Discover Gingst: Crafts, markets and RügenPark

Gingst combines historic crafts with market life and leisure activities. The Historic Craftsmen’s Workshops offer an insight into traditional trades; at RügenPark, the park railway, cable car and white-water roundabout offer other ways to explore. The Church of St. James and a cycling tour from Gingst via Ummanz complete the picture.

Crafts and history at the Historic Craftsmen’s Workshops

The Historic Craftsmen’s Workshops in Gingst comprise the two historic houses “Kremkehaus” and “Efeuhaus”, a courtyard, a coach house, a studio, a smithy, a small open-air stage and a museum café. The workshops showcase shoemaking, white sewing, watchmaking and barbering, as well as a historic kitchen. A visit therefore offers an insight into a range of crafts and aspects of everyday life, rather than just a single trade.

At the historic Efeuhaus, visitors can discover weaving on old looms and watch live demonstrations up close. Demonstration times may vary, so check the latest information before your visit. Weaving has a long history in Gingst: in 1775, a weavers’ guild for linen and damask weaving was established to renew an earlier guild. Damask fabrics became a Gingst specialty, bringing the craft to new heights.

The Church of St. James is also part of the town’s historic character. It is the second-largest church on the island of Rügen. Those interested in Gingst’s history can include the craftsmen’s workshops and the church as two distinct cultural stops in their travel plans.

Market square, Green Market and museum café

The lovingly restored market square hosts markets featuring regional products throughout the year. Following the renovation and redesign of the town centre, Gingst developed into an attractive hub in western Rügen with a rural charm. The market programme may vary by season.

One seasonal event is the Green Market in the courtyard of the Historic Craftsmen’s Workshops: it takes place every Saturday from May to October, featuring local produce and arts and crafts. If you are travelling on a specific date, check the exact market days in advance. Visitors can enjoy refreshments and regional products at the Gingst Museum Café.

Rides and attractions at RügenPark

At RügenPark Gingst, visitors can explore the entire park aboard the “Emma” park railway. The cable car travels over the pond; from a height of seven metres, you can take in views of the park, the miniature park and the “Emma” railway tracks. This offers a different perspective from a ride on the train.

At the white-water roundabout, six riders control the speed of their own gliders and can experience centrifugal force. Individual attractions may operate differently depending on the season or maintenance, so check the latest information before your visit.

Explore Gingst on foot and by bike

A puzzle trail through Gingst takes about an hour and starts at the main portal of Gingst Church. Printed materials may no longer reflect current arrangements, so check in advance how the tour is currently organised.

For a longer cycling excursion, consider the approximately 32-kilometre circular route “Rural Life and Bodden Idyl on Western Rügen”. It leads from Gingst across the island of Ummanz, along the dike cycle path and back again. The route thus starts and ends in Gingst, with a section across Ummanz. Another destination near Gingst is Schlosspark Pansevitz: visitors can climb the old castle ruins via two spiral staircases and enjoy views over the park and its associated woodland cemetery.

When looking for accommodation for a stay centred on Gingst, you can first decide whether to focus on culture or activities: the craftsmen’s workshops and Church of St. James offer a look at history, while RügenPark, the puzzle trail and the cycling route offer different ways to explore. The key is deciding which of these themes you want to shape your stay.

Vorpommern-Rügen in a wider context

Gingst is part of the wider Vorpommern-Rügen travel destination. The district is known, among other things, for the Störtebeker Festival; it is also home to an estimated 60 museums. This regional variety provides a broader context for travel planning and should not be confused with the attractions in Gingst itself.

Discover more destinations: Altefähr, Dreschvitz, Kluis, Schaprode, Trent, Ummanz, Samtens, Hiddensee Island.

Return to the wider travel overview: Amt West-Rügen.