Koserow
Encyclopedia
Koserow is a municipality
in the Vorpommern-Greifswald
district, in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany
. As of 2009 it has a population of 1,693.
A small coastal bathing resort, Koserow lies on an isthmus
on the island of Usedom
on the Baltic Sea
, near the border with Poland
. It is located within the Usedom Nature Park and is one of the four so-called Amber Spas on the island.
origin on the island of Usedom. Koserow church is even older - already in existence by the end of the 13th century; it was built of field stones, has many treasures and is reportedly the oldest church on Usedom's Baltic Sea coast.
The history of the village is steeped in legend and even the dreaded pirate, Klaus Störtebeker
, reputedly found a secret hiding place in the caves of Streckelsberg
.
The village was sacked during the Thirty Years War and the church bell taken. After the Treaty of Stockholm
on 1 February 1720, the island of Usedom
and Koserow fell into Prussian possession. After the administrative reform in 1815, Koserow became part to the Prussian province of Pomerania
and from 1818 to 1945 was part of the district of Usedom-Wollin.
In 1820, the first salt huts were built to preserve the fish caught. Koserow at that time was of the poorest communities on Usedom. Seaside tourists first began to arrive on foot, by coach or by sailing boat in 1846. Several storm floods hit the area in 1872 and 1874, worsening the economic situation.
For centuries, the economy of the village had been based on fishing and agriculture. Its growth as a resort was slow due to its poor communications, but it took off once the railway reached the island of Usedom in the early 1900s and a network of metal roads was built. Lido
s were established for men, women and families and a pier was built. During World War II
, the pier was destroyed during an icy winter. Since 1993, the community has once again had a new pier.
Koserow first received a railway connection on 1 June 1911. The town began to flourish as a seaside resort after the construction of the Prussian Northern Railway.
The German press covered a story involving Koserow as a place that people made a pilgrimage to visit a "sex doctor".
and the backwaters. The village is on the slopes of Streckelsberg
(about 60 metres (196.9 ft) above sea level). It is located about 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) east of the seaside resort of Ahlbeck
and 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) west of Zinnowitz
.
The Koserow shoal
lies offshore at a depth of at least 1.75 fathoms. It is about 1 mile N.N.E. of Streckelsberg. Depths of 3.5 to 4.75 fathoms separate the Koserow and Vineta shoals. It is demarcated by a white beacon buoy marked "Koserowbank O." off the shoal's eastern side. Another offshore feature is Koserow Steingrund, a large rock, measuring 1800 ft (548.6 m) in length and 600 ft (182.9 m) in width. It is aligned in an east-west direction and is demarcated by a white spar buoy, marked "Koserow Steingrund N.".
which is based in the town of Usedom
. The mayor (Bürgermeister) is Herr Detlef Kronenfeld. The German Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency operates a station at Koserow.
boulders in Fischerstraße. It is the only medieval church on Usedom's Baltic coast and has several interesting architectural features. The original stonework of the 13th century building can still be seen in the centre section of the north wall with small early Gothic window openings and the plain triple-stepped arch of the old entrance. Expanded in the 15th century with a tower and sanctuary, it also has elements of High Gothic architecture. One particular treasure is the medieval winged altar, richly decorated with carved figures. It is the last, complete, surviving one of its kind on the island of Usedom. The unusually large crucifix, which was rescued from the sea by fishermen, has been christened by locals as the Vineta Cross. It dates to the 15th century and was made in Scandinavia. The German theologian, Wilhelm Meinhold
was appointed minister at Koserow in the early 1820s.
The Nature Park is located at the end of Hauptstraße.
The Koserow Salt Huts are timber-framed and were built around 1820. They were used as storage for rock salt and for salting and packing the herring caught by local fishermen into large wooden barrels. The salted fish was a staple diet for the poor villagers during the winter months. Destroyed in the storm surge
s of 1872 and 1874, they were rebuilt around 1900. The remaining 15 huts are protected and, today, one of them is a museum open from May to September.
Koserow Pier juts out 261 metres (856.3 ft) into the sea near the salt huts and is a good place to enjoy the views and the seaside atmosphere. Excursion boats call at its landing stage.
