The "traitor's house" near Groß Stresow

The Traitor's House near Groß Stresow - History of the Northern War on Rügen

The "traitor's house" in Groß Stresow on the island of Rügen in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania is an unusual piece of local history. The name goes back to a legend from the early 18th century: when the united Prussian-Danish forces landed at sea, the villager Johan Meußling is said to have shown King Friedrich Wilhelm I's fleet the way through the Rügen Bodden with a bed sheet from the roof of his house. As a result, the Swedes were expelled from Rügen - albeit only temporarily - and Meußling's house was henceforth nicknamed the "Traitor's House".

Museum in a typical Rügen half-timbered house with a cane roof

The original building was demolished around 30 years ago. In its place today stands a new half-timbered building typical of the island of Rügen with a cane roof and brick walls built by the villagers themselves. In this authentic setting, the people of Stresow present their local history in their own exhibition. The statue of Friedrich Wilhelm I, which was originally erected in 1855 on a 15-metre-high Prussian column on a hill in Stresow, also stands in front of the museum. After being dismantled in 1991 due to the risk of collapse, the column was not erected again until 2014.

How to get to Groß Stresow on Rügen

The nearest train station is Seelvitz, around 1.7 km away, followed by Serams (approx. 2.7 km). Groß Stresow can be reached by car via the Samtens highway exit (approx. 17 km). Those arriving by ferry are best advised to use the nearby ferry port, which is around 4.9 km away.