Palmer Ort

Palmer Ort

Palmer Ort: view from the east from the beach near Grabow

ThePalmer Ortis the southernmost point of the GermanBaltic Seaisland ofRügenand its peninsula ofZudar.The cape lies on the territory of the municipalityGarz/Rügen.

Location

Palmer Ort marks the boundary between theBay of Greifswaldand the sound ofStrelasund.On the land side, there is a small coastal defence wood in front of the Palmer Ort. Through it runs a woodland path to the Palmer Ort, part of which is laid out as anature trail,"Know Your World" (Erkenne Deine Welt). The nearest settlement is the small hamlet ofGrabow,about 1 kilometre to the northeast. At Palmer Ort itself there is a narrow, natural sandy beach which is not often frequented by visitors because of its isolation. Anglers use the beach to fish forpike.

In winterice floesat the Palmer Ort often pile up to form heaps of ice several metres in height.

Palmer Ort in history

In 1372, a ship with 90pilgrimson board sank off the Palmer Ort in a storm. They were travelling on apilgrimagetoSt. Lawrence's Churchon Zudar. There is a story that there had been a painting of theBlessed Virgin Marythere, which was said to work miracles, but which disappeared after the disaster.

During thePomeranian campaignof theGreat Northern War,Palmer Ort was the scene of hostilities. An invasion fleet of 500 ships fromPrussia,DenmarkandSaxonysailed towards Palmer Ort on 11 November 1715.Sweden,to which Rügen belonged, gathered its forces in the area of Palmer Ort. The invasion fleet was fired upon from the Zudar peninsula, but no significant losses occurred. The fleet did not actually intend to land at Palmer Ort, which was strongly held by the Swedes, but could not implement its real plan for the landing, due to unfavourable wind conditions. A few days later, however, much of the fleet put off to the northeast in the fog, unnoticed by the Swedes, and landed unscathed at Groß Stresow. One of thePrussian columnsthere commemorates this landing. Some ships were left in front of Palmer Ort to continue to feign a landing attempt there.

Palmer Ort as a namesake

In 1968 abuoy tenderbelonging to the East German navy, theVolksmarine,was given the name ofPalmer Ort.The town ofStralsundnamed one of its roadsZum Palmer Ort.