Caspar David Friedrich Center Greifswald

The Caspar-David-Friedrich-Zentrum, opened in 2004 in the historic Seifensiederei and expanded in 2011 to include the entire former residential and commercial building of the Friedrich family, commemorates the great painter and greatest son of the city of Greifswald. It is also a museum, documentation and research center. Caspar David Friedrich was born here on September 5, 1774. Visitors can see his father's old soap-making workshop, the family cabinet with the family tree, the Rügen and Eldena rooms with famous motifs from Friedrich's work and the Caspar David Friedrich Gallery. The tour offers comprehensive information on Friedrich's origins, career and creative style as well as on the history of the Friedrich family and their home and business premises, which is also the subject of a long-term research project by the Caspar David Friedrich Society. Changing exhibitions of contemporary art in the Caspar David Friedrich Gallery bear witness to the enduring fascination and impact of Friedrich's work and historical Romanticism. Thanks to its location in the heart of Greifswald's old town, the center is a particularly attractive destination for anyone who wants to follow in the artist's footsteps in his hometown. In the immediate vicinity is St. Nikolai Cathedral, where Caspar David Friedrich was baptized, and it is only a few minutes' walk to the Pomeranian State Museum with its original Friedrich paintings.

Birthplace of a Romantic: the Caspar David Friedrich Center in Greifswald

A special place in German art history is located in the heart of Greifswald's old town: the Caspar David Friedrich Center. The house where the important Romantic artist was born on September 5, 1774 is now a museum, documentation and research center. Initially opened in 2004 in the historic soap factory, the center was expanded in 2011 to include the entire former residential and commercial building of the Friedrich family.

Tour through the life and work of Caspar David Friedrich

The tour takes visitors through the father's old soap-making workshop, the family cabinet with the family tree and the Rügen and Eldena rooms, which focus on famous motifs from Friedrich's work. The Caspar-David-Friedrich-Galerie shows changing exhibitions of contemporary art and brings the lasting impact of historical Romanticism to life. Comprehensive information on Friedrich's origins, career and creative style round off the visit.

Caspar David Friedrich in Greifswald: art and history of the Baltic Sea region

Greifswald, located in the north-east of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern between Rügen and the Greifswald Bodden, had a lasting influence on Caspar David Friedrich's artistic view of the northern German landscape. Anyone wishing to follow in his footsteps will find St. Nikolai Cathedral, where Friedrich was baptized, in the immediate vicinity of the town center. Just a few minutes' walk away is the Pomeranian State Museum with original Friedrich paintings - together, these stations form a dense trail through the artist's life.

Further sights in Greifswald

Nautic VR - Experience virtual reality

📍 Greifswald

At Nautic-VR you can explore virtual reality together with your friends! So put on your goggles and off you go! Nautic-VR is the only VR arcade in Western Pomerania! Here you can immerse yourself in the wonderful world of virtual reality together with friends in a cozy atmosphere. Whether big or small, there is something for everyone here. For example, you can take a look at the solar system, view an original 16th century knight's castle or marvel at works of art from past eras. For more action, try controlling a giant robot, chasing cute orcs or escaping from a dungeon!

Church of St. Jacobi Greifswald

📍 Greifswald

St. Jacob's Church, dedicated to the patron saint of fishermen, was first mentioned by name in 1280. The brick church consists of a three-aisled hall and the somewhat narrower square west tower. Until a fire in 1955, the originally taller tower still had a half-timbered top, which was not restored when the tower roof was reconstructed.

Catch tower Greifswald

📍 Greifswald

This building was part of the medieval fortifications that once surrounded Greifswald. The Fangenturm was first mentioned in the town register in 1329 as "Vangentorm". After the fortifications in the area of the Schützenwall were levelled in the 18th century and the Hansering was built in the 1970s, the 13.50-metre-high tower was preserved as a rudiment. Later, when the building no longer met the requirements as a powder tower, the city leased it to the university in 1775, which used the tower as an observatory for a while due to its height and location on the edge of the city. The battlements were not added until the middle of the 19th century, when the Fangenturm was even used as a public toilet. After extensive conservation and renovation work in the 1990s, the harbour master of the museum harbour was able to move into his office on the first floor. He has organizational responsibility for the harbour with over 50 berths, which are reserved exclusively for seaworthy traditional ships.

Events in Greifswald

Event

23. May 2026, 08:00–16:00

Atelier Busch

📍 Atelier Busch

Art:Open 2026 in Western Pomerania

Event

23. May 2026, 08:00–16:00

FrohsinnKeramik

📍 Frohsinn Keramik

Art:Open 2026 in Western Pomerania

Event

26. May 2026, 15:00–15:00

Children's theater "Peter and the Wolf"

📍 Soziokulturelles Zentrum St. Spiritus

with the Schnuppe puppet theater, ages 3 and up

Accommodation auf Stralsund & Vorpommern

Vacation apartments, hotels and more in the region

Hotel

"Prince Jaromar" Hotel Resort & Spa

📍 Thiessow

In the middle of the UNESCO biosphere reserve Süd-Ost-Rügen, directly on the beach, you will find our private 4-star wellness hotel.

Sonstige Unterkunft

Aeronauticon

📍 Anklam

Everything that flies - from seeds to high-tech airplanes - is the subject of the Aeronauticon, a museum park for looking, playing and learning at Anklam airfield.