Editing Schwerin

{{Short description|Capital of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany}}
{{other uses}}
{{Infobox German place
|type                = Town
| image_skyline            = {{multiple image
| border = infobox
| perrow = 1/2/2
| total_width = 280
| align = center
| caption_align = center
| image1 = Schwerin Schloss3.JPG
| caption1 = [[Schwerin Castle]]
| image2 = 20200802 Paulskirche und Schweriner Dom.jpg
| caption2 = St Paul and [[Schwerin Cathedral|cathedral]]
| image3 = Schwerin - The lake from Schweriner Schloss.jpg
| caption3 = Orangerie
| image4 = 13-06-22-schwerin-50mm-by-RalfR-100.jpg
| caption4 = [[Schelfstadt]] with [[Schelfkirche]]
| image5 = 2023 Schwerin, Dom, Pfaffenteich.jpg
| caption5 = [[Pfaffenteich]] }}
|image_coa             = DEU Schwerin COA.svg
|image_flag          = Flagge Schwerin.svg
|coordinates        = {{coord|53|38|N|11|25|E|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
|image_plan           = 
|plantext = 
|state         = Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
|district              = urban
|elevation             = 38
|area             = 130.46
|postal_code                = 19053, 19055, 19057, 19059, 19061, 19063
|area_code            = 0385
|licence                = SN
|Gemeindeschlüssel = 13 0 04 000
|divisions         = 18 boroughs
|website           = [https://www.schwerin.de/ schwerin.de]
|mayor             = Rico Badenschier<ref>[https://www.schwerin.de/politik-verwaltung/politik/wahlen/oberbuergermeisterwahl/ergebnisse-ob-wahl-live/ Stichwahl zur Wahl der Oberbürgermeisterin/des Oberbürgermeisters in der Landeshauptstadt Schwerin am 18. Juni 2023], Landeshauptstadt Schwerin. Retrieved 12 June 2024.</ref>
|leader_term       = 2023&ndash;30
|Bürgermeistertitel = Oberbürgermeister
|party             = SPD
}}
{{Infobox UNESCO World Heritage Site
| Name         = Schwerin Residence Ensemble
| Image        = [[File:Schweriner Schloss (108548863).jpeg|250px]]
| imagecaption = Schwerin Castle 
| Criteria     = Cultural: iv
| ID           = 1705
| Year         = 2024
}}
'''Schwerin''' ({{IPA|de|ʃveˈʁiːn|lang|De-Schwerin2.ogg}}; [[Mecklenburgisch-Vorpommersch dialect|Mecklenburgisch-Vorpommersch]] [[Low German]]: ''Swerin''; [[Polabian language|Polabian]]: ''Zwierzyn''; [[Latin]]: ''Suerina'', ''Suerinum'') is the [[Capital city|capital]] and [[List of cities and towns in Germany|second-largest city]] of the northeastern [[States of Germany|German state]] of [[Mecklenburg-Vorpommern]] as well as of the region of [[Mecklenburg]], after [[Rostock]]. It has around 96,000 inhabitants, and is thus the least populous of all German state capitals.

Schwerin is located on the southwestern shore of [[Lake Schwerin]] (''Schweriner See''), the second-largest lake of the [[Mecklenburg Lake Plateau]] after the [[Müritz]], and there are eleven other lakes within Schwerin's city limits. The city is surrounded by the district of [[Nordwestmecklenburg|Northwestern Mecklenburg]] to the north, and the district of [[Ludwigslust-Parchim]] to the south. Schwerin and the two surrounding districts form the eastern outskirts of the [[Hamburg Metropolitan Region]]. The name of the city is of [[Polabian Slavs|Slavic]] origin, deriving from the root "zvěŕ" (''wild animal'') or "zvěŕin" (''[[game reserve]]'', ''animal garden'', ''[[stud farm]]'').

Schwerin was first mentioned in 1018 as ''Zuarina'' and was granted [[town privileges|city rights]] in 1160 by [[Henry the Lion]], thus it is the [[List of cities in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern|oldest city of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern]]. As main residence of the [[House of Mecklenburg]], a dynasty with Slavic roots also known as the [[Obotrites]] or Niklotides, Schwerin was the capital of the [[Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin]] from 1379 to 1815, of the [[Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin]] (after the duke was elevated to the title of a grand duke) from 1815 to 1918, of the [[Free State of Mecklenburg-Schwerin]] from 1918 to 1934, of the State of Mecklenburg (after it was merged with the [[Free State of Mecklenburg-Strelitz]]) from 1934 to 1952, and of the [[Bezirk Schwerin|District of Schwerin]] from 1952 to 1990.

The [[Romanticism|romantic]] [[Schwerin Palace]], situated on Castle Island between Lake Schwerin and [[Burgsee (Schwerin)|Castle Lake]], known for its golden dome, the Castle Church, the throne room, and the [[Niklot]] statue, used to be the seat of the [[List of rulers of Mecklenburg|dukes and grand dukes of Mecklenburg-Schwerin]], and since 1990, it is the seat of the [[Landtag of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern|state parliament]] of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Schwerin's silhouette is completed by the towers of [[Schwerin Cathedral]], St Paul's Church and [[Schelf Church|St Nicholas' Church]]. Because of only minor damage in World War II, the city has a largely intact building structure, both in the Altstadt (Old Town) and [[Schelfstadt]] ([[Reed (plant)|Reed]] City) quarters.

