surrounding the Rostock town hall snake. One of them says that it was once donated to the councilors as a symbol of wisdom for their decisions. In any case, stroking its head is said to bring visitors luck... Source: https://fritzguide.com/top-sehenswuerdigkeiten-in-rostock/

Until its destruction in 1942, the New Market was surrounded on all sides by magnificent gabled houses from four centuries. Only six houses on the west side retained their original appearance. The Renaissance house no. 16 is particularly striking with its decorative elements on the gable stairs and the lion on the building. "Gaff heads" look down on passers-by. House no. 12 contains features from various styles. It is fascinating with its rich sculptural decoration and the small turrets on the gable. Used as a car park for many years, since 2000 the New Market has once again become what it was for centuries: Rostock's central market square in front of the town hall. The Seagull Fountain on the New Market was created in 2001 by the well-known Worpswede sculptor Waldemar Otto. Four ancient bronze sea gods are grouped around a column with a seagull: Neptune with a trident, Nereus, Triton blowing on a conch shell and Protheus, the walking one. On the north side of the New Market stands the town hall with its seven turrets, directly opposite begins Kröpeliner Straße, the main shopping street of the Hanseatic city. The New Market and Kröpeliner Straße are reserved for pedestrians. Source: https://www.ostsee.de/rostock/neuermarkt.html

It's worth poking around behind the town hall