Open Monument Day — Greifswald

Germany's largest monument event

The Tag des offenen Denkmals (Open Monument Day) has been Germany's contribution to the European Heritage Days since 1993. Coordinated by the German Foundation for Monument Protection, around 7,000 monuments nationwide open their doors every year on the second Sunday in September — free of charge and often with special guided tours.

Motto 2026: »NetzWERKE: Monuments & Infrastructure«

The national motto for 2026 focuses on buildings and facilities that connect people, places, and functions: bridges, train stations, post offices, waterworks, lighthouses, utility facilities. It's about historical infrastructure that creates identity and should also be preserved for practical reasons.

Greifswald, a City Rich in Monuments

The Hanseatic city of Greifswald boasts an exceptional wealth of monuments: the late Gothic St. Nicholas Cathedral (14th century), the Eldena Monastery Ruins, the historic Town Hall, the medieval alleys of the Old Town, old university buildings, the Eldena Mill, and many brick-style burgher houses. Annually, around 14 programme locations in Greifswald participate in the Open Monument Day.

Typical Programme

Open houses, guided tours through normally closed rooms, organ music in the Cathedral and St. Mary's Church, tower climbs, craft demonstrations (e.g., grain milling at the Eldena Mill), exhibitions at the Pomeranian State Museum and the Caspar David Friedrich Centre, children's programmes with stories and building competitions. Most programme items run between 10 AM and 6 PM.

Local Context

Greifswald is part of the Vorpommern-Greifswald district in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. With its red brick Gothic architecture, the university founded in 1456, and its maritime history, the Hanseatic city is one of the most historically significant places in Northern Germany — Open Monument Day makes this depth particularly tangible once a year.