Major industries and employers include high technology, machine building, healthcare, government agencies, railway supply, consumer goods and tourism. There is a [[Parchim International Airport|regional airport]] in [[Parchim]], southeast of the city, while [[Hamburg Airport]] serves as the city's main airport.

==History==
===Early years===
Schwerin is enclosed by lakes. The largest of these lakes, the ''[[Lake Schwerin|Schweriner See]]'', has an area of 60&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>. In the middle part of these lakes there was a settlement of the Slavic [[Obotrites|Obotrite]] (dated back to the 11th century). The area was called ''Zuarin'' ([[Polabian language|Polabian]] ''Zwierzyn''), and the name ''Schwerin'' is derived from that designation. In 1160, [[Henry the Lion]] defeated the Obotrites and captured Schwerin. The town was later expanded into a powerful regional centre. A castle was built on this site, and expanded to become a ducal palace. It is supposedly haunted by the small, impious ghost, called [[Petermännchen]] (''"Peterman"'').

In 1358, Schwerin became a part of the [[Mecklenburg|Duchy of Mecklenburg]], making it the seat of the duchy from then on. About 1500, the construction of the Schwerin Palace began, as a residence for the dukes. After the division of Mecklenburg (1621), Schwerin became the capital of the [[Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin]]. Between 1765 and 1837, the town of [[Ludwigslust]] served as the capital, until Schwerin was reinstated.

===Recent times===
In the mid-1800s, many residents from Schwerin moved to the United States, many to [[Milwaukee, Wisconsin]]. Today Milwaukee and Schwerin are sister cities. After 1918, and during the [[German Revolution]], resulting in the fall of all the [[German monarchies]], the Grand Duke abdicated. Schwerin became capital of the [[Free State of Mecklenburg-Schwerin]] thereafter.

During [[World War II]], Schwerin was hit by bombs in July 1940, on 7 April 1945 and 19 April 1945.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.ndr.de/geschichte/chronologie/kriegsende/19-April-1945-Bomben-auf-Schwerin,bombenschwerin100.html | title=April 1945: Bomben auf Schwerin }}</ref> At the end of World War II, on 2 May 1945, Schwerin was taken by United States troops. It was turned over to the British on 1 June 1945, and one month later, on 1 July 1945,<ref>Some evidence{{Citation needed|date=April 2014}} calls into doubt the date on which the British withdrew to the predesignated occupation zone. Local residents claim that the British forces did not relinquish control of Schwerin until later in the year, probably November, following a brief artillery exchange across lake Schwerin between the British and the Soviets. Allegedly there were no deaths.</ref> it was handed over to the Soviet forces, as the British and American forces pulled back from the [[line of contact]] to the predesignated occupation zones.

Schwerin was then in the Soviet Occupation Zone which was to become the [[East Germany|German Democratic Republic]] (GDR). Initially, it was the capital of the State of Mecklenburg which at that time included the western part of [[Pomerania]] ([[Vorpommern]]). After the states were dissolved in the GDR, in 1952, Schwerin served as the capital of the Schwerin district (Bezirk Schwerin).
 
After reunification in 1990, the former state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern was recreated as one of the {{lang|de|[[States of Germany|Bundesländer]]}}. [[Rostock]] was a serious contender for state capital but the decision went in favour of Schwerin.

==Population==
{{historical populations|1500|2500|1790|3512|1819|5854|1840|16648|1860|23517|1880|30146|1900|38667|1910|42519|1925|48157|1933|53621|1940|67200|1950|93576|1961|92902|1966|92356|1971|100888|1976|110051|1981|122264|1986|128328|1991|125959|1996|111029|2001|99978|2006|96280|2011|95300|2016|96558|2021|95740|footnote=Population size may be affected by changes in administrative divisions.}}

Schwerin has a population of about 95,000 and is the smallest state capital of Germany. In the [[East Germany|East German]] era, Schwerin was an industrial city known for its leather products. In 1991, when Schwerin became the capital of [[Mecklenburg-Vorpommern]] state, it had a population of 126,000. After the [[German Reunification]], Schwerin's population started to decline and fell below 100,000 in 2000, so that it lost its official status as a major city. Schwerin is also the only state capital that has no universities.

