Wöbbelin: Remembrance and Theodor Körner

The Wöbbelin Memorial Sites and the places commemorating Theodor Körner give the town two distinct historical themes: remembrance of the dead from the Wöbbelin concentration camp reception camp, and the legacy of the poet and freedom fighter. During a stay, you can therefore explore both the memorial site and the exhibitions about Körner’s life and work.

Remembrance and History in Wöbbelin

Around 160 of the more than 1,000 people who died at the Wöbbelin concentration camp reception camp are buried on the grounds of the Wöbbelin Memorial Sites, where Theodor Körner was laid to rest. The approximate number and scale of the victims are concrete points of reference for remembrance at the site.

The exhibition of the Wöbbelin Memorial Sites is located right in the village of Wöbbelin, on federal highway B 106 (Ludwigsluster Straße), at the junction for Neustadt-Glewe. The exhibitions include “Theodor Körner (1791–1813). Poet and Patriot. His Rise to Idol.” and the documentary exhibition “Ten Weeks at the Wöbbelin Subcamp.” In this way, a study of Körner and documentation of the camp are presented side by side as distinct topics.

The building that now houses the Wöbbelin Memorial Sites is also connected with Körner: it was originally built to honour the patriotic poet. The Theodor Körner Museum in Wöbbelin commemorates him as a poet and freedom fighter and illustrates his life and work in an exhibition. Visitors interested in Körner can choose between the museum’s focus on his biography and the memorial site, which has its own exhibition about him.

Another place of remembrance is in the cemetery east of Wöbbelin village church. It contains Theodor Körner’s grave and a memorial to the former Wöbbelin concentration camp nearby. The two sites have different focuses: the grave commemorates the poet, while the memorial recalls the history of the former camp.

Guided Tours and Getting Your Bearings

The Wöbbelin Memorial Sites offer guided tours, particularly for school groups. By arrangement, tours are also possible outside opening hours. If you are planning a tour for a group, arrange the date in advance.

The memorial site can be reached by bus from Ludwigslust and Neustadt-Glewe. Check the latest timetables when planning your trip. The exhibition’s location on B 106, at the junction for Neustadt-Glewe, also provides a clear point of reference when preparing your journey.

A further memorial site lies in the surrounding area, in a forest near Lüblow, directly beside B 106. Its Theodor Körner Park features a sandstone relief created by Jo Jastram.

Other Cultural Attractions in the Wider Ludwigslust-Parchim Destination

In the wider Ludwigslust-Parchim destination, Ludwigslust Palace offers a different historical perspective. It was the former residence of the Dukes of Mecklenburg and, together with its park and the town, forms an ensemble known as the “Little Versailles of the North.” The palace is the centrepiece of an almost entirely preserved late Baroque townscape, with a former court church and an English-style landscape park. The palace also presents art and courtly domestic culture from the 18th and early 19th centuries. Thus, the focus here is on residential history and courtly culture, while Wöbbelin is shaped by its memorial sites and places commemorating Körner.

The wider destination also offers other distinct historical topics: the museum in Dömitz Fortress covers the history of the fortress and town, the history of the Elbe, harbour and bridges, Fritz Reuter, and temporary and art exhibitions. Zarrentin Monastery has a permanent exhibition about the monastery on the ground floor; guided tours cover the history of the former Cistercian nunnery, the nuns’ lives and the architecture. In this way, the fortress history of Dömitz and Zarrentin’s monastic history, architecture and the lives of the nuns offer distinct cultural perspectives within Ludwigslust-Parchim.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Warlow, Leussow, Lübesse, Lüblow, Uelitz, Sülstorf, Groß Laasch, Bresegard Bei Eldena

Back to the wider travel overview: Amt Ludwigslust-Land.