Mecklenburg’s Switzerland – at the heart of things

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Switzerland in North Germany?

Mecklenburg’s Switzerland owes its name to the Romantic enthusiasm felt by the regional sovereign Georg I for the Alpine country itself. When the foundation stone for Burg Schlitz castle was laid in 1811 Georg is reputed to have called out to the Count von Schlitz:

The name stuck. In the face of such deeply felt sentiment real terms of comparison are of minor importance. By local standards the land in the centre of Mecklenburg does rise unusually high above the flatness of the surrounding region – to a majestic height of 179 metres (590 feet) above sea level. This conferment of such a name reveals the fine sense of self-irony with which the people of Mecklenburg stoically regard current affairs without allowing themselves to be unduly impressed. The people of Mecklenburg contemplate the course of events with calmness and prudence. Sometimes they lag somewhat behind, which allegedly once provoked a great man to remark:

Since then, the people here have not allowed themselves to be weaned off this maxim, which is one reason for the idyll which still inhabits this region. For many centuries it was agrarian in character and was never overwhelmed by industrialization. Industrial centres are still confined to just a few urban concentrations in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Apart from this, the development of the natural world has been little affected, which in today’s world represents a truly great asset that we are naturally at pains to preserve. The whole of Mecklenburg’s Switzerland is now a fully protected national park.