== Geography ==
[[File:Schwerinersee.png|thumb|400px|Schwerin on [[Lake Schwerin]] (''Schweriner See''), subdivided into Outer Lake (''Außensee'') and Inner Lake (''Innensee'') by Paul's Dam (''Paulsdamm'')]]
[[File:Ortsteile Schwerin Karte.png|thumb|400px|The 26 boroughs of Schwerin]]

=== Lakes ===
The 12 lakes within Schwerin's city limits and their size in km<sup>2</sup>:
*[[Lake Schwerin]] (''Schweriner See'') 61,5
*[[Ziegelsee|Brick Lake]] (''Ziegelsee'') 3,0
*[[Ostorfer See|Lake Ostorf]] (''Ostorfer See'') 2,1
*[[Neumühler See|New Mill Lake]] (''Neumühler See'') 1,7
*[[Medeweger See|Lake Medewege]] (''Medeweger See'') 1,0
*[[Lankower See (Schwerin)|Lake Lankow]] (''Lankower See'') 0,5
*[[Fauler See|Foul Lake]] (''Fauler See'') 0,5
*[[Heidensee|Heathens Lake]] (''Heidensee'') 0,2
*[[Pfaffenteich|Clergymen's Pond]] (''Pfaffenteich'') 0,1
*[[Burgsee (Schwerin)|Castle Lake]] (''Burgsee'') 0,1
*[[Grimkesee|Lake Grimke]] (''Grimkesee'') 0,04
*[[Große Karausche|Big Karausche]] (''Große Karausche'') 0,02

=== Islands ===
*Rabbit [[Ait]] (''Kaninchenwerder'') in Lake Schwerin
*Brick Ait (''Ziegelwerder'') in Lake Schwerin
*Castle Island (''Schlossinsel'') between Lake Schwerin and Castle Lake
*Big Murrkiten Island (''Große Murrkiteninsel'') in the Brick Lake
*Small Murrkiten Island (''Kleine Murrkiteninsel'') in the Brick Lake
*Big Stone (''Großer Stein'') in Lake Schwerin

=== Boroughs ===
The urban area of Schwerin is subdivided into 17 local districts,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.schwerin.de/kultur-tourismus/stadtportrait/stadtteile/|title=Stadtteile|website=www.schwerin.de|language=de|access-date=2017-07-26}}</ref> each with a local council. The districts consist of one or more boroughs. The local councilors have between 5 and 15 members depending on the number of inhabitants. They are determined by the city council for the duration of the election period of the city council after each municipal election. The local councilors are to hear important matters concerning the district and have a right of initiative. However, the final decisions are made by the city council of the city as a whole.

The 17 districts and 26 boroughs:
*[[Schelfstadt]], Werdervorstadt, Schelfwerder (1)
*Altstadt (Old Town), Feldstadt, Paulsstadt, Lewenberg (2)
*Großer Dreesch (formerly ''Dreesch I'') (3)
*Neu Zippendorf (formerly ''Dreesch II'') (4)
*Mueßer Holz (formerly ''Dreesch III'') (5)
*Gartenstadt, Ostorf (formerly ''Haselholz'', ''Ostorf'') (6)
*Lankow (7)
*Weststadt (8)
*Krebsförden (9)
*Wüstmark, Göhrener Tannen (10)
*Görries (11)
*Friedrichsthal (12)
*Neumühle, Sacktannen (13)
*Warnitz (14)
*Wickendorf, Medewege (15)
*Zippendorf (16)
*Mueß (17)
There is a small [[enclave]] between the boroughs of Neumühle and Görries, belonging to the neighbouring municipality of [[Klein Rogahn]].

Schwerin clockwise borders the municipalities of [[Klein Trebbow]] (N), [[Seehof, Germany|Seehof (Mecklenburg)]], [[Leezen, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern|Leezen (Mecklenburg)]] (lake border and border on Paul's Dam (''Paulsdamm'') only), [[Raben Steinfeld]] (E), [[Plate, Germany|Plate]], [[Banzkow]], [[Lübesse]] (S), [[Holthusen]], [[Pampow]], [[Klein Rogahn]] (W), [[Wittenförden]], [[Brüsewitz]], and [[Pingelshagen]].

==Climate==
Schwerin has an [[oceanic climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]]: ''Cfb''; [[Trewartha climate classification|Trewartha]]: ''Dobk''). Schwerin is located not far from the [[Baltic Sea]] coast. Its climate is moderated by the ocean, with warm winters and cool summers throughout the year, with an average temperature ranging from {{convert|1|C|F}} in winter to {{convert|18|C|F}} in summer.

The Schwerin weather station has recorded the following extreme values:<ref name=sklima/>
* Its highest temperature was {{convert|38.4|C|F}} on [[2022_European_heatwaves#July_heatwave_2|20 July 2022]].
* Its lowest temperature was {{convert|-27.0|C|F}} on 5 February 1912.
* Its greatest annual precipitation was {{convert|850.1|mm|in|abbr=on}} in 2002.
* Its least annual precipitation was {{convert|396.1|mm|in|abbr=on}} in 1892.
* The longest annual sunshine was 2,040.8 hours in 1959.
* The shortest annual sunshine was 1,339.7 hours in 1926.

