Pasewalk is a small town in northern East Germany close to the Baltic Sea and the Polish border.
While it does have some reminders of its medieval origins (which are great to see) it offers her visitors a more well-rounded experience.
A huge part of daily life in a small town revolves around the Marktplatz and it’s pretty much the case in Pasewalk. The square’s wide space is the site of Pasewalk’s May Celebration (May 1st), the Folk Festival (last weekend in May), and its City Celebration on the last weekend in September.
Come Easter time, everyone gathers in the Marktplatz for the Osterfeuer (bonfire) and Ostermarkt all under the watchful eye of St. Marien, a 13th century church. St. Marien isn’t even as old as Pasewalk’s St. Nikolai Church which was built in 1176.
The only other remainders of medieval life in Pasewalk are the Mill and Prenzlauer Gates, as well as two towers from the original fortification wall. Amazingly, they’re still standing since the city center was destroyed during World War II bombings.
Also from 20th century Pasewalk history is a memorial stone dedicated to Soviet soldiers, a memorial for the residents of the town who were deported in 1940 (after the town’s synagogue was destroyed in November 1938), and a Jewish cemetery that survived the war.
Pasewalk’s City Museum does the best job explaining the place’s history and can also be found on the Marktplatz (told you so much of life goes on around the square).
Over at the town’s Cultural Forum take in a night of concerts, literary readings, fairs, dance, theater, cabaret, or whatever else they’ve got going on. The Forum also has art exhibitions but, if you want art anytime there’s always the Art Garden filled with all sorts of sculpture.
When a town pays as much attention to its culture as well as its history, you know you’re in for a real treat; and a well-rounded good time.