The Streckelsberg
(60 metres (196.9 ft)) is a steep coastal bluff and the highest elevation on the coast of Usedom. It offers wonderful views over the sea and, in clear weather, the hills of Mönchgut on the island of Rügen
can be seen. To the northwest can be seen the island of Oie, recognisable at dusk by from the lights of its lighthouse. To the southwest is the neighbouring island of Wolin
.
) and railway links. It is also served by the Ducherow-Heringsdorf-Wolgast ferry. There are regular flights to nearby Heringsdorf Airport
on Usedom.
Municipalities of Germany
Municipalities are the lowest level of territorial division in Germany. This may be the fourth level of territorial division in Germany, apart from those states which include Regierungsbezirke , where municipalities then become the fifth level.-Overview:With more than 3,400,000 inhabitants, the...
in the Vorpommern-Greifswald
Vorpommern-Greifswald
Vorpommern-Greifswald is a district in the east of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. It is bounded by the districts Mecklenburgische Seenplatte, Vorpommern-Rügen, the Baltic Sea, Poland and the state Brandenburg...
district, in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. As of 2009 it has a population of 1,693.
A small coastal bathing resort, Koserow lies on an isthmus
Isthmus
An isthmus is a narrow strip of land connecting two larger land areas usually with waterforms on either side.Canals are often built through isthmuses where they may be particularly advantageous to create a shortcut for marine transportation...
on the island of Usedom
Usedom
Usedom is a Baltic Sea island on the border between Germany and Poland. It is situated north of the Szczecin Lagoon estuary of the River Oder in Pomerania...
on the Baltic Sea
Baltic Sea
The Baltic Sea is a brackish mediterranean sea located in Northern Europe, from 53°N to 66°N latitude and from 20°E to 26°E longitude. It is bounded by the Scandinavian Peninsula, the mainland of Europe, and the Danish islands. It drains into the Kattegat by way of the Øresund, the Great Belt and...
, near the border with Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
. It is located within the Usedom Nature Park and is one of the four so-called Amber Spas on the island.
History
Koserow was first mentioned in the records in 1347 as Cuzerowe (Slavic for "goat" or "blackbird") and is one of the oldest settlements of WendishWends
Wends is a historic name for West Slavs living near Germanic settlement areas. It does not refer to a homogeneous people, but to various peoples, tribes or groups depending on where and when it is used...
origin on the island of Usedom. Koserow church is even older - already in existence by the end of the 13th century; it was built of field stones, has many treasures and is reportedly the oldest church on Usedom's Baltic Sea coast.
The history of the village is steeped in legend and even the dreaded pirate, Klaus Störtebeker
Klaus Störtebeker
Nikolaus Storzenbecher, or Klaus Störtebeker , was a leader and the best known representative of a companionship of privateers known as the Victual Brothers...
, reputedly found a secret hiding place in the caves of Streckelsberg
Streckelsberg
TheStreckelsberg is an approximately 58 metre high coastal cliff on the island of Usedom in North Germany. After the Golm and the Kückelsberg, the Streckelsberg is the third highest elevation on the island. The Streckelsberg is located half a kilometre southeast of the former fishing village and...
.
The village was sacked during the Thirty Years War and the church bell taken. After the Treaty of Stockholm
Treaty of Stockholm
The Treaty of Stockholm may refer to:*Treaty of Stockholm *Treaty of Stockholm *Treaty of Stockholm *Treaty of Stockholm *Treaty of Stockholm *Treaty of Stockholm *Treaty of Stockholm...
on 1 February 1720, the island of Usedom
Usedom
Usedom is a Baltic Sea island on the border between Germany and Poland. It is situated north of the Szczecin Lagoon estuary of the River Oder in Pomerania...
and Koserow fell into Prussian possession. After the administrative reform in 1815, Koserow became part to the Prussian province of Pomerania
Pomerania
Pomerania is a historical region on the south shore of the Baltic Sea. Divided between Germany and Poland, it stretches roughly from the Recknitz River near Stralsund in the West, via the Oder River delta near Szczecin, to the mouth of the Vistula River near Gdańsk in the East...
and from 1818 to 1945 was part of the district of Usedom-Wollin.