{{Weather box	
|location = Schwerin (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1890–present)	
|metric first = Y	
|single line = Y
|Jan record high C = 15.4
|Feb record high C = 18.3
|Mar record high C = 23.5
|Apr record high C = 29.3
|May record high C = 35.7
|Jun record high C = 35.1
|Jul record high C = 38.4
|Aug record high C = 36.9
|Sep record high C = 32.9
|Oct record high C = 26.8
|Nov record high C = 19.7
|Dec record high C = 15.2
|year record high C = 38.4
|Jan avg record high C = 9.9
|Feb avg record high C = 11.1
|Mar avg record high C = 16.3
|Apr avg record high C = 22.8
|May avg record high C = 27.2
|Jun avg record high C = 29.6
|Jul avg record high C = 31.1
|Aug avg record high C = 31.2
|Sep avg record high C = 25.7
|Oct avg record high C = 20.0
|Nov avg record high C = 13.7
|Dec avg record high C = 10.4
|year avg record high C = 33.1
|Jan high C = 3.3
|Feb high C = 4.4
|Mar high C = 8.2
|Apr high C = 13.8
|May high C = 18.1
|Jun high C = 21.0
|Jul high C = 23.3
|Aug high C = 23.1
|Sep high C = 18.8
|Oct high C = 13.2
|Nov high C = 7.5
|Dec high C = 4.2
| year high C =	13.2
|Jan mean C = 1.2
|Feb mean C = 1.8
|Mar mean C = 4.4
|Apr mean C = 9.0
|May mean C = 13.1
|Jun mean C = 16.2
|Jul mean C = 18.4
|Aug mean C = 18.1
|Sep mean C = 14.3
|Oct mean C = 9.7
|Nov mean C = 5.2
|Dec mean C = 2.2
|year mean C = 9.5
|Jan low C = -1.1
|Feb low C = -0.9
|Mar low C = 1.1
|Apr low C = 4.4
|May low C = 8.1
|Jun low C = 11.4
|Jul low C = 13.8
|Aug low C = 13.7
|Sep low C = 10.6
|Oct low C = 6.6
|Nov low C = 2.9
|Dec low C = 0.1
|year low C = 5.9
|Jan avg record low C = -9.3
|Feb avg record low C = -7.9
|Mar avg record low C = -4.2
|Apr avg record low C = -1.4
|May avg record low C = 2.4
|Jun avg record low C = 6.9
|Jul avg record low C = 9.6
|Aug avg record low C = 9.2
|Sep avg record low C = 5.8
|Oct avg record low C = 1.0
|Nov avg record low C = -3.0
|Dec avg record low C = -7.1
|year avg record low C = -11.6
|Jan record low C = -23.4
|Feb record low C = -27.0
|Mar record low C = -17.7
|Apr record low C = -7.4
|May record low C = -2.5
|Jun record low C = 1.2
|Jul record low C = 5.6
|Aug record low C = 4.9
|Sep record low C = 0.1
|Oct record low C = -4.5
|Nov record low C = -13.4
|Dec record low C = -20.9
|year record low C = -27.0
|precipitation colour = green	
|Jan precipitation mm = 55.6
|Feb precipitation mm = 42.4
|Mar precipitation mm = 44.0
|Apr precipitation mm = 35.1
|May precipitation mm = 46.7
|Jun precipitation mm = 59.0
|Jul precipitation mm = 75.4
|Aug precipitation mm = 67.2
|Sep precipitation mm = 52.2
|Oct precipitation mm = 51.0
|Nov precipitation mm = 48.3
|Dec precipitation mm = 56.5
| year precipitation mm = 628.5
| unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm	
|Jan precipitation days = 17.4
|Feb precipitation days = 15.1
|Mar precipitation days = 14.5
|Apr precipitation days = 11.8
|May precipitation days = 13.1
|Jun precipitation days = 13.6
|Jul precipitation days = 15.2
|Aug precipitation days = 14.8
|Sep precipitation days = 13.6
|Oct precipitation days = 14.7
|Nov precipitation days = 16.3
|Dec precipitation days = 17.7
|year precipitation days = 176.9
|Jan snow depth cm = 5.3
|Feb snow depth cm = 6.5
|Mar snow depth cm = 3.2
|Apr snow depth cm = 0.7
|May snow depth cm = 0
|Jun snow depth cm = 0
|Jul snow depth cm = 0
|Aug snow depth cm = 0
|Sep snow depth cm = 0
|Oct snow depth cm = 0
|Nov snow depth cm = 1.3
|Dec snow depth cm = 4.0
|year snow depth cm = 11.0
|unit snow days = 1.0 cm
|Jan snow days = 7.7
|Feb snow days = 7.6
|Mar snow days = 3.4
|Apr snow days = 0.2
|May snow days = 0
|Jun snow days = 0
|Jul snow days = 0
|Aug snow days = 0
|Sep snow days = 0
|Oct snow days = 0
|Nov snow days = 1.3
|Dec snow days = 3.7
|year snow days = 
|Jan sun = 44.5
|Feb sun = 63.6
|Mar sun = 128.5
|Apr sun = 190.6
|May sun = 236.3
|Jun sun = 229.4
|Jul sun = 227.4
|Aug sun = 207.2
|Sep sun = 157.3
|Oct sun = 106.2
|Nov sun = 49.8
|Dec sun = 35.0
|year sun = 1661.0
|humidity colour = green
|Jan humidity = 87.0
|Feb humidity = 83.4
|Mar humidity = 78.4
|Apr humidity = 71.0
|May humidity = 70.8
|Jun humidity = 71.8
|Jul humidity = 72.8
|Aug humidity = 74.0
|Sep humidity = 78.8
|Oct humidity = 84.1
|Nov humidity = 88.4
|Dec humidity = 88.8
|source 1 = [[World Meteorological Organization]]<ref name=WMO>{{cite web
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20231012173933/https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/1.1/data/0-data/Region-6-WMO-Normals-9120/Germany/CSV/Schwerin_10162.csv
|archive-date = 12 October 2023
|url = https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/1.1/data/0-data/Region-6-WMO-Normals-9120/Germany/CSV/Schwerin_10162.csv
|title = World Meteorological Organization Climate Normals for 1991–2020
|work = World Meteorological Organization Climatological Standard Normals (1991–2020)
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|access-date = 13 October 2023}}</ref>
|source 2 = [[Deutscher Wetterdienst]] / SKlima.de<ref name=sklima>{{cite web 
|url = http://sklima.de/datenbank_auswertung.php?tab=2
|title = Monatsauswertung 
|website = sklima.de 
|publisher = SKlima 
|language = de 
|access-date = 16 October 2024}}</ref>
}}
==Education==
Schwerin has two academic colleges, the Schwerin campus of the "Fachhochschule des Mittelstands" (''University of Applied Sciences of the [[Mittelstand]]''), and the Schwerin campus of the "Hochschule der Bundesagentur für Arbeit" (''University of the [[Federal Employment Agency]]'').
==Transport==
City buses and [[Trams in Schwerin|trams]] are run by NVS (Nahverkehr Schwerin).<ref>[http://www.nahverkehr-schwerin.de/ NVS (Nahverkehr Schwerin)]</ref>

