Peenemünde Between the History of Technology and Nature

The History of Technology and the Town

The A4 rocket developed in Peenemünde is now considered a precursor to both military and civilian launch vehicles. The Peenemünde Historical Technical Museum offers a broader perspective on the town’s history: across 28 thematic areas, visitors can explore every historical period of the town—from its first mention and the Thirty Years’ War to the experimental facilities under National Socialism, the NVA base in the GDR, and the far-reaching structural changes following German reunification.

Multilingual audio guides complement a visit to the museum. You can also book guided tours of the historic landscape through the museum; check the booking options if you want to make sure you can take a tour. This lets you combine the exhibition with a walk through the historic landscape.

A Nature Heritage Site with Many Habitats

The Peenemünde DBU Nature Heritage Site covers around 2,100 hectares and consists of three areas: Peenemünder Haken, the Struck peninsula and the island of Ruden. It is home to old oak and beech forests, pine forests on dunes, and wet alder and downy birch carrs. Brackish-water reed beds, small sandy islands, and lakeside and salt meadows provide important resting, moulting and feeding grounds for many waterbirds.

Birdlife enthusiasts can focus on two different aspects: many waterbirds use the area to rest, moult and forage, while two pairs of white-tailed eagles live in their territories there year-round and breed. Alongside Peenemünde’s history, the diverse habitats give the natural area a significance of its own.

Walking Trails, Cycle Routes and Excursions

A circular route of around 22 kilometres runs from Peenemünde via Karlshagen. Information boards line the route, which lets you experience part of the landscape of the Peenemünder Haken, Struck and Ruden nature reserve. Another circular route through the historic landscape is 25 kilometres long and passes 23 stops where visitors can discover remnants of the military past.

The two routes have different focuses: the approximately 22-kilometre circular route highlights the landscape and information boards, while the 25-kilometre route centres on the stops in the historic landscape. Check local trail conditions before setting out. Peenemünde is also connected to several cycle routes.

The Usedom Bäderbahn regional train takes visitors directly to Peenemünde station; from there, it is about a five-minute walk to Phänomenta Peenemünde. Also check current train services before travelling. Passenger boats offer seasonal excursions from Peenemünde harbour to Greifswalder Oie, Ruden and the mainland. The island of Ruden can be reached from Peenemünde aboard the motor vessel “Seeadler”. Check which trips are available for your travel dates.

Museums, Remembrance and Music

At Phänomenta Peenemünde, visitors are expressly encouraged to touch the exhibits. The Peenemünde Toy Museum displays more than 25,000 exhibits from three centuries. Visitors can also see a real submarine in Peenemünde; check current access arrangements before your visit.

After falling into disrepair, the Peenemünde Memorial Chapel was extensively rebuilt in a historicising style and rededicated on 18 August 1993. It also serves as a memorial to the victims of Peenemünde. Another cultural highlight takes place in autumn: every year, the turbine hall of the former Army Research Centre is transformed into a concert hall for the Peenemünde Concerts. As part of the Usedom Music Festival, the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra and renowned soloists also perform there. The programme varies from year to year; check the concert dates if you would like to plan your trip around them.

Discover more destinations: Karlshagen, Trassenheide, Mölschow, Zinnowitz.

For the overview of the wider area: Amt Usedom-Nord.