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Art & Culture
Nestled in a charming river landscape, surrounded by wide meadows and rolling hills, Schwaan still offers a picturesque view today. Almost 140 years ago, important artists succumbed to its natural charm. In the wake of the Barbizon School, a similar community of painters also came together in Mecklenburg. The small farming town of Schwaan offered a wide range of motifs for painting en plein air. You can still admire the paintings in the art museum today or follow the artists' trails in search of traces.
Franz Bunke
Bunke was born the son of a millwright in Schwaan. Thanks to his parents' open-mindedness, he was able to pursue his artistic inclinations at an early age. In the spring of 1878, Bunke began studying at the Berlin Academy, but transferred to the Weimar School of Painting after the first semester, where he was a student of Theodor Hagen until 1884. He was then entrusted with a teaching position for landscape painting in Weimar. From 1892 onwards, Bunke regularly brought pupils to Schwaan.
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At night in the Schwaan artists' colony
Stroll through the historic town center, past the "Ossenschaul", the town hall built in 1780 and the 13th century St. Paul's Church with its massive church tower. Stop off at the most beautiful places and visit the old pharmacy from 1913 - "De olle Apteik" - which has been furnished with great attention to detail. Guided tours take place at any time by personal arrangement and can be arranged individually.
Events and happenings in Schwaan and the surrounding area
