Picture this a sprawling residential area nestled between the Ryck River and the Ketscherinbach stream. This is Ostseeviertel in Greifswald. It’s a place where history unfolds in the very fabric of its streets and buildings.
The Ostseeviertel isn’t just one neighborhood. It’s a collection of distinct areas each with its unique story. There’s the Altes Ostseeviertel the oldest part. It’s where Greifswald’s first large housing development sprang up between 1956 and 1960. Citizens contributed voluntary construction hours to earn a place to live. Street names here reflect cities along the Baltic Sea coast a charming nod to its location.
Then there’s the Ostseeviertel-Parkseite a later addition begun in 1981. This area features prefabricated buildings arranged in courtyard structures. Street names honor towns and islands of the Baltic Sea. Interestingly two large mosaics depicting ‘Sea and Moon’ once adorned Szczeciner Ring now Stettiner Strasse. They were removed in 2010 during a complete redesign of the district. Today a park separates this area from the Schönwalde II housing estate.
Finally we have the Ostseeviertel-Ryckseite situated north of Wolgaster Strasse. This area includes some lovely older homes built between 1920 and 1921 in a rural style. Later additions in the 1980s and 90s saw prefabricated buildings and then a mix of townhouses and apartment buildings. One unusual building a prefabricated structure on Fridtjof-Nansen-Strasse has a traditional gable roof instead of the usual flat roof. This Ostseeviertel area is currently undergoing a transformation with older buildings being demolished and replaced.
Ostseeviertel is also home to several schools and kindergartens. The Martin-Andersen-Nexö-Grundschule opened in 1962 making it the first new school built in Greifswald after the Second World War. The Caspar David Friedrich Regional School also has its roots here initially part of the Martin Andersen Nexö school before moving to its present building in 1989. There are also several kindergartens and daycare facilities ensuring that this vibrant neighborhood caters to families.
The Ostseeviertel is more than just bricks and mortar. It’s a community constantly evolving. It represents Greifswald’s journey through different eras. Its street names and architecture are testaments to its past. As you explore the Ostseeviertel remember you’re not just walking through streets. You’re walking through layers of history. Each building each street sign each patch of green whispers stories of this unique place.