In 1820, the first salt huts were built to preserve the fish caught. Koserow at that time was of the poorest communities on Usedom. Seaside tourists first began to arrive on foot, by coach or by sailing boat in 1846. Several storm floods hit the area in 1872 and 1874, worsening the economic situation.
For centuries, the economy of the village had been based on fishing and agriculture. Its growth as a resort was slow due to its poor communications, but it took off once the railway reached the island of Usedom in the early 1900s and a network of metal roads was built. Lido
Lido
The Lido is an 11 km long sandbar located in Venice, northern Italy, home to about 20,000 residents. The Venice Film Festival takes place at the Lido every September.-Geography:...
s were established for men, women and families and a pier was built. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the pier was destroyed during an icy winter. Since 1993, the community has once again had a new pier.
Koserow first received a railway connection on 1 June 1911. The town began to flourish as a seaside resort after the construction of the Prussian Northern Railway.
The German press covered a story involving Koserow as a place that people made a pilgrimage to visit a "sex doctor".
Geography
Koserow is located at the narrowest point of the isthmus between Nord and Südusedom directly on the B 111, amidst a scenic region between the Baltic SeaBaltic Sea
The Baltic Sea is a brackish mediterranean sea located in Northern Europe, from 53°N to 66°N latitude and from 20°E to 26°E longitude. It is bounded by the Scandinavian Peninsula, the mainland of Europe, and the Danish islands. It drains into the Kattegat by way of the Øresund, the Great Belt and...
and the backwaters. The village is on the slopes of Streckelsberg
Streckelsberg
TheStreckelsberg is an approximately 58 metre high coastal cliff on the island of Usedom in North Germany. After the Golm and the Kückelsberg, the Streckelsberg is the third highest elevation on the island. The Streckelsberg is located half a kilometre southeast of the former fishing village and...
(about 60 metres (196.9 ft) above sea level). It is located about 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) east of the seaside resort of Ahlbeck
Ahlbeck
Ahlbeck is part of Heringsdorf, a seaside resort in Germany on the island of Usedom in the Baltic Sea. It is situated right next to the border of Poland and the city of Świnoujście ....
and 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) west of Zinnowitz
Zinnowitz
Zinnowitz is a spa town in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern on the northern German island of Usedom on the Baltic Sea. The town has rail connections to Wolgast and Ahlbeck.-History:...
.
The Koserow shoal
Shoal
Shoal, shoals or shoaling may mean:* Shoal, a sandbank or reef creating shallow water, especially where it forms a hazard to shipping* Shoal draught , of a boat with shallow draught which can pass over some shoals: see Draft...
lies offshore at a depth of at least 1.75 fathoms. It is about 1 mile N.N.E. of Streckelsberg. Depths of 3.5 to 4.75 fathoms separate the Koserow and Vineta shoals. It is demarcated by a white beacon buoy marked "Koserowbank O." off the shoal's eastern side. Another offshore feature is Koserow Steingrund, a large rock, measuring 1800 ft (548.6 m) in length and 600 ft (182.9 m) in width. It is aligned in an east-west direction and is demarcated by a white spar buoy, marked "Koserow Steingrund N.".
Administration
Until 2005 Koserow was the administrative seat of the sub-district (Amt) of Usedom-Mitte. Today it is managed by the Amt of Usedom-SüdUsedom-Süd
Usedom-Süd is an Amt in the district of Vorpommern-Greifswald, in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. The seat of the Amt is in the town Usedom.The Amt Usedom-Süd consists of the following municipalities:...
which is based in the town of Usedom
Usedom
Usedom is a Baltic Sea island on the border between Germany and Poland. It is situated north of the Szczecin Lagoon estuary of the River Oder in Pomerania...
. The mayor (Bürgermeister) is Herr Detlef Kronenfeld. The German Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency operates a station at Koserow.
