Maritime Pleasures - MV tut gut

Kellymarie Sullivan, dancer, Mecklenburg Statetheatre in Schwerin
“It’s no great effort finding latitude here.”
The ‘Strandkorb’ is an idea that came from Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.
A region bursting with creativity: unique festivals, fascinating museums,
historic buildings, modern theatres. And you’re never far from a beach.
[ Strandkorb]
MECKLENBURG-VORPOMMERN
Latitude
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern invites
you to come for a holiday, to invest
or to live here. Discover beautiful
countryside, unique cultural events
and plenty of space.
Maritime Pleasures
Exploring the coast and the lakes
Nordic Sounds
An interview with star violinist Daniel Hope

Insight
2
A land full of possibilities
The family of inventor Bartelmann
in a 'Strandkorb' in 1884.
[Strandkorb]
pronounce [ˈʃtʀantˌkɔʁp]
‘Strandkorb’. Maybe one of the loveliest
words in German. It reminds us of
relaxation, comfort and being out in
the fresh air, space for ideas and
personal freedom. No attempt at
translation would do justice to that
notion. The ‘Strandkorb’ is simply
a place to be. It was invented
in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.
According to history, Rostock court
master basketmaker Wilhelm
Bartelmann built the first one-seater
‘Strandkorb’ for his wealthy client
Elfriede von Maltzahn, who had
rheumatism and wanted protection
from the wind on the beach.
The ‘Strandkorb’ quickly triumphed
on German coasts and to date
enjoys immense popularity.
The ‘Strandkorb’ represents inventiveness
and personal freedom,
and not least because of this
it symbolises the state of
Mecklenburg-
Vorpommern.
A 'Strandkorb'
on the Baltic
coast today
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern is Germany's gateway to Northern and Central Europe. Almost
two thousand kilometres of coastline connect the state to Scandinavia and the Baltic Nations.
The region, with a longstanding tradition going back to the time of the Hanseatic League,
stands for freedom, ‘latitude’ and innovation. The ‘Strandkorb’ is testament to the fact that these
values have a permanent place here. Nowadays, it is not possible to imagine the coasts of
Northern Europe without this popular kind of beach furniture, which was invented in Rostock-
Warnemünde in 1882. This was also the impression the representatives of international politics
had in 2007 when, at the Heiligendamm G8 Summit, they took their places for a unique group
photo in a large version of the ‘Strandkorb’.
Tradition and innovation are also what the six universities of the state stand for. The universities
of Rostock and Greifswald are among the oldest in the whole of the Baltic region and, like
the aspiring universities of Stralsund, Neubrandenburg and Wismar, and the Rostock University
of Music and Drama, regularly gain top-ranking positions. With their modern facilities, and being
so close to water, they offer ideal conditions for studying and researching as well as recreation.
Efficient networking between science and business moves their work forward in diverse ways.
Above all, enterprises working in the areas of renewable energies, health management and the
maritime economy know how to use the advantages of the location.
Unique perspectives of a quite different kind are provided by Mecklenburg-Vorpommern's
unspoilt natural areas. About 300 nature reserves, among them three national parks, eight
nature parks and three biosphere reserves, delight visitors from all over the world.
Photo Credits Cover, Page 2-3: State marketing MV (2), Wohn- und Geschäftshaus Bartelmann seit 1903 (1), www.shutterstock.de (1)
The same applies to the numerous stately homes and manor houses with their ornate and
appealing gardens. Wherein the past the painter Caspar David Friedrich had placed the
landscape in the centre of his pictures, today majestic sea eagles and cranes still find unique
resting areas. In Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, nature and culture go together, as the cuisine
of the region proves. From the Baltic coast to the Mecklenburg lake district, chefs are creating
a distinct culture of savouring high quality regional products. However, the enjoyment
of art is also guaranteed in the summer, when international actors, singers and musicians
play at many concerts and festivals in the state at picturesque and unusual locations. These
locations are also used for successful film productions such as ‘The Ghostwriter’ by Roman
Polanski and ‘The white Ribbon’ by Michael Haneke as the mysterious beaches and historic
manor houses have shown Mecklenburg-Vorpommern in its best light.
