Has anyone ever told you about the time the Ortsamt Mitte almost became a giant pigeon coop? No? Well, gather ’round. The Ortsamt Mitte, right here beside Rostock’s Rathaus, has seen its share of bureaucratic dramas. But none quite as feathered as the proposed pigeon paradise of 1983. See, back then, Rostock prided itself on its racing pigeons. One particularly enthusiastic pigeon fancier, a Herr Schmidt, envisioned a grand coop atop the Ortsamt Mitte. He argued it would be a symbolic beacon of Rostock’s avian prowess. The Ortsamt Mitte, however, was already busy being a vital hub for the city’s residents. It handled registrations, complaints, and all manner of civic necessities. Turning it into a pigeon penthouse wasn’t exactly on the agenda. The proposal ruffled feathers, so to speak. Arguments flew back and forth, debates cooed and squawked in the city council chambers. Finally, after much flapping, Herr Schmidt’s dream was clipped. The Ortsamt Mitte remained a place for people, not pigeons. Today, the Ortsamt Mitte continues its important work, nestled next to the impressive Rathaus at Neuer Markt 1a. Inside, you’ll find dedicated staff handling everything from resident registrations to issuing Führungszeugnisse. They also offer general information about the city and even handle lost and found items. It’s a far cry from a feathery metropolis, but arguably, a much more useful service to the people of Rostock. And who knows, perhaps somewhere out there, Herr Schmidt’s great-grandchildren are still dreaming of a pigeon paradise.
Heubastion
The Heubastion stands in the middle of Rostock’s city center, a silent guardian of the past. It was once part