[[Schwerin Hauptbahnhof]] (central station) is connected by [[Ludwigslust–Wismar railway|rail to Berlin]], [[Hagenow Land–Schwerin railway|Hamburg]] and [[Bad Kleinen–Rostock railway|Rostock]].

==Main sights==
* The landmark of the city is the [[Schwerin Palace]], located on an island in the lake of the same name ([[Schweriner See]]). It was, for centuries, the residence of the [[Duchy of Mecklenburg|Dukes of Mecklenburg]] and today is the seat of the ''[[Landtag]]'' (state parliament).
* [[Schwerin Cathedral]], built in 1260–1416 in [[Brick Gothic]] style.
* The ''Alter Garten'' (Old Garden) square, surrounded by buildings such as the 18th-century ''Altes Palais'' (Old Palace), the [[Neoclassical architecture|neoclassical]] ''[[Staatliches Museum Schwerin]]'' (State Art Museum, built in 1877–1882), and the ''[[Mecklenburg State Theatre|Staatstheater]]'' (City Theater, erected in 1886).
* The city hall (18th century).
* [[Schelfkirche]] (Saint Nicolai Church), originally built 1238, but rebuilt in 1713 after destruction by a storm.
* [[Fernsehturm Schwerin-Zippendorf|TV Tower Schwerin-Zippendorf]].

===Museums===
* The [[Staatliches Museum Schwerin|Staatliches Museum Schwerin-Kunstsammlungen]] (State Art Museum) houses a remarkable collection of 17th-century Dutch paintings and German art from medieval and renaissance masters up to the present day. There are also a collection of Greek vases, the notable collection of Paintings of Jean-Baptiste Oudry, a collection of sculptures of Houdon, German 18th-century court paintings, and works by such modern artists as [[Max Liebermann]], Franz Stuck, Marcel Duchamp etc. The Graphic cabinet houses rich collections of Dutch and German drawings and prints (Jan van Goyen, Dürer, Cranach, Rembrandt, Merian) and a notable collection of coloured graphics from the time of the GDR.
* The [[State Museum of Technology]] (''Technische Museum''), housed in the former ''Marstall'' (Royal Stables). In 2012 the Technische Museum moved to the city of Wismar located 40&nbsp;km north of Schwerin.

==Crime rate==
According to the official 2007 Crime Report for Germany, Schwerin was the only German city with a crime rate over 17,000 total offenses committed per 100,000 inhabitants;<ref>[http://www.bmi.bund.de/SharedDocs/Downloads/DE/Broschueren/2008/Polizeiliche_Kriminalstatistik_2007_de.pdf?__blob=publicationFile Official Police Report for Germany], cf. p. 17.</ref> thus being 1st in the list of Germany's most dangerous cities. The larger cities, such as [[Berlin]], [[Frankfurt am Main]], or [[Bremen]], all have crime rates ranging from 14,000 to 16,000 total offenses committed per 100,000 people. However, Schwerin is the only city where riding a bus (or tram) without a ticket and social security fraud is counted towards the crime rate, significantly boosting the numbers.<ref>{{cite web |title=19.05.07 / Aufgeklrt: Das wilde Rubernest Schwerin |url=http://www.webarchiv-server.de/pin/archiv07/2020070519paz13.htm |website=www.webarchiv-server.de |access-date=31 March 2021}}</ref>

