Peenemünde lies at the northern tip of the island of Usedom, where the Peene River flows into the Baltic Sea. The town combines a complex history of technology and remembrance with protected coastal and wetland habitats. The museum, historic landscape and natural heritage site each focus on different aspects, so you can plan your trip around the topics that interest you most.
The History of Technology and Remembrance
The A4 rocket developed in Peenemünde is now regarded as the forerunner of both military and civilian launch vehicles. At the Historical-Technical Museum, 28 themed sections put the history of the town into context: from its first recorded mention and the Thirty Years’ War, through the test facilities under National Socialism, to the NVA base in the GDR and the far-reaching structural changes after German reunification. Multilingual audio guides are part of the museum’s offerings. You can book guided tours of the historic landscape through the museum; check the booking arrangements before your visit.
The Memorial Chapel is also part of Peenemünde’s history of remembrance. After falling into disrepair, it was extensively rebuilt in a historicist style and rededicated on 18 August 1993. It also serves as a memorial to the victims of Peenemünde. The Toy Museum offers a different perspective on exhibits: visitors can see more than 25,000 objects spanning three centuries.
Natural Heritage and Birdlife
The DBU Natural Heritage Site Peenemünde covers around 2,100 hectares and consists of three areas: Peenemünder Haken, the Struck Peninsula and the island of Ruden. The habitats that have been preserved include old oak and beech forests, pine forests on dunes, and wet alder and downy birch carrs. Brackish-water reed beds, small sandy islands, and coastal and salt meadows provide important resting, moulting and feeding grounds for many waterbirds.
Two pairs of white-tailed eagles live year-round within their territory in the natural heritage site. They breed there. Sightings are not guaranteed, but the eagles are among the wildlife described as living in the area. The variety of habitats makes exploring the natural heritage area quite different from visiting the museum or the historic landscape sites.
Two Circular Routes, Two Different Focuses
There are circular routes with different focuses to help you explore the landscape. One route, about 22 kilometres long, runs from Peenemünde via Karlshagen. Information panels line the route, which lets you experience part of the landscape of the Peenemünder Haken, Struck and Ruden nature reserve. By contrast, the 25-kilometre circular route through the historic landscape leads to 23 sites where you can discover remnants of the area’s military past. Check local trail conditions before setting out.
Getting There and Excursions from the Harbor
The Usedom Bäderbahn regional train runs directly to Peenemünde station. From there, it is about a five-minute walk to Phänomenta Peenemünde, where visitors are expressly encouraged to touch the exhibits. Check train connections before travelling. Peenemünde is also connected to several cycling routes.
From Peenemünde harbor, passenger vessels offer seasonal excursions to Greifswalder Oie, Ruden and the mainland. Ruden can also be reached from Peenemünde by the motor vessel “Seeadler.” As these trips operate seasonally, it is a good idea to check the latest departure times when planning your trip.
Autumn Concerts
Every autumn, the turbine hall of the former Army Research Centre in Peenemünde becomes 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; if you are planning to attend a concert, check the dates for that year.
Discover more destinations: Trassenheide, Mölschow, Karlshagen, Zinnowitz.
See the broader travel overview: Amt Usedom-Nord.
