Rostock Switzerland
Settlement
This area was already densely populated by Slavic times (800–1000). Witnesses to that are the well preserved Slavic castle ramparts near Fresendorf (on the Schlossberg or "castle hill") as well as a neighbouring tumulus. Since the late Middle Ages this region has been largely unforested and was used for centuries as pasture land. As a result of constant grazing the landscape was kept open and has been colonised predominantly by drought-loving, grazing-resistant plants that need lots of warmth and light and by animals that are well-adapted to the environment.
Today the villages of Unterkösterbeck (in the Kösterbeck valley), Oberkösterbeck and Fresendorf in the municipality of Roggentin and Beselin in the municipality of Dummerstorf lie on the edge of the area.
Tourism
Previously there was an observation tower here, from where there were views of Rostock and the surrounding area and, on clear days, even as far as Warnemünde.
In Rostock Switzerland there was once the northernmost ski lift in the East Germany. Remains of the ski lift can still be found between Unterkösterbeck and Beselin.
References
- ^ Kösterbeck at www.mecklenburg-vorpommern.eu. Accessed on 18 Dec 2011.