==Governance==
The current mayor of Schwerin is Rico Badenschier ([[Social Democratic Party of Germany|SPD]]) since 2016. The most recent mayoral election was held on 4 June 2023, with a runoff held on 18 June, and the results were as follows:

{{election table}}
! rowspan=2 colspan=2| Candidate
! rowspan=2| Party
! colspan=2| First round
! colspan=2| Second round
|-
! Votes
! %
! Votes
! %
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Social Democratic Party of Germany}}| 
| align=left| Rico Badenschier
| align=left| [[Social Democratic Party of Germany|Social Democratic Party]]
| 16,510
| 42.0
| 26,078
| 67.8
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Alternative for Germany}}| 
| align=left| [[Leif-Erik Holm]]
| align=left| [[Alternative for Germany]]
| 10,792
| 27.4
| 12,360
| 32.2
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Independent politician}}| 
| align=left| Thomas Tweer
| align=left| [[Independent politician|Independent]] ([[Christian Democratic Union of Germany|CDU]]/[[Free Democratic Party (Germany)|FDP]]/UB)
| 6,714
| 17.1
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|The Left (Germany)}}| 
| align=left| Daniel Trepsdorf
| align=left| [[The Left (Germany)|The Left]]
| 3,506
| 8.9
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Alliance 90/The Greens}}| 
| align=left| Regina Dorfmann
| align=left| [[Alliance 90/The Greens]]
| 1,088
| 2.8
|-
| 
| align=left| Martin Steinitz
| align=left| ASK
| 737
| 1.9
|-
! colspan=3| Valid votes
! 39,347
! 99.6
! 38,438
! 99.4
|-
! colspan=3| Invalid votes
! 161
! 0.4
! 225
! 0.6
|-
! colspan=3| Total
! 39,508
! 100.0
! 38,663
! 100.0
|-
! colspan=3| Electorate/voter turnout
! 78,545
! 50.3
! 78,390
! 49.3
|-
| colspan=7| Source: City of Schwerin ([https://www.schwerin.de/export/sites/default/.galleries/Dokumente/Wahlen/Wahlbekanntmachung-Endgueltiges-Wahlergebnis-OB-Wahl-2023.pdf 1st round], [https://www.schwerin.de/export/sites/default/.galleries/Dokumente/Wahlen/Bekanntmachung-Endgueltiges-Ergebnis-OB-Stichwahl-am-18.-Juni-2023.pdf 2nd round])
|}

The most recent city council election was held on 9 June 2024, and the results were as follows:

{{election table}}
! colspan=2| Party
! Votes
! %
! +/-
! Seats
! +/-
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Alternative for Germany}}| 
| align=left| [[Alternative for Germany]] (AfD)
| 38,352
| 26.0
| {{increase}} 10.9
| 12
| {{increase}} 5
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Christian Democratic Union of Germany}}| 
| align=left| [[Christian Democratic Union of Germany|Christian Democratic Union]] (CDU)
| 29,051
| 19.7
| {{increase}} 2.5
| 9
| {{increase}} 1
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Social Democratic Party of Germany}}| 
| align=left| [[Social Democratic Party of Germany|Social Democratic Party]] (SPD)
| 24,749
| 16.8
| {{decrease}} 0.4
| 8
| {{steady}} 0
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|The Left (Germany)}}| 
| align=left| [[The Left (Germany)|The Left]] (Die Linke)
| 15,113
| 10.2
| {{decrease}} 5.3
| 5
| {{decrease}} 2
|-
| 
| align=left| Independent Citizens (UB)
| 10,617
| 7.2
| {{decrease}} 6.9
| 3
| {{decrease}} 3
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Alliance 90/The Greens}}| 
| align=left| [[Alliance 90/The Greens]] (Grüne)
| 10,088
| 6.8
| {{decrease}} 5.3
| 3
| {{decrease}} 2
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Free Democratic Party (Germany)}}| 
| align=left| [[Free Democratic Party (Germany)|Free Democratic Party]] (FDP)
| 5,388
| 3.7
| {{decrease}} 0.3
| 2
| {{steady}} 0
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Die PARTEI}}| 
| align=left| [[Die PARTEI]] (PARTEI)
| 4,876
| 3.3
| {{increase}} 0.3
| 1
| {{steady}} 0
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Independent politician}}| 
| align=left| [[Independent politician|Independent]] Steinmüller
| 3,480
| 2.4
| New
| 1
| New
|-
| 
| align=left| Ask Group – City and Culture Protection (ASK)
| 3,181
| 2.2
| {{increase}} 0.7
| 1
| {{steady}} 0
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Independent politician}}| 
| align=left| [[Independent politician|Independent]] Mittelstädt
| 436
| 0.3
| New
| 0
| New
|-
| 
| align=left| K-I
| 402
| 0.3
| New
| 0
| New
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Independent politician}}| 
| align=left| [[Independent politician|Independent]] Szymik
| 402
| 0.3
| New
| 0
| New
|-
! colspan=2| Valid votes
! 147,473
! 100.0
! 
! 
! 
|-
! colspan=2| Invalid ballots
! 2,109
! 1.4
! 
! 
! 
|-
! colspan=2| Total ballots
! 50,842
! 100.0
! 
! 45
! ±0
|-
! colspan=2| Electorate/voter turnout
! 78,517
! 64.8
! {{increase}} 6.8
! 
! 
|-
| colspan=7| Source: City of Schwerin
|}

