The former Rügen District (nowadays part of the Vorpommern-Rügen District) is completely in the Baltic Sea, off the north-east coast of mainland Germany. Sitting on the top edge of the Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania state, this group of four islands have some of the best beaches in the country.
Rügen District Map
Towns & Villages in the Rügen District
- Altefähr
- Altenkirchen (Rügen)
- Baabe
- Bergen auf Rügen
- Binz
- Breege
- Buschvitz
- Dranske
- Dreschvitz
- Gager
- Garz (Rügen)
- Gingst
- Glowe
- Göhren (Rügen)
- Gustow
- Insel Hiddensee
- Kluis
- Lancken-Granitz
- Lietzow (Rügen)
- Lohme
- Middelhagen
- Neuenkirchen (Rüg.)
- Parchtitz
- Patzig
- Poseritz
- Putbus
- Putgarten
- Ralswiek
- Rambin
- Rappin
- Sagard
- Samtens
- Sassnitz
- Schaprode
- Sehlen
- Sellin
- Thesenvitz
- Thiessow
- Trent
- Ummanz
- Wiek
- Zirkow
Its coasts and lagoons make up the Islands Naturpark and includes the protected offshore Bioshärenreservat Südost and the National Park Vorpommersche Boddenlandschaft. It is also a great location for observing both migrating and endemic wildlife from the Baltic.
Many of the fantastic seaside resorts, including Putbus, are connected to each other with the narrow gauge steam railway — affectionately known as Rasender Roland. Sassnitz has a large zoo and a floating submarine museum — the decommissioned HMS Otus — to explore.
The largest of the resorts is Binz — and it has a little secret: a huge holiday camp-type complex sprawling along the coast. Built by the Third Reich, this huge and rather ugly “hotel” was built to house 20,000 German holiday-makers and is now protected due to its unique architecture.