These places are ready to be discovered by you. On the following pages [Strandkorb] will
introduce you to a land full of possibilities. Enjoy Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. And try to
pronounce ['ʃtrant,kɔrp] and ['meːklənbʊʁç'foːʁpɔmɐn]!
[ Strandkorb]
MECKLENBURG-VORPOMMERN
Contents
Page 4 – 6 A Journey to popular places
Page 7 Manor house dreams
Page 8 – 9 Best of Northern Germany
Page 10 –11 Northern statements
Page 12 –13 ‘Strandkorb-Talk’ with
Daniel Hope
Page 14 Roger Boyes' view
on the Strandkorb
Page 15 Fine dining in
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
I M P r I N t
Publisher
State marketing Mecklenburg-Vorpommern,
Peter Kranz (V.i.S.d.P.)
Schloßstraße 2-4, 19053 Schwerin
Phone: +49 385 588 57 95
Fax: +49 385 588 57 97
info@mv-tut-gut.de
www.mv-tut-gut.de
Editing & Design
Molthan van Loon Communications GmbH (GPRA)
www.mvlcc.de
Alexandra Sell, Stefanie Quaas
Print
Druckerei Hahn GmbH
Circulation 15.000
Editorial deadline October 2011
3

Müritz National Park 53°25’0’’ N · 12°41’0’’ E
A wild romance
Artists for the pure northern light, escapists for the remote wilderness of islands like Rügen,
Usedom and Hiddensee, culture enthusiasts for the almost 2,000 stately manor houses – all are
captivated by Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Whether seen from a canoe in the pristine
Mecklenburg lake district or a ‘Strandkorb’ on the 1945 km Baltic coast, this is a region of
extraordinary natural beauty. Where the country collides with the coast, UNESCOlisted
Wismar, with its red-brick Gothic architecture, and Stralsund, with its vibrant harbour and
award-winning Ozeaneum, signal a proud Hanseatic past.
Wild and Wonderful _ “The only way to really see
Müritz National Park's web of waterways and lakes
is by boat,” Ranger Carmen Schnell tells me, as we
glide across Görtowsee in a canoe. I nod in silent
agreement. The lake is silver-grey and as flat as a
mirror in the morning calm and as we paddle in
quiet exhilaration, Carmen points out red kites and grey herons
soaring overhead. We spot ‘otter slides’ on the reed-fringed banks
and come across great crested grebes carrying their stripy chicks
on their backs. “They’re loving parents,” Carmen grins.
The splish-splash of summer rain mingles with the cuckoo's call as
we reach Useriner See, one of many lakes carved out by the Havel
River. “Every weather and season has its appeal here,” says Carmen.
“In spring there's the breeding choruses of the blue moor frogs, in
summer sea eagles and ospreys, in autumn the migration of cranes
and in winter, total peace.” As the skies clear in the early evening,
we paddle along sun-dappled channels to Blankenförde, where
dragonflies flit and wooden boat houses reflect in the water. Suddenly,
my heart skips a beat as a kingfisher, a flash of electric blue,
darts out of the reeds.
The next day we meet Peter Heyde, who has been a Ranger ever
since Müritz National Park was founded in 1990. “We've come a
long way in conservation recently,” he says enthusiastically. Peter
alludes to the park’s 600 km of hiking and cycling trails, Serrahn's
centuries old beech forests, designated a UNESCO Natural Heritage
Site in July 2011, and the flooded forests of Zotzensee where a
regeneration project has raised water levels in recent years.
4
[ ]
In Speck, a nature trail leads us
through a forest of tall pine and
oak to ‘Käflingsbergturm’. From the
tower, we gaze out across a neverending
jigsaw of lakes and lush
woodlands. “This was once a Soviet
training ground. Now it is the virgin forest of tomorrow,” points out
Peter. Indeed, from this vantage point, Müritz National Park is
peaceful and primevally beautiful. Civilisation seems far away and
nature that bit closer.
