Construction sites in the World Heritage: Schwerin relies on new toilets and more!

Construction sites in the World Heritage: Schwerin relies on new toilets and more!

A year has passed since Schwerin received the prestigious title of UNESCO World Heritage Site. A lot has happened in the state capital during this time, but there are also numerous construction sites that need to be addressed. Two challenges in particular stand out: the lack of public toilets and the ongoing construction work on the castle. NDR reports that a new entrance situation with a toilet wing and barrier-free sanitary facilities on the ground floor is being planned at the castle, while there is currently only one toilet trolley available at the castle entrance.

The city council has made a significant contribution to the advertising effectiveness of the World Heritage title. In addition to the construction of a new visitor center in the castle, which is budgeted for two million euros, there are efforts to bring the world heritage closer to the general public. A new information flyer in German and English is intended to appeal to tourists and the website is being revised. Schwerin.de highlights that the city currently maintains 38 buildings in the residential ensemble, all of which are important and whose state of preservation must be ensured.

Growth and visitor numbers

The first successes can already be clearly felt: In 2024, Schwerin will record a 10% increase in visitors, which corresponds to around 240,000 guests in the castle. This shows that the World Heritage title definitely has an impact. Still, there are calls for more visibility and advertising to further increase interest. The World Heritage Support Association promotes free tours for children from prefabricated housing estates and collects donations for a planned information center on the World Heritage.

An important concern for World Heritage coordinator Linda Holung is the protection of the monuments and the documentation of the construction steps. At the same time, an architectural competition for the information center is being held, in which more than 120 designs have already been submitted. However, the new area is not expected to be completed before 2030/31. Germany.travel lists a total of 55 UNESCO World Heritage sites in Germany, so the title is very popular and Schwerin's development makes it clear that the city is on the right track.

UNESCO and its requirements

But what does it mean to be on the World Heritage List? With the inclusion, a monument is placed under the protection of the “Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage”, which was adopted by 193 states in 1972. To achieve this status, monuments must have unique, authentic and integral characteristics. According to Schwerin.de A convincing conservation plan is needed and the city of Schwerin now has the opportunity to meet these requirements. It will therefore be exciting to see how the city's situation develops.

With plenty of open space and lots of plans in hand, Schwerin will certainly be able to consolidate its position as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the future. The road is rocky, but with a good hand and committed citizens, the city can overcome the challenges and maintain its magic.