Stavenhagen, Reuterstadt
approx. 5,900 inhabitants
At the beginning of the 19th century the Ivenack Oaks near the hometown of Fritz Reuter, Reuterstadt Stavenhagen, were already so big that the famous white stallion "Herodot" could be hidden from the French in a hollow trunk of one of the oak trees. They found it, however, and made it Napoleon's leading horse. The thickest oak today has a trunk diameter of 3.49 metres chest-high and is at least 1000 years old.
Fritz Reuter, the famous son of the city, is to be met wherever you go in Stavenhagen. Many of the houses bear plaques to remind us of the town citizens the author Reuter immortalised in his novels. Try to find them all sometime. The museum of literature - Literaturmuseum - located in the old town hall, has also been dedicated to Fritz Reuter.
Historical facts
Stavenhagen, which lies on the road from
Neubrandenburg to
Malchin, was founded in Pomerania. The town was first mentioned in 1230 under the name
"Stovenhage". The settlement was granted the status of a town in 1264. Since 1317 Stavenhagen has belonged to
Mecklenburg.
The Thirty Years' War had a devastating impact on Stavenhagen; and in 1727 a large fire almost completely destroyed the
town. In the 17th century a castle was erected in place of the fortress of former times. The present appearance of the
town was influenced by the baroque-inspired reconstruction in 1740.
Since 1949 Stavenhagen has also been called "Reuterstadt", because in 1810 the author Fritz Reuter was born
in the local town hall. Fritz Reuter can be found everywhere in town. A Reuter Museum has been accommodated in the town
hall since 1960.
Stadtinformation Stavenhagen
Markt 1
17153 Stavenhagen
phone: 039954-279835
fax: 039954-279834
e-mail: touristinfo@stavenhagen.de
Internet: www.stavenhagen.de