»Every weather and season
has its appeal here.«
C A R M E N S C H N E L L ,
Ranger Müritz National Park
to the Manor Born _ An avenue of 200-year-old lime trees is a
suitably grand entrance to Schloss Bothmer, the largest baroque
palace in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Situated in the Klützer Winkel,
the palace was rescued from its Sleeping Beauty-like slumber
in 2008 and is gradually being restored to its former glory. Framed
by a moat, the redbrick beauty was built by architect Johann Friedrich
Künnecke between 1726 and 1732 for Count Hans Caspar von
Bothmer, an advisor to the English Court of King George I.
The palace truly comes to life at ‘BothmerTag’ in July. On a sunny
Sunday morning, we join picnickers for an open-air classical music
concert performed by the Mecklenburgische Staatskapelle Schwe -
rin. Sprightly symphonies such as Franz Lehár's Merry Widow and
Strauss' Radetzky March resonate in the gardens where Lords and
Ladies once strolled. Stilt-walkers and performers in baroque costume
parade for the crowds. Contemplating the intricate stucco
and fireplaces in the palace interior, we imagine how magnificent
the palace will be when restoration is complete around 2014. >>
Photo Credits Page 4-6: Andy Christiani
Evening light in Binz: Impressive buildings right next to the beach
Bothmer Palace: Vibrant heritage reingard Berger: Cooking in a rich traditional style
Author Kerry Christiani and Park ranger Carmen Schnell: Boating on the ‘Görtowsee’ in the Müritz National Park
Binz 54°24’0’’ N · 13°36’0’’ E
5

Schloss Bothmer is a tantalising prelude to Mecklenburg-
Vorpommern’s rich cultural heritage. Nestled amid coast and country
are more than 2,000 castles and manor houses, unique to this region.
Once the centrepiece of the village, the so called ‘Herrenhäuser’ wear
their history with pride, from baroque to Biedermeier, neoclassical to
Art Nouveau. Today, many form the atmospheric backdrop for events,
while others have been converted into stately guesthouses.
Central to the ‘Herrenhaus’ was the garden, a place of beauty and
a source of fresh food. To find out more, we visit the UNESCO-listed
Hanseatic town of Wismar, where red-brick Gothic buildings line
the postcard-pretty old town. At organic Hotel Reingard, Reingard
Berger is inspired by Herrenhaus cuisine. “As was tradition in manor
houses, my menus allow each season to shine and feature lots of
fruit in the main course,” she tells us. By candlelight we dine on wild
herb soup with scallops, pikeperch served with apricots, and rose
parfait with sour cherries – flavours that are summery, fragrant and
delightfully reminiscent of a bygone era.
romantic rügen _ There is a mystical air to the island of Rügen
and it was this that drew the Romantics to its shores in the 19th
century. They were enchanted by the pure Baltic light, the everchanging
colours of the sea, the plunging chalk cliffs, and the ancient
forests full of megalithic graves. Today, as then, Germany's
largest island is a place of untouched nature and lyrical landscapes.
Thatched cottages rise above poppy-studded cornfields,
silver-grey beaches necklace the almost 580 km coastline and trees
arch gracefully across cobbled roads. We follow the footsteps of
6
Jasmund National Park 54°33’7.2’’ N · 13°37’22.8’’ E
the chalk cliffs of rügen: Hallmark of the Jasmund National park
German romantic artist Caspar David Friedrich to the Jasmund National
Park in the island's northeast. Here, trails thread through
UNESCO-listed beech forests, which are like something out of a fairy
tale with their gnarled stilt trees, swamps and tranquil lakes. Suddenly,
the coast drops away and we are standing atop the wild chalk
pinnacle of ‘Königsstuhl’ (118m), immortalised by Friedrich in his
painting ‘Kreidefelsen auf Rügen’ in 1818. The force of nature and
the lure of the sea are tangible as we walk further along the ragged
cliffs to Victoria Viewpoint.
