The federal state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, with its regional capital of Schwerin, lies in the north-east of Germany and features the largest contiguous area of waterways in Central Europe. The terminal moraine of the last ice age runs across Mecklenburg, from north-west to south-east, from Wismar to the Feldberg lakes and into the eastern Brandenburg region. This charming landscape consists of broad meadows and fields, as well as extensive areas of forests and lakes.

Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania has a thousand different faces, each one more naturally beautiful than the next. The region is shaped by water, be it the fascinating coastline or the varied countryside inland. The Hanseatic towns hold impressive reminders of the region's former power, and its seaside health resorts still reflect their history as leading spa destinations. You'll also find a whole host of holiday activities on offer all year round.

Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania has some wonderful examples of brick Gothic architecture. The cathedrals in the Hanseatic towns of Rostock, Wismar, Stralsund and Greifswald are particularly striking red-brick constructions. The medieval buildings in Wismar and Stralsund are now UNESCO World Cultural Heritage sites. Schwerin's fairytale castle is the regional capital's pride and joy and the seat of the regional parliament.

With 130,000 hectares of waterways, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania has more water than any other German state, a total of 1,700km of coastline and 25,000km of rivers and streams. The region is a paradise for nature lovers offering an extensive network of walks and cycle trails as well as countless waterways and lakes that can be explored by canoe, sailing boat or motorboat. The air in the East German coastal region is widely regarded as the cleanest in the whole of Germany.