City of Amber Ribnitz-Damgarten is located between the Hanseatic cities of Rostock und Stralsund, on the southern edge of a chain of Boddens (brackish bodies of water typical to the region) that connect up to the Baltic Sea; as such, the town serves as a wonderful gateway to the charming Baltic coastal region. The town and its suburbs are shaped by a landscape both beautiful and varied, taking in the Vorpommeranian National Park and its brackish swaps, the Ribnitz Moor, the Rostock Heathlands and Recknitzal, all which have been listed as national parkland, due to their rarely seen flora and range of endangered fauna. Be charmed by the use of enchanting amber in the town, a stone that's lent the town its sobriquet (as the "City of Amber"). Indeed, the subject of amber connects up the German Museum of Amber (housed in the town's former nunnery) with the jewellry maker Baltic Jewels in the suburbs of the town. Amber and towering heritage buildings built from Brick Gothic dominate the skyline of the town. The historic centre of the town with its restored heritage docks and modern squares and streets invites the visitor to stroll and enjoy the charming ambience.  

The entire site of the former  Clarissa order nunnery has been comprehensively restored: today the complex represents a must-see for visitors to Ribnitz-Damgarten, who have the chance to glimpse what life was like in a medieval nunnery. The site houses today both the unique "German Amber Museum" and the "Nunnery Gallery" modern art museum für moderne Kunst, as well as the town archives, the local library and the government services office for Ribnitz.

The Rostock Gate is one of the oldest surviving gates in the northern German state of  Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. The building was first mentioned in documents dating to 1290. The gate has survived war after war, beat off attempts to have it demolished, and has inspired many artists. It appeals from every angle and regardless of season.

The Evangelical Church of St. Bartholomew in Damgarten dates back to the epoch during which the town itself was founded. By 1723, the church was crowned by a  timber framed tower, which was subject to further construction work in 1887. Its thought that a Western Slavic temple stronghold one stood on the site of today's church. Inside, there's a wood carved altar dating back to the 15th century.

The tourist information centre in Ribnitz-Damgarten organises guided tours, trips to the nunnery as well as to other prominent heritage sites in the town. Further info is available here...