From its clifftop perch nearby, Panoramahotel Lohme has sublime
views along the coast to Kap Arkona from its terrace. “Lohme is
Rügen’s cradle of Romantic,” expresses hotel manager, historian
and philosopher Matthias Ogilvie. “Romantic writer Gerhard Hauptmann
found freedom of expression here, and novelist Theodor
Fontane compared it to Sorrento during his stay in 1884.” A selfconfessed
Romantic, Matthias loves Rügen's open expanse of sea.
“Feelings can flow freely here,” he says, as we wander through a
coastal forest where maple and ash trees intertwine. “This is
Rügen's Mondscheinallee, or lovers' lane,” he muses, pointing out
hearts carved into tree trunks.
As the light softens, we stroll along the grand promenade of Binz,
a fine romance of a seaside resort with its ornate whitewashed
villas, palatial spa hotel and rows of Strandkörbe. Nearby, Sellin has
a watercolour dreaminess at dusk, with its pier aglow and the sky
streaked purple, pink and gold. We truly agree that the romantic
spirit of Rügen is still very much alive. Kerry Christiani
Kerry and Andy Christiani
Kerry and Andy Christiani are a freelance travel writer and photographer team based in Germany's
Black Forest. Their Frommer's Marrakech Day by Day guidebook was awarded Travel Guide of the
Year 2010 at the Travel Press Awards in London. Kerry frequently writes guidebooks for Lonely
Planet, Frommer's, Thomas Cook and the AA, as well as articles for publications including BBC Olive,
Emirates Open Skies and Lonely Planet Magazine. Andy is an approved Lonely Planet photographer,
with names like National Geographic Traveler on his CV, and his images often illustrate Kerry's text.
Visit www.kerrychristiani.com and www.andychristiani.com.
Photo Credits Page 7: State marketing MV/ Carlo Zamboni (1), Gut Dalwitz (1)
»We're living
a family fairy tale«
The way to the ‘Mecklenburger Parkland’ leads over bumpy
cobblestones, along sunlit avenues and past small glittering lakes.
Near Wallenstein's stately home in Güstrow lies the Dalwitz estate –
a fairy tale come true for the ‘von Bassewitz' family. However,
the story begins in far away Uruguay.
It was here that the Uruguayan Lucy Henderson met Count Heinrich
von Bassewitz, who was then working for the German Company for
International Cooperation (GIZ). By the campfire, she listened to his
old family stories about a heavenly place in Mecklenburg, where in
May busy bees buzz in the lime trees in the late afternoon: the
Dalwitz estate. The Agricultural Economics PhD graduate wanted
to lease back the expropriated family property and cultivate it,
preferably using organic farming methods. The appeal of these
stories and the passion of the storyteller must have been persuasive,
as only two weeks later, Lucy accepted his proposal of
marriage and moved despite her aunt's plaintive warnings “it's a
white elephant, it will eat you” – to Mecklenburg. The first visit to
the derelict buildings of the former grand Dalwitz estate was both
sobering and motivating at the same time. They both worked
hard on the farm and in the estate buildings. Looking back, the
Countess said: “We both have lots of energy, so I always knew we
would succeed.” The manual work was hard but enjoyable for her.
While strolling across the courtyard, Lucy von Bassewitz explains
enthusiastically: “I love the countryside here – particularly in May
when everything turns green and the rapeseed, gold.”
Daybreak in the garden of Dalwitz manor house
Countess Lucy with her youngest son
Dalwitz Rostock 53°58’0’’ 54°5'0''N N · 12°33’0’’ · 12°8'0''OE
The lady of the manor's South American charm and hospitality is
palpable everywhere on the idyllic estate in Mecklenburg. Every
Monday there's a South American Asado in the park, a barbecue for
the holiday makers, Criollo horses gallop over the meadows and
sometimes Lucy cooks ‘Dulce de Leche’, a dessert made with milk
and sugar. She has a few plans concerning this dessert: “My dream is
to produce ‘Dulce de Leche’ and jams too, on the Dalwitz estate and
sell them.” The South American lady never runs out of business
ideas.