==Twin towns – sister cities==
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Germany}}
Schwerin is [[Sister city|twinned]] with:<ref>{{cite web |title=Städtepartnerschaften|url=https://www.schwerin.de/kultur-tourismus/Information/stadtportrait/staedtepartnerschaften/|website=schwerin.de|publisher=Schwerin|language=de|access-date=2021-03-24}}</ref>
{{div col|colwidth=15em}}
*{{flagicon|DEN}} [[Odense Municipality|Odense]], Denmark
*{{flagicon|POL}} [[Piła]], Poland
*{{flagicon|ITA}} [[Reggio Emilia]], Italy
*{{flagicon|EST}} [[Tallinn]], Estonia
*{{flagicon|FIN}} [[Vaasa]], Finland
*{{flagicon|SWE}} [[Växjö Municipality|Växjö]], Sweden
*{{flagicon|GER}} [[Wuppertal]], Germany
{{div col end}}

==Notable people==
[[File:Heinrich von Bülow (IZ 04-81).jpg|thumb|140px|[[Heinrich von Bülow (diplomat)|Heinrich von Bülow]]]]
[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 183-R10922, Franziska Ellmenreich.jpg|thumb|140px|[[Franziska Ellmenreich]]]]
*[[Konrad Ernst Ackermann]] (1712–1771), actor
*[[Friedrich Ludwig Schröder]] (1744–1816), actor, theatre director and playwright.<ref>{{Cite EB1911 |wstitle= Schröder, Friedrich Ludwig |last= |first= |author-link= |volume= 24 |pages=378-379 |short=1}}</ref>
*[[Karl Albert von Kamptz]] (1769–1849), lawyer, Prussian Minister of Justice from 1832 to 1842.
*[[Heinrich von Bülow (diplomat)|Heinrich von Bülow]] (1792–1846), diplomat and Prussian statesman
*[[Carl von Lemcke]] (1831–1913), art historian, songwriter, rector at the University of Stuttgart
*[[Pauline Soltau]] (1833–1902), portrait painter, violinist
*[[August Kundt]] (1839–1894), physicist; invented [[Kundt's tube]].<ref>{{Cite EB1911 |wstitle= Kundt, August Adolph Eduard Eberhard |volume= 15 |page=946 |short=1}}</ref>
*[[Walther Flemming]] (1843 in n Sachsenberg – 1905), biologist and founder of [[cytogenetics]]
*[[Marie Hankel]] (1844–1929), writer of [[Esperanto literature]] and advocate of [[women's suffrage]].
*[[Hans von Koester]] (1844–1928), naval officer, became [[Grand admiral]]
*[[Franziska Ellmenreich]] (1847–1931), actress
*[[Friedrich Klockmann]] (1858–1937), mineralogist
*[[Heinrich Friese (biologist)|Heinrich Friese]] (1860–1948), entomologist and bee researcher
*[[Heinrich Cunow]] (1862–1938), politician (SPD) and writer
*[[William Berwald]] (1864–1948), an American composer and conductor
*[[Wilhelm Friedrich Loeper]] (1883–1935), military officer and Nazi Party politician
*[[Hermann Baranowski]] (1884–1940), Nazi SS concentration camp commandant
*[[Paul Gösch]] (1885–1940), painter and architect, Nazi victim
*[[Bernhard Schwentner]] (1891–1944), Catholic priest and resistance fighter
*[[Max Burghardt]] (1893–1977), actor, director, and President of the [[Cultural Association of the GDR]]
*[[Wilhelm Facklam]] (1893 in Upahl – 1972), landscape artist and draftsman
*[[Wilhelm Gustloff]] (1895–1936), Nazi party leader, worked in [[Davos]], assassinated
*[[Rudolf Metzmacher]] (1906–2004), cellist
*[[Ludwig Bölkow]] (1912–2003), industrialist and aeronautical pioneer 
*[[Gudrun Zapf-von Hesse]] (1918–2019), typographer calligrapher and bookbinder
*[[Verena Keller (singer)|Verena Keller]] (born 1940), mezzo-soprano
*[[André Brie]] (born 1950), politician (The Left), Member of the European Parliament, 1999/2009
* [[Katrin Sass]] (born 1956), actress
*[[Heidrun Bluhm]] (born 1958), politician (The Left)
*[[Oliver Riedel]] (born 1971), musician, member of the band [[Rammstein]]

