On the "Feininger Cycle Tour" you cycle in the footsteps of the world-famous painter.
He visited the Island of Usedom for the first time on May 17, 1908 and explored the area on his Cleveland Ohio from Heringsdorf, Neppermin or Benz until 1912, always looking for new motifs. On his excursions, he made many thousands of sketches of the landscape and its idyllic places. Back in America, the notes inspired the German-American artist to create over 80 watercolors, woodcuts, lithographs, etchings and oil paintings.
One motif he repeatedly put on canvas throughout his life was the Benz church tower. His drawing of the Dutch Windmill in Benz now graces the Rockefeller family art collection. Feininger's favorite motif on the island, however, was Villa Oppenheim in the seaside resort of Heringsdorf, a testament to the impressive and unique resort architecture on Usedom.
From letters to his wife Julia, we know about his stay in Neppermin. Thus he painted boards with the boat numbers for the fishermen. Here and in many other places he created his "nature notes", drawings that often became the starting point for a painting.
The route leads via Mellenthin, Balm, Neppermin, Benz, Sallenthin, Bansin, Heringsdorf, Ahlbeck, Swinemünde, Zirchow, Korswandt, Gothen and Neuhof past 40 places that the artist painted and sketched and which bring you closer to the fascinating facets of the Usedom natural landscape.