Today, three happy Bassewitz children are playing again, just as previous
generations before them, beneath the gnarled lime trees, in
which the bees buzz so delightfully in the late afternoon. That is the
reason why, despite missing her family in Uruguay, Lucy is quite
clear: “I'm going to stay in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. We are living
a family fairy tale here.”
7

Places to be
Whether you go by boat, car, plane or train, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern is always worth a visit. You can look forward to a
rich and varied countryside and diverse fauna especially in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern's fourteen large nature reserves.
You can also go on a journey of discovery to museums, theatres and artists' communities, as the region was a retreat, source
of inspiration and home to many well-known artists, writers and musicians.
The architecture in Germany's north-east is impressive: red brick Gothic is typical for the region and in the Hanseatic towns
of Wismar and Stralsund has been designated part of our world heritage by UNESCO. Also included among the region's
special architectural features are the piers along the Baltic coast and more than 2,000 manor houses further inland.
Whether you're interested in nature, culture or architecture, it's particularly worthwhile making
a trip to these special places.
GErMANY
Nature Protection Area
Ferryport
Airport
Bothmer
Castle, Klütz
A20
Church of
St. Georgen,
Wismar
A24
Photo Credits Page 8-9: State marketing MV (3), Jens Büttner (1), Rainer Cordes (2),
Dr. Christiane Wolff (1), Andy Christiani (1), Pommeranian State Museum (1),
Photo Agency imago (2); Graphic: TMV/ Werk 3
UNESCO
World Heritage Site
Wismar
Old Synagogue
Hagenow
State Museum
Schwerin
State Stud Farm
at redefin
Schwerin
Castle
Ludwigslust
Castle
First German
Seaside Health resort
Heiligendamm
Bad Doberan
Minster Old racecourse
for horses,
Bad Doberan
Barlach's
Floating
Angel,
Güstrow
A24
Climatic Spa
Plau am See
Artist's Colony
Ahrenshoop
University
rostock
Journey through
Evolution
DArWINEUM
Güstrow
Castle
Golf Course
Fleesensee
A19
Manor House
Dalwitz
8 9
Motorcross
racecourse
teterow
Ocean
Museum
OZEANEUM,
Stralsund
Nature Discovery
Center
MÜrItZEUM,
Waren
Mirow Castle
Light House
Dornbusch,
Island
Hiddensee
UNESCO
World Heritage
Site Stralsund
Heinrich-
Schliemann-
Museum,
Ankershagen
University
Greifswald
Pome ranian
State Museum,
Greifswald
Hans-Fallada-
Museum,
Carwitz
Baltic resort
Binz
Pier Sellin
Otto-Lilienthal-
Museum,
Anklam
Three
Emperor's
Spas,
Usedom
Town of
four Gates,
Neubrandenburg
A20
Chalk
Cliff
Rügen
Europe's longest
Boardwalk,
Usedom/Poland

People from
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
“For me Mecklenburg-Vorpommern is a land of luxury. Here I can do what I love:
gardening in a clean environment, cooking with the best products, enjoying the
beautiful countryside with my family and working with nice people. The fact that
Hamburg and Berlin are so near isn't a bad thing either!”
“The most beautiful Dutch can be found
in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern!”
Dr. Dirk Blübaum is the Director of the Schwerin State
Museum, which is famous for its collection of
17th and 18th century Dutch masters, with works by
Rubens and Rembrandt – even outside the state.
“Hollywood is far away –
and that is a good thing.”
Although actor Hinnerk
Schönemann has previously
worked with Steven Spielberg,
he would not exchange
the movie Mecca for his
homeland MV. In Plau am See
he particularly enjoys
the peace and quiet – and
the people of Mecklenburg.
