Greifswald is celebrating the Caspar David Friedrich anniversary this year. The city's most famous son and one of Germany's most important painters was born in the university and Hanseatic city 250 years ago. Here is an insight from A to Z into why it is worth visiting Greifswald this year.
A for exhibitions
The exhibitions and art are just as varied as the program of events. These range from famous birthday gifts such as the „Chalk Cliffs on Rügen“ (Pomeranian State Museum) üto the paths that the paintings have taken from the painter's easel to the museums (Caspar David Friedrich Centre) to Greifswald friends and acquaintances (St. Spiritus Cultural Centre).
B for picture path
Walking in the footsteps of Friedrich is child's play in Greifswald. Because the Caspar-David-Friedrich-Bildweg leads you along 15 stations along his important points in his life. Again and again, today's view can be compared with what Friedrich saw in his time and immortalized in his paintings.
C for Caspar David Friedrich Center
The museum is located in Friedrich's birthplace in the heart of the old town and is dedicated to the life and work of the artist. Among other things, the special exhibition „The Hidden Life of the Paintings“ is shown here.
If you like, you should definitely take a look in the historic cellar vault. Here you can gain an authentic insight into Friedrich's life and his father's workshop, where soaps and candles were made.
D like cathedral
The Gothic St. Nikolai Cathedral, where Caspar David Friedrich was baptized, stands directly opposite his birthplace and is closely associated with the Friedrich family. This is another reason why many high-class anniversary events are held here.
The renowned contemporary artist Ólafur Elíasson will redesign the east window group, bathing the church in an impressive light reminiscent of Caspar David Friedrich's color spectrum. This artistic interpretation will undoubtedly help to honor Friedrich's legacy and at the same time cast the cathedral in a contemporary light.E for opening
On January 20, 2024, the festive year was ceremoniously opened in Friedrich's baptismal church, St. Nikolai Cathedral. The patron Claudia Roth held a welcoming speech for everyone.
The self-confessed Friedrich fan and art historian Florian Illies gave a speech and the event was accompanied musically by the internationally renowned electro musician and Greifswald native Christian Löffler.
F for color virtuoso
The coloring of Caspar David Friedrich testified to a unique sensitivity and a deep understanding of nature. Just how intense this is can be admired in the work »Neubrandenburg« in the Pomeranian State Museum. Here, the golden autumn sky shines dynamically and enchants for a long time.
If you think clouds are white and the sky is blue, you should urgently broaden your horizons and take a closer look at Friedrich's color virtuosity in his depictions of sky and cloud scenarios.H like hometown
Greifswald is not only Friedrich's hometown, but also the place where his artistic talent was recognized early on. Many of his motifs can be found here and will become event locations in the anniversary year - such as the harbor, the market square and the Eldena monastery ruins.
I for inspirationWith its cityscape and unmistakable landscapes, Greifswald was an important source of inspiration for Caspar David Friedrich throughout his life. He himself still inspires artists worldwide today.
J for anniversary of Caspar David Friedrich
2024 is a jam-packed year of celebrations in Greifswald. Exhibitions, sermons, concerts, readings, parties, salons – Caspar David Friedrich is celebrated in style. There is guaranteed to be something to suit every taste.
K as in child
Caspar David Friedrich was born on September 5, 1774 as the sixth of ten children at Lange Straße 57, today the front building of the Caspar David Friedrich Center. Not only here, but throughout the city, the anniversary has a variety of events in store for children, such as puppet theater, hands-on activities and much more.
L like figure of light
The radiance of Caspar David Friedrich extends far beyond his hometown of Greifswald and makes him a shining light in international art history. Even today, his works are an invaluable source of inspiration for artists such as Ólafur Elíasson, Hiroshi Sugimoto and Gerhard Richter.
M like Martin Kohlstedt
Martin Kohlstedt is an experience. Surprising, how inspiring. Daring, how delightful. He manages to interweave different worlds, electronic beats and classical piano to create a new work of art. Improvisation is an important tool for him. His performance at the Eldena ruins on August 31 will be a highlight.
N for North German romance
On a route covering a total of 54 kilometers, visitors to Western Pomerania can discover important stations of the early Romantic painters Friedrich, Klinkowström, Runge and the poet Karl Lappe. The route leads from the Eldena monastery ruins to the Rungehaus Museum in Wolgast.
Romanticism bike tour in Vorpommern
- Length: 293 km
- Etappen: 7
Stages: 1 day From the Eldena monastery ruins to the Rungehaus in Wolgast - the "Route of North German Romanticism" combines the art and literature of Romanticism with today's nature experience along the coast of the Greifswald Bodden.
O as in original locations
In and around Greifswald there are numerous original locations that served Caspar David Friedrich as motifs for his works: from the ships in the harbor to the market square and the fishing village of Wiek.
Greifswald Museum Harbour
- Open today
- Hafenstraße, 17489 Greifswald
Gaff ketch and schooner, seaquat and ramship, cruiser and kragejolle - about 45 old ships characterise the image of the museum harbour in Greifswald, which was founded in 1991 following the example of the museum harbours in Flensburg and Hamburg. With this, the Hanseatic townspeople reacted to the increased interest in historic ships and traditional seamanship.