Recreation
Koserow is one of four Amber Spas towns, along with Zempin, Loddin, and Ückeritz. All are located at the narrowest part of the island. In 1993, Koserow was recognised as a "nationally certified resort". As a seaside resort, it offers a variety of recreational activities including swimming, sailing, surfing, walking and cycling.Places of interest
The Village Church (Dorfkirche) stands almost hidden behind chestnut trees and surrounded by a wall of glacial erraticGlacial erratic
A glacial erratic is a piece of rock that differs from the size and type of rock native to the area in which it rests. "Erratics" take their name from the Latin word errare, and are carried by glacial ice, often over distances of hundreds of kilometres...
boulders in Fischerstraße. It is the only medieval church on Usedom's Baltic coast and has several interesting architectural features. The original stonework of the 13th century building can still be seen in the centre section of the north wall with small early Gothic window openings and the plain triple-stepped arch of the old entrance. Expanded in the 15th century with a tower and sanctuary, it also has elements of High Gothic architecture. One particular treasure is the medieval winged altar, richly decorated with carved figures. It is the last, complete, surviving one of its kind on the island of Usedom. The unusually large crucifix, which was rescued from the sea by fishermen, has been christened by locals as the Vineta Cross. It dates to the 15th century and was made in Scandinavia. The German theologian, Wilhelm Meinhold
Wilhelm Meinhold
Johann Wilhelm Meinhold was a Pomeranian priest and author.Meinhold was born in Netzelkow on the island of Usedom, where his father Georg Wilhelm Meinhold was Lutheran priest. Growing up in the atmosphere of the Napoleonic Wars, he matriculated at the University of Greifswald, Swedish Pomerania,...
was appointed minister at Koserow in the early 1820s.
The Nature Park is located at the end of Hauptstraße.
The Koserow Salt Huts are timber-framed and were built around 1820. They were used as storage for rock salt and for salting and packing the herring caught by local fishermen into large wooden barrels. The salted fish was a staple diet for the poor villagers during the winter months. Destroyed in the storm surge
Storm surge
A storm surge is an offshore rise of water associated with a low pressure weather system, typically tropical cyclones and strong extratropical cyclones. Storm surges are caused primarily by high winds pushing on the ocean's surface. The wind causes the water to pile up higher than the ordinary sea...
s of 1872 and 1874, they were rebuilt around 1900. The remaining 15 huts are protected and, today, one of them is a museum open from May to September.
Koserow Pier juts out 261 metres (856.3 ft) into the sea near the salt huts and is a good place to enjoy the views and the seaside atmosphere. Excursion boats call at its landing stage.
The Streckelsberg
Streckelsberg
TheStreckelsberg is an approximately 58 metre high coastal cliff on the island of Usedom in North Germany. After the Golm and the Kückelsberg, the Streckelsberg is the third highest elevation on the island. The Streckelsberg is located half a kilometre southeast of the former fishing village and...
(60 metres (196.9 ft)) is a steep coastal bluff and the highest elevation on the coast of Usedom. It offers wonderful views over the sea and, in clear weather, the hills of Mönchgut on the island of Rügen
Rügen
Rügen is Germany's largest island. Located in the Baltic Sea, it is part of the Vorpommern-Rügen district of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.- Geography :Rügen is located off the north-eastern coast of Germany in the Baltic Sea...
can be seen. To the northwest can be seen the island of Oie, recognisable at dusk by from the lights of its lighthouse. To the southwest is the neighbouring island of Wolin
Wolin
Wolin is the name both of an island in the Baltic Sea, just off the Polish coast, and a town on that island. It is separated from the island of Usedom by the Świna river, and from mainland Pomerania by the Dziwna river...
.
Transport
Koserow has a main road (the Bundesstraße 111Bundesstraße 111
The B 111 begins at the A 20 motorway near Gützkow and ends at the B 110 near Mellenthin in northeast Germany. Since January 2008 the Bundesstraße 111 has followed the course of the old state road L 265...
) and railway links. It is also served by the Ducherow-Heringsdorf-Wolgast ferry. There are regular flights to nearby Heringsdorf Airport
Heringsdorf Airport
Heringsdorf Airport is a regional airport located near Garz on the island of Usedom in Germany. It takes its name from the nearby municipality of Heringsdorf, located some 10 km to the north. The largest town on the island is Świnoujście , located in Poland, immediately to the east of the...
on Usedom.