Olaf Schnelle is a market gardener and a re-discoverer
of wild herbs and flowers, which he and chef
Ralf Hiener, sell to top international restaurants
via the company Essbare Landschaften GmbH
(‘Edible Landscapes’) of Boltenhagen
in Vorpommern.
“I'm serious: The Queen
comes from Mecklenburg-
Vorpommern!”
Angelika Groh is the Manager
of the 3-Königinnen-Palais
(‘Three Queens Palace’)
on the idyllic Schlossinsel
(‘palace island’) in Mirow,
the birthplace of Sophie
Charlotte (1744-1818),
crowned Queen of England
250 years ago.
“Bilbao, London, Stralsund – we are proud of having
won the award of European Museum of the Year.”
Marine biologist
Dr. Harald Benke is a
whale researcher
and Head of the
Stralsund Maritime
Museum ‘OZEANEUM’,
which in 2010 was
awarded the title of
European Museum
of the Year.
“Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
is in every one of our
AIDA ships.”
Michael Thamm is President
of the shipping company
AIDA Cruises, the German
market leader in cruise shipping.
At its headquarters in Rostock
harbour and onboard, AIDA
Cruises employs a workforce
of more than 5,600 from
25 countries.
“Now we are reaping the rewards:
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern will be
a region that people deliberately
choose to live in – because here,
nature is still unspoilt.”
Prof. Dr. Michael Succow is an expert on
fenlands at the University of Greifswald and
head of a foundation for environmental
protection named after him. In 1997,
he received the Right Livelihood Award
for his involvement in international
environmental protection projects and
for setting up Mecklenburg-Vorpommern's
three national parks.
“Rostock is our Silicon Valley. There are clean ideas
growing here, electrifying thousands.”
Thomas Richterich is CEO of the
internationally active Nordex SE group.
This constructor of wind energy
plants employs about 1,000 people –
particularly in the areas of
development and manufacture –
at its Rostock site. The Nordex group
has sponsored a professorship
for ‘wind energy technology’
at the University of Rostock.
“We've already been to the most
beautiful places in the world for
competitions. But we still prefer
to race in our home region,
whether it's speed boat racing,
cycling or running.”
Brother and sister Andreas and Anja
Dittmer from Neubrandenburg are very
successful athletes. Andreas has already
won three Olympic Gold Medals
canoeing in Atlanta, Sydney and Athens.
His younger sister will be taking part in
the triathlon at the London Olympics.
“Having my own pharmaceuticals company
in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, I feel like a bee
in clover as far as research is concerned. We
have great universities and institutes here
that carry out application-based research.“
Dr. Dagmar Braun is the Head of Braun Beteiligungs
GmbH; she is a doctor of medicine and university
lecturer, actively engaged as a business ambassador
and is also Chairperson of the health network
BioCon Valley M-V e.V.
10 11
Photo Credits Page 10-11: State marketing MV/ Carlo Zamboni (4), Edible Landscapes (1), State Museum Schwerin (1), Photo Agency imago (1), Nordex SE (1), Dr. Dagmar Braun (1), Neubauer (1), www.shutterstock.de (1)
Seaside at the peninsula ‘Fischland-Darß-Zingst’

Schwerin 53°38’0’’N · 11°25’0’’E
Daniel Hope was born in 1974 in Durban, South Africa, but grew up
in London where, aged just four, he began to play the violin. He was
taught by Yehudi Menuhin and studied at the Royal College of Music.
Daniel Hope has been the Artistic Partner of the MV Festival since
2009 and became the Artistic Director in 2011. With his musical series
‘Hope's Music’, he is establishing links with the United States. Daniel
Hope, who has adopted Mecklenburg-Vorpommern as his home, is
making good use of his international contacts, including those at
Carnegie Hall in New York. In his amusing guide for concert-goers, he
throws light on the question, among others, “When may I clap?”. This
exceptional violinist has already been awarded the sought after music
prize ‘Echo Klassik’ five times.
