Strelasund
World Heritage criteria
Under the terms of the World Heritage Convention a total of 10 criteria have been drawn up for inscription in the list - four for natural treasures and six for cultural sites. Site are considered to be of outstanding worldwide significance according to the convention when the World Heritage Committee declares that they meet one or more of these criteria and when evidence of their authenticity (historical genuineness) exists.
The historic city centres of Stralsund and Wismar satisfy two of the six cultural criteria:
1. They exhibit an important interchange of human values, over a span of time or within a cultural area of the world, on developments in architecture or technology, monumental arts, town-planning or landscape design.
As economically powerful and politically influential members of the Hanseatic League, both cities played a considerable role in the European exchange of cultural achievements, technical knowledge, and philosophical ideas, which took place based on the far-reaching trade relations in the entire Baltic and North Sea region.
This exchange of achievements is especially true in relation to Gothic sacred architecture found throughout northern Europe. The group of six monumental brick Gothic churches in Wismar and Stralsund exhibits the important blending of various cultural influences: a number of Gothic basilicas were built in the Wendish Hanseatic cites as a result of the combination of the Italian brick Gothic technique and the northern French pattern of cathedral construction. The six churches exemplify this mixture. Wendish sacred architecture spread into the Baltic region and can even be found in Scandinavia.
In addition to church construction, the Stralsund town hall is an excellent example of the secular use of brick Gothic architecture and had great influence on many other town halls in the southern Baltic Sea region. During the Swedish period, a unique sort of cultural exchange especially with regard to architectural styles took place between the two cities and Sweden. The results of this mutual exchange can still be seen today in various parts of Stralsund, Wismar and Sweden.
2. They are an outstanding example of a type of building or architectural or technological ensembles which illustrates significant stages in human history.
Both cities, with their unaltered and still remaining mediaeval city layout, the characteristic property lot segments, as well as the impressive amount of brick Gothic architecture, are excellent examples of typical Hanseatic sea merchant towns at the time of the flourishing city alliance.
The well-preserved mediaeval harbour basin in Wismar is of outstanding significance and illustrates the importance of this essential factor in the original development of sea merchant cities. In addition, the Grube river is the last remaining artificial mediaeval watercourse in a historic city centre in northern Germany.
Stralsund's location on an island between the Strelasund and the ponds on the landside, which were filled soon after the city's foundation, is unique and has not changed since the 13th century. Because of these specific topographical characteristics, Stralsund has a very distinctive skyline. The large number of high-quality examples of brick Gothic architecture, especially the group of six parish churches, uniquely reflect the enormous wealth, incredible political clout and rapidly growing economic power of the young Hanseatic cities.
In addition to Stralsund's town hall - a building of outstanding importance in the history of architecture - there are many other examples of merchant houses in both cities constructed on the typically narrow but long mediaeval property lots. Wismar's original city centre with its almost fully intact rows of historical houses has been preserved in a unique state of completeness. Archaeologically speaking, the subsoil of both cities is a monument of outstanding importance.
