By far one of the most popular seaside destinations of Germans, Rugen Island is one of those beautiful places the
Baltic Sea is famous for. The landscape changes dramatically from steep cliffs to low plains in order to give yacht charter
Germany sailors a full cruising experience. A region with touristic heritage that even includes royalty, Rugen Island is a top destination for yacht charters.
Sea & Coast
Although commonly regarded as the biggest island in
Germany, the Rügen region is actually an archipelago, made up of 30 small islands and peninsulas off the Baltic coast of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.
The overall surface of this Yacht Charter destination is 976 square kilometers and it’s divided between the core landmass of Muttland and the bigger peninsulas Wittow and Jasmund in the north and the Zudar and Mönchgut in the south. All the peninsulas are connected by bridges (roads and raillines) to provide easier access.
Though it’s a relatively small region the landscape changes dramatically from east to west. The coastline visible to Yacht Charter sailors in the west is generally low and flat, but as soon as you get to the eastern part, you are greeted by fairly high chalk cliffs that rise 120 m from the water surface creating some spectacular scenery. The highest point is found in Jasmund, it’s called Piekberg and it’s 161 m high. In all, there are 570 km of coastline in the Rügen region.
In fact, the chalk cliffs are so beautiful that they’ve been entered in the Jasmund National Park. This park is somewhat smaller than the one found on the west part of the island that includes Hiddensee and that is called Vorpommern Lagoon Area Nation Park.
Culture & History
This area has a long history when it comes to tourism and even today it’s one of the most visited Yacht Charter regions in Germany. Though inhabited since prehistoric times, it rose to the status of desirable holiday destination in 1794 when the first bathing facility was founded here at the mineral spring in Sagard.
And to testify to the region’s rich history, there are numerous prehistoric artifacts like burial tumuli (used as graves by Neolithic people) as well as ancient artifacts from the Germanic tribes that used to call Rügen home around 500 BC. These are all to be found in the island’s national parks, an attraction for many (if not all) Yacht Charter visitors.
The reason why Rügen is so popular among the Yacht Charter holidaymakers is due to the beauty and diversity of the landscape. As a matter of fact, this beauty we speak of has managed to catch the eye of some other people who weren’t here just on vacation, namely artists. One of the most famous painters to put Rügen on canvas was the Romantic artist Caspar David Friedrich. In a way he is responsible for making the white chalk cliffs popular.
The settlements by the lake differ in aspect very much, as does the landscape. Your Yacht Charter gang may run across sandy beaches, towering cliffs, wooded hills or green pastures, but just as well, you can lose yourself in any of the small towns or villages with old brick churches, cobble streets and even reed-roofed huts.
Seamanship and Experience
Being a place near the water, one can only imagine the sailing and fishing tradition Rügen has. Even today, most of its industry is based on herring and deep-water fishing, making this the perfect place to moor your boat.
The region is protected from strong winds by the numerous bays formed by the archipelago. Seasoned Yacht Charter sailors know that while the western part is more spectacular it’s also less boat-friendly than the eastern part, with its low shores and shallower waters.