The exhibition in the renovated Baroque palace provides information about both the World Heritage City of Stralsund and the UNESCO World Heritage Program.
UNESCO and the World Heritage Program
Cabinet 1 provides a general introduction to the UNESCO World Heritage Program. A stylized globe in the middle of the room refers to the international dimension of the World Heritage Programme. Small lights on the continents mark selected World Heritage sites. Travel souvenirs from countries near and far, presented in four showcases in the corners of the room, illustrate the diversity of the world's cultures. Photos of international World Heritage sites are shown on a screen. Two text panels provide background information on UNESCO and its tasks as well as the World Heritage Program.
World Heritage in Germany
Cabinet 2 focuses on the visitor's own country. Folding panels lined up on a rail present each German site, arranged according to the year of inscription. Stralsund and Wismar are given a prominent place here, as is Germany's most recent World Heritage Site.
Stralsund and Wismar
In the same room there is a screen that illustrates a key criterion for Stralsund's inclusion on the World Heritage List. The focus here is on the almost unchanged medieval layout of the town. An animated film uses historical sources and documents to illustrate the development and structure of the town from 1234 to the present day.
A media corner in cabinet 3 offers the opportunity to linger. Visitors can gain further impressions of the topic by watching films.
Cabinet 4 explains the reasons for Stralsund and Wismar's inclusion on the World Heritage List. There is a media table in the middle of the room which highlights the topic of the preservation of archaeological monuments in the World Heritage Site. Illuminated showcases on the walls focus on the churches, monasteries, town houses and the town hall.
Life in the World Heritage Site
Cabinet 5 focuses on the current use of the World Heritage Site as a place to live, work and spend leisure time. It also provides information on the progress made in preserving the World Heritage Site. Using the city base map and plans from the city's monitoring system, the progress of redevelopment, new building development and population development over the last twenty years are shown.
There is a large sandpit in the courtyard with a clay model of the old town. With the help of shovels and brushes, younger visitors can get to the bottom of the World Heritage Site.