The name Güstrow was derived from the Slavic "Guscerov" meaning "lizard town". At the crossing of old trade routes, Heinrich Borwin II had a cathedral built in 1226; in 1228 this was followed by a fortress. Already in the same year the status of a town was conferred on the community. Cloth-makers, breweries and a large wool market brought prosperity to the town in the 14th and 15th centuries.
The last prince of Werle died in 1436, and Güstrow devolved on the dukes of Schwerin. Three large fires destroyed the town in the time between 1503 and 1512. Only the cathedral, Gertrudenkapelle and the castle remained intact. From 1558 on, Duke Ulrich von Mecklenburg had the fortress reconstructed into a renaissance castle, which became the ducal residence. Between 1621 and 1695 Güstrow was the ancestry seat of the dukes of Mecklenburg-Güstrow; after that the town finally belonged to the dukes of Schwerin.
After the stagnation in Güstrow's development during the 17th century, the 18th century brought an economic boom: Manufacturing settled there. Güstrow was linked to the railway and seaway networks. There was also remarkable cultural development: the theatre was built in 1928/29, and the author John Brinckmann made his home in Güstrow. Güstrow attained supra-regional significance for the fine arts through Ernst Barlach, who worked here from 1910 until his death in 1938.
Güstrow got through the Second World War without major damage. In the era of the German Democratic Republic, the Gertrudenkapelle, the theatre and the castle were restored. After German Unification the old town centre was redeveloped. In the year 2000 Güstrow was the affiliate site of the Hanover EXPO, in 2003 the affiliate site of the Rostock IGA (Internationale Gartenbauausstellung).
Güstrow is the administrative centre of the district bearing the same name.
Güstrow-Information
Franz-Parr-Platz 10
18273 Güstrow
phone: 03843-681023
fax: 03843-682079
e-mail: info@guestrow-tourismus.de
Internet: www.guestrow-tourismus.de