New Britain herald., 1927-08-19
island OF RUGEN
SUMMER PARADISE
Bridge to Link Popular Vacation
Spot With Mainland

Washington. D. c.. Aug. 1s.-"The
Baltic Island of Rugen, soon to be
connected with the German main
land BY one of the longest bridges In
the world, is favorite playground
Of vacationists from northern Europe
as we'll as an important link in the
shortest rail route from Berlin to
stockholm" says a bulletin from the
Washington, D. c. headquarters OF
the National Geographic society.
Land Of dark beech forests from
which bold white cliffs jut into the
sea, OF broad meadows, quaint vii
lagos and sandy beaches, Rugen
forms a summer paradise, where
PAGAN legend and medieval history
give depth and meaning TO a varied
landscape.
Largest German Island
"Rugen's total area comprises
more than s75 square miles, making
1t the largest island Of Germany
continues the bulletin. 1T is sep
arated from the Pomeranian coast
of Prussia by the two-mile-wlde
Stretlasum and is OF extremely
irregularly shape, having long, curry
ing promontories with deep bays and
broad backwaters which give
varied and diversified beauty to the
scenery.
Entered by City OF Stralsund
Gateway to this summer play
ground is the historic city Of Stral-
sund, on the mainland, from which
terminus trains of the Berlin main
line are ferried in sections to the
island itself, where the railway con-
tinues. to connect at sassnitz with
the steamship line from Sweden.
Stralsund, next to Lubbock. was the
most important Hanse town on the
Baltic. 1t is entirely surrounded by
water. and during the Thirty Years
war It's inhabitants successfully re-
sisted ten weeks siege by the re-
lentless Wallenstein. who had sworn
10 take it, though it were chained to
heaven
with ancient Notifications de-
mollshed or converted into park
ways, Stralsund is still a Joy to low
ers Of quaint architecture. Tall,
gabled houses elbow one another
above the narrow. cobbled streets;
Gothic churches with stored pasts
invite the pious to worship: and a
town hall dating from the 18th CEN
tury fronts its splendid facade upon
the market place.
Climate Tempered by Gulf Stream
From Stralsund's historic pic
turesqueness the visitor turns to the
Island OF Rugen itself, lying just
across narrow strait. Although In
approximately the same latitude as
Labrador and Kamchatka, Rugen
INDUCES in none of the rigors of
climate of those far northern re-
gions, thanks to the influence of the
Gulf Stream upon Baltic waters.
Winters are cold, to be sure, but
summers are almost Mediterranean
Day after day jellyfish float placid
ly in sea Of deepest blue while
gentle ocean breezes stir forests of
beech and pine.
The western part OF the island is
low-lying, with meadows of sea-
grass, far-stretching sand beaches
and rolling dunes, among which
nestles an occasional fishing village.
Rising toward the east into higher
country. Rugen thrusts a bold and
indented coast to the sea. Great
white cliffs fall sheer to the wat
er's edge. On one summit, offering a
magnificent panorama of ocean and
sky. Charles XII of Sweden is said
to have had his chair placed so that
he could watch naval battle be-
tween his followers and the Danes.
For long stretches OF its history
Rugen was under Swedish rule, and
many Swedish customs survive
among habits of its quaint coun-
try folk.
Pagan Legends
Deep in the forest behind the
cliffs Is black and silent pool
whose traditions date back to hea-
then Germany. According to the Ro-
man historian Tacitus, this poll was
sacred to the goddess Hertha, moth
er Of the earth, and here human