=== Aristocracy ===
[[File:Cecilie of Mecklenburg-Schwerin Crown Princess of Germany and Prussia.jpg|thumb|140px|[[Duchess Cecilie of Mecklenburg-Schwerin]], 1905]]
*[[Albert II, Duke of Mecklenburg]] (ca 1318 – 1379), feudal lord in Northern Germany 
*[[Sophia Louise of Mecklenburg-Schwerin]] (1685 – 1735 in Schwerin Castle). [[List of Prussian royal consorts|Queen consort in Prussia]] by marriage to King [[Frederick I of Prussia]]
*[[Frederick Francis I]] (1756–1837), ruler as duke 1785/1815, and as grand duke 1815/1837
*[[Duchess Louise Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Schwerin]] (1779–1801), maternal grandmother of [[Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha|Prince Albert]], the husband of [[Queen Victoria]]
*[[Duke Adolf Friedrich of Mecklenburg]] (1873–1969), Africa traveler, colonial politician and first President of the [[German Olympic Sports Confederation|German Olympic Committee]]
*[[Alexandrine of Mecklenburg-Schwerin]] (1879–1952),  [[List of Danish royal consorts|Queen of Denmark]], 1912/1947 & [[Kingdom of Iceland|Queen of Iceland]], 1918/1944
*[[Duchess Cecilie of Mecklenburg-Schwerin]] (1886–1954), last Crown Princess of the [[German Empire]]
*[[Friedrich Franz, Hereditary Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin]] (1910–2001), heir apparent to the [[Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin]]

=== Sport ===
[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 183-S0709-0009, Andrea Pollack.jpg|thumb|140px|[[Andrea Pollack]], 1977]]
*[[Manfred Schneider]] (born 1941), rower, bronze medallist at the [[1972 Summer Olympics]]
*[[Detlef Pirsig]] (1945–2019), football player and manager; he played 385 matches
*[[Gabriele Hinzmann]] (born 1947), discus thrower; bronze medallist at the [[Athletics at the 1976 Summer Olympics|
1976 Summer Olympics]] 
*[[Wolf-Rüdiger Netz]] (born 1950), former footballer, played over 300 games
*[[Anke Westendorf]] (born 1954), Olympic volleyball player
*[[Rosemarie Gabriel]] (born 1956), swimmer, team gold and silver medallist at the [[1976 Summer Olympics]]
*[[Andrea Pollack]] (born 1961), swimmer, multiple medallist at the [[1976 Summer Olympics|1976]] & [[1980 Summer Olympics]]
*[[Torsten Bréchôt]] (born 1964) judoka, bronze medallist at the [[1988 Summer Olympics]]
*[[Steffen Zühlke]] (born 1965), rower, bronze medallist at the [[1988 Summer Olympics]] 
*[[Matthias Stammann]] (born 1968), footballer, played 299 games
*[[Sylvia Roll]] (born 1973), Olympic volleyball player
*[[Hanka Durante]] (born 1976), Olympic volleyball player
*[[Robert Müller (footballer)|Robert Müller]] (born 1986), footballer, played 489 games
*[[Peter Kretschmer]] (born 1992), sprint canoer, gold medallist at the [[2012 Summer Olympics]]

==Gallery==
<gallery mode=packed>

Schwerin Mecklenburgisches Staatstheater Schwerin Mecklenburg State Theatre Mecklenburg Staatstheater.jpg|[[Mecklenburg State Theatre]]
Schloss Schwerin (Mecklenburg).jpg|Castle of Schwerin in the evening
Blick über schwerin2016 15.jpg|View of the old town
Шверин. Улочка.jpg|[[Schelfstadt]]
Germany schwerin aerial view ArM.jpg|Aerial view of Schwerin
13-06-22-schwerin-50mm-by-RalfR-098.jpg|[[Schwerin Cathedral]] in the city centre
Schelfstadt.jpg|[[Schelfstadt]] and its baroque [[Schelf Church]], [[Lake Schwerin]] in the back
Schwerin_St_Paul.jpg|Saint Paul's Church
E-Werk Schwerin (5407745529).jpg|Former power station (''E-Werk'')
Schwerin_Fridericianeum.jpg|FHM, private university
13-06-20-orangerie-schwerin-033.jpg|Castle orangerie
Schwerin Staatliches Museum 2009-10-20 010.jpg|[[Staatliches Museum Schwerin|State Museum]] and [[Mecklenburg State Theatre]]
Frühling im Schlossgarten.jpg|''Schlossgarten''

</gallery>

[[File:Panorama Schwerin.jpg|center|thumb|800px|Panoramic view of Schwerin's historic city centre]]

{{clear}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Wikivoyage}}
{{Commons|Schwerin}}
* {{Official website}} {{in lang|de}}
* [https://www.schwerin.de/kultur-tourismus/erlebnisse-in-schwerin/ Tourism portal of Schwerin]

{{Districts of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern}}
{{Capitals of the states of the Federal Republic of Germany}}
{{List of European capitals by region}}
{{Bezirke DDR Seats}}
{{Lower Saxon Circle}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Schwerin| ]]
[[Category:German state capitals]]
[[Category:Cities and towns in Mecklenburg]]
[[Category:Populated places established in the 12th century]]
[[Category:Urban districts of Germany]]
[[Category:Capitals of former nations]]
[[Category:States and territories disestablished in the 1350s]]