Caspar-David-Friedrich-Bildweg
- Rathaus/Markt, 17489 Greifswald
Discover the almost authentic pictorial motifs of the artist born in Greifswald - Caspar David Friedrich. At vantage points, which Friedrich chose as motifs for his works and which are still preserved today, you can recreate the typical Friedrich mood.
Marketplace of the University and Hanseatic City of Greifswald
- Freely accessible at any time
- Markt, 17489 Greifswald
The development of the town of Greifswald began with the founding of Hilda Monastery. The town was first mentioned in a document in 1248 and received its town charter in 1250. The market square is the heart of the historic old town. Caspar David Friedrich painted the market square with a view of the Ratsapotheke and part of the town hall as a watercolor - on display in the Pomeranian State Museum.
Caspar-David-Friedrich-Bildweg
Discover the almost authentic pictorial motifs of the artist born in Greifswald - Caspar David Friedrich. At vantage points, which Friedrich chose as motifs for his works and which are still preserved today, you can recreate the typical Friedrich mood.
Eldena monastery ruins
- Freely accessible at any time
- Wolgaster Landstraße, 17493 Greifswald
The monastery ruins and park are a popular excursion destination for Greifswald residents and their guests. The monastery ruins are also the starting and finishing point of the themed cycle path "Route of North German Romanticism", which traces the stations and lives of the North German Romantics of Western Pomerania.
P for Pomeranian State Museum
From March to December there will be a varied program here. Three consecutive special exhibitions will combine the museum's extensive collections with top-class loans.
A particular highlight will be the iconic painting »Chalk Cliffs on Rügen«. In addition to the encounter with the originals, visitors can expect an extensive and varied accompanying program.
Q for quistorp
Johann Gottfried Quistorp was Friedrich's drawing teacher in his early artistic years in Greifswald. He is considered his most important companion and pioneer. Friedrich's drawings from these lessons are still preserved today and can be admired in the special exhibition „Lifelines“ at the Pomeranian State Museum.
R for ruins of Eldena
Friedrich loved the monastery ruins on the outskirts of Greifswald and made them famous worldwide through his paintings. Friedrich documented the ruins in numerous drawings and sketches from various perspectives, which can be seen in the »Eldena Room« in the Caspar David Friedrich Center.
In 2024, picnics, concerts, theater and much more can be experienced here.
S as in salon series
Wanderlust, the weather on Friedrich's paintings and the women of his time– all this and more is on offer in the 24 salons in the tradition of the 19th century.
The events take place on a small scale – so you should be quick and secure a place here.
T for theater
Friedrich will be the central theme at Theater Vorpommern in the 2024/2025 season. The student theater is also showing a play, two Greifswald schools are planning a musical and a youth theater project and the puppet theater is also all about Caspar David Friedrich.
U like premiere
As part of this year's MV Festival, the world premiere of "The Arctic Ocean" will be presented in St. Nicolai Cathedral. Christian Jost, one of today's most respected composers, has written a piece especially for Friedrich's anniversary. The Zürcher Kammerorchester, star violinist Daniel Hope and the Signum Saxophone Quartet will perform.
V for events
Over 200 of these have something for everyone in the festival year. Concerts, exhibitions, hands-on activities, film screenings and theater - a varied potpourri for young and old alike.
Upcoming events
Date: 2/3/24 to Tomorrow Stubbenkammer, 18546 Sassnitz
Special exhibition "From the Königsweg to the Skywalk - a building history"Date: 5/7/24 to Today Heinrich-Heine-Straße, 18609 Ostseebad Binz
Hanomag Safari: In the footsteps of Caspar David FriedrichDate: 7/18/24 to 4/30/25 An den Anlagen, 18574 Garz
Visual axes: E.M. Arndt and C.D. FriedrichDate: 10/16/24 to 1/5/25 Rakower Str., 17489 Greifswald
Caspar David Friedrich. HometownDate: 7/27/24 to 1/2/25 Strasse der Jugend, 18546 Sassnitz
"Caspar David Friedrich's" megalithic tomb and the hidden burial mound necropolis in Dwasieden Castle ParkW for hiker
Friedrich is a hiker in the literal sense of the word. He preferred to devote himself entirely to the beauty of nature. During his hikes, he sketched entire landscapes as well as numerous details of nature.
He later drew inspiration for his impressive landscape paintings from these collections. Seen in this light, his hiking excursions are also reflected in his works.
The anniversary invites you to experience Greifswald and the surrounding area on foot and to be inspired like Friedrich. Guided tours, drawings and excursions offer plenty of opportunities to do so.
X for excursions
How about an excursion into nature? Greifswald offers the opportunity to discover the city and the surrounding area on a hike, just like the person celebrating the anniversary, or in a very “modern” way by bike.
An insider tip: take a boat from Wieck on the Ryck into the sunset in the direction of Greifswald. Here you can experience Friedrich's sky in the flesh.
Y like Yeah
Yay for the birthday boy and enjoy so many great events, nobody has to be a Caspar David Friedrich connoisseur to enjoy the year 2024 in Greifswald.
Z for contemporary art
Friedrich continues to inspire artists to this day– with graffiti, photography, light art and much more, numerous contemporary positions can be experienced.
A special highlight will be the light art festival in November. Here, the dark season will be bathed in a colorful light inspired by Friedrich.
