Nordwest-Mecklenburg (Germany)
Lübeck / EDHL → Wismar / EDCW.
Deciding to go for Mecklenburg-Vorpommern next, we took off and flew to the state capital of Schwerin - the smallest state capital in all of Germany. Being the seat of power for the Grand Dukes of Mecklenburg-Schwerin until 1918 the famous Schwerin Castle is nowadays home of the state parliament. You can even spot it on this picture - it is the small white spot diagonally left below our left wheel!
Going north we followed the western shore of Lake Schwerin, the fourth largest lake in Germany. As a national bird reserve it is home to a thriving osprey and white-tailed eagle population. You can even find Eurasian river otters on its shoreline!
Now we come to perhaps the most important village for Mecklenburg’s history - this is Dorf Mecklenburg (lit. “Mecklenburg village”), whose ancient castle - “The Mecklenburg” - gave its name to the entire region, its people and the modern day State of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Sadly, the Mecklenburg had an infamous side to it: During the reign of Otto III. it was the location of one of Germany’s most prominent slave markets.
Returning to the Baltic Sea we reached Wismar, another Hanseatic City between Lübeck and Rostock. Wismar was an independent city state until the Thirty Years War, when Swedish forces occupied it, leading to 255 years of Swedish rule (since 1803 only nominally), which is anually remembered during the “Schwedenfest”.