12
Photo Credits Page 12-13: State marketing MV/ Carlo Zamboni (2), Translation: Robert Grözinger
In an exclusive ‘Strandkorb’ interview at the Oudry Hall of the State Art Museum in Schwerin,
violinist and artistic director of the Festival Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Daniel Hope,
explains how his desire for chewing gum made him into a star violin player and how
he would perform a concert in a ‘Strandkorb’.
»This land is definitely
Mr. Hope, can you imagine performing a solo concert in a
‘Strandkorb’? Yes, for sure. Of course I'd have to be careful
with the violin bow. But the acoustics would certainly be good
– like in a music shell.
How did you come to choose your instrument, the
violin? When I was still very little, my family moved from South
Africa to England. My father, who was a writer, was unable
to find a good job. However, my mother was offered an
interesting job as secretary to the great violinist Yehudi
Menuhin. Originally employed for six months, she stayed with
him for 26 years until his death. So I grew up surrounded by
music – and that led me to the violin.
It is difficult for musicians to make a living. When did you
decide to try it anyway? Back then I asked my father if, as a
famous violinist, I would have enough money to buy chewing
gum. He said to me: “If you practise every day and get to be really
famous, you can buy as much chewing gum as you like.”
That convinced me. Nowadays I buy a lot of chewing gum.
the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern is typically Nor -
thern German, maritime and offers latitude. Does this
apply to the Festival as well? Absolutely! The Festival
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern offers a unique artistic and musical
experience in a setting that appeals to everyone. So it’s
relatively easy for me to do my job as artistic director of the
Festival Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and persuade my friends
in other countries to come here. Sometimes it's difficult for
them to pronounce ‘Mecklenburg-Vorpommern’, but I have
a major key.«
practised it with them. Once they're here and experience the
festival – the atmosphere, the audiences, the countryside,
the fantastic stately homes – they all want to come back.
If you were to describe this land musically, would it be
a major or a minor key? Definitely a major one.
What does Mecklenburg-Vorpommern offer you personally?
Latitude. I think there's a great deal of variety
in this state. There are so many towns, villages, churches,
museums and stately homes to go and see. You can say the
same of the Festival Mecklenburg-Vorpommern: they combine
international success with an informal atmosphere.
This combination in a unique landscape is what excites me
and many of my fellow musicians about MV.
What can visitors expect to find at the Festival? Since
1991 in more than 100 concerts and in locations all over the
state, the Festival Mecklenburg-Vorpommern has been
presenting international stars, up-and-coming artists and
great orchestras in incomparable settings every year. The
castles of Ulrichshusen, Hasenwinkel and Bothmer are just a
few examples of the many, beautiful surroundings where we
have our concerts. Furthermore, we're extending our international
links year on year, presenting for example Carnegie
Hall and Lincoln Center, America's two most important musical
institutions, in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. There are
new musical highlights every day – especially in summer. So
all I can say is: come as quickly as you can to Mecklenburg-
Vorpommern!
13

An Extension
of the Beach Towel
Syndrome
Imagine a beach. Out to sea there is nothing but endless blue;
seagulls screech like Apaches; a sailboat winks in the distance.
The sand is fine-grained, blond. An idyll. Suddenly you raise your
eyes from the pink shells and squint towards the dunes. Lined up
in front of you are row upon row of shrunken garden sheds.
In military formation, like a forward defence line. An aesthetic
disaster: upended coffins made from the kind of cheap wicker
normally used for laundry baskets.
Is there anything quite as ugly or inappropriate as the Strandkorb?
[…] I have seen more graceful constructions on Sverdlovsk
housing estates than the sight that greeted me recently on the
Baltic Sea. The Strandkorb creates a womb for the holiday-maker
who wishes that he had never left home. It cuts off the reluctant
14
Column
sun-worshipper from his neighbours, blocks them from view.
It is the seaside equivalent of the Schrebergarten (allotment garden).
Strandkorb occupiers – even if they have paid only five
euros for the day – feel as if they are part of a community, somehow
superior to the people sitting on mats, getting grains of sand
between their toes. […]
The British have a different understanding of a beach. If wind is a
problem (and it surely is on German and British coasts) then they
dig a hole, a deep hole, and then surround it with a low canvas
wall, a wind break. You use nature itself to protect yourself against
nature; that is what you learn when you live on an island (even a
crowded, noisy one like Britain). The truth is, the wind is part of
the fun of being at the seaside; kites fly, skirts get blown up.
So you accommodate yourself: you take a deckchair which you
can turn to catch the sun. It's open, flexible, light to carry and you
can sleep on it. What more do you want? The Strandkorb is the
exact opposite.
The Strandkorb though fulfills a German psychological need. It is
an extension of the beach towel syndrome. Germany, at the time
of the Kaiser, had few colonies, and no ‘place in the sun’. And its
industrialisation came late – it was a ‘verspätete Nation’ (late developer).
Germany drew conclusions from both historical misfortunes
and resolved never to be late again. As a result, by six
o'clock every morning, the sun-loungers around the swimming
pool of every hotel on the Anglo-German (and nominally Spanish)
island of Majorca are covered with German towels, reserving
them for the rest of the day. And by eight o'clock on the same
day, the sunbeds on the beaches have been occupied. British
tourists, waking late after a night trying to boost their blood alcohol
levels, find that the Germans are in occupation. They complain,
they smear honey on the enemy towels to attract flies,
mosquitoes and wasps, but they accept their fate. The Strandkorb
is like a beach towel with a lead weight attached to it.
R O G E R B O Y E S
This is an extract taken from an article written
by Roger Boyes for the book “The Strandkorb –
A Global Champion from Mecklenburg-
Vorpommern,” published in 2008 by Hinstorff
Verlag. The author Roger Boyes reported from
Germany as correspondent to ‘The Times’ and
wrote columns for the Berlin ‘Tagesspiegel’
until summer 2011. Born in 1952 in Hereford,
the journalist and author is known especially
for his biting ironic cultural-anthropological observations of the Germans from
a foreigner's perspective. His bestseller ‘My dear Krauts’ appeared in 2006,
followed by ‘How to be a Kraut’ in 2007 and ‘Ossis forever!’ in 2010.
Photo Credits Page 14-15: State marketing MV/ Carlo Zamboni (1), TMV / Neumann (1), laif Photo Agency (1), www.shutterstock.de (1)
Outlook
President George W. Bush, chancellor Angela Merkel and President
Vladimir Putin – they were all fortified by a meal created by him
before they gathered for a group photo in a ‘Strandkorb’ at the
2007 G8 Summit in Heiligendamm. Then, as now, chef Tillmann
Hahn relies on first class products from local organic farms for his
internationally inspired dishes. There is a wealth of meadows,
woodland and fields in these expansive and unspoilt landscapes
of Northern Germany. In addition, there is the Baltic Sea, the
Müritz Lake and almost 2,000 other lakes, where delicacies such as
whitefish, saltmarsh zander and wild carp swim around. With these
ingredients, the region's chefs prepare culinary delicacies using
traditional methods with contemporary lightness and invite us to
savour Mecklenburg-Vorpommern with all our senses.
Heiligendamm 54° 8′ 34’’N · 11° 50′ 38″E
[ ]
»For me, diverse cultural landscapes, first class ingredients, traditional cuisine and warm hospitality
go inextricably together. That is why, despite the international orientation of my cuisine,
I still prefer to use local, traditionally produced food. In this way, foreigners become friends,
producers become valued partners and I can serve my guests uniquely fresh and distinctive food«
T I L L M A N N H A H N
Tillmann Hahn is a Michelin-starred chef at the Yachthafenresidenz Hohe Düne in Rostock-Warnemünde.
In 2007, while still at the Grand Hotel Heiligendamm, he cooked for the international
heads of government at the G8 Summit (see page 2–3).
Regional cuisine with international flair
15