Rügen is the largest island in Germany. Since ancient times, Rügen has received more attention than he should have. The most famous people of the 19th and 20th centuries visited here, for example, Einstein, Thomas Mann, Bismarck and Caspar David Friedrich, and even Hitler tried to build a resort here for his vacation. Beautiful landscapes of the island, picturesque vegetation, as well as national parks and nature reserves - all this can be found on Rügen. 
Rügen is an island in the Baltic Sea, the largest island in Germany. It is part of the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. The island's population is only about 77 thousand people. Rügen has a rather bizarre shape, the coasts are strongly indented and form many bays, peninsulas, bays and capes. The total coastline is 574 kilometers.
- Area: 926 km²;
- Water area: Baltic Sea;
- Population: 77,000.
How to get there
If you are traveling from Russia, the easiest way is by plane with a transfer in Hamburg to a high-speed train going to Binz and beyond. If you are already in Germany, then you can take the same high-speed train from Stralsund, and trains to Binz and Sassnitz also depart from here. If you make a transfer in Bergen, you can get to Putbus. Other cities on the island can only be reached by vintage Rasender Roland trains. Two bridges lead to the island, which are located in the city of Stralsund. Therefore, the island can be reached both by bus and by car. The island is also visited by cruise and ferry ships. 
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A little bit of history
Archaeological finds found on the island indicate that the island was inhabited back in the Stone Age. The remains of the city of Arkona connect Rügen with the settlements of the Rugians or Ruyans, from which it is believed that the name of the island originated. The Ruyans owned a huge fleet here; they were so powerful that they were considered the masters of almost the entire Baltic Sea. Some peoples paid tribute to the Ruyans, which was the reason for numerous wars. During such wars they lost their dominance, and in 1168 their capital Arkona was destroyed. Later, being part of the German formations, the Ruyans lost their language, culture and identity. In 1325, the last Ruyan prince Vitslav died, in 1404 Gulitsyna, who belonged to the last inhabitants of Ruyan, died. 
Arkona
One of the main attractions of the island is Cape Arkona, where there was a Slavic fortification with a temple called Arkona. It is located on the Wittow Peninsula in its northern part. Here, earthen ramparts have been preserved. A lighthouse was built on the site of the destroyed settlement in 1826-1827, and today there is a museum here. In 1902, another lighthouse was built here. 
Attractions
Another popular attraction on the island is Jasmund National Park, located in the northeast. Its main attraction is the chalk cliffs, the Royal Throne rock, 118 meters high, and the highest point of Rügen is Pikberg, 161 meters. This is the smallest national park in Germany, its area is only 3 thousand hectares. 
The most popular town on Rügen is Binz, a small fishing village. There is a resort house here - a Kurhaus, reminiscent of the atmosphere of the English town of Brighton. Tourists, besides Binz, also visit Sassnitz and Goren. In the town of Sellin there is a sea pier called Seebrücke Sellin, which extends 400 meters into the sea and is a symbol of the entire island. Of course, to see the entire island you need at least a week, but a sightseeing tour can still be completed in one day.
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There are travel lovers who prefer untouched, virgin corners of nature to advertised resorts. And here sometimes you will find outlandish places that you will not find anywhere else in the world.
Fancy shape
Have you ever heard this name - Rügen Island? It really isn't heard of. However, if you look at the Baltic Sea on the map, you will see it here and understand that Mother Nature worked on it with imagination.
This piece of land has heavily indented shores. It was as if some boy was sitting and cutting up a circle of paper with scissors. These bends create many peninsulas, bays, coves, and capes.
The island of Rügen in Germany is the largest. The total area is slightly less than a thousand square kilometers. It is 41 km wide and 52 km long (from north to south). Approximately 76,000 people live here. The capital is the town of Bergen.
Tourism is the main area of activity. Also, the island of Rügen (Germany) is famous for its well-developed agriculture. Yes, and fishing.
Royal throne
If today you walk through the once “imperial” resorts, which were created at the end of the century before last, and now shine with a new, modern splendor, you still cannot get rid of the feeling of the atmosphere of past centuries. This is probably largely due to the special elegance of the local towns. And there is general order and regularity of life everywhere. This lack of fuss, calm confidence and a solid way of life make a holiday on the island of Rügen truly complete. And of course, the natural component.
On the Jasmund Peninsula (northeast of Rügen) there is a park with the same name. It appeared recently - in 1990. It has two notable features. It is the smallest national one in the entire country. And its distinctive feature is chalk rocks.
Snow-white, majestic, they descend with sharp cliffs to beautiful green-bluish waves. And all around there are dense forests and clean air. It is no coincidence that this place inspired the talented 19th century artist (romantic in style) Caspar David Friedrich, who gained worldwide fame.
Tourists cannot fail to be impressed by Jasmund. This is the most famous cliff. He stretched his snow-white “body” up 118 meters. They call it Koenigsstuhl. That is, “royal throne”, if translated into Russian.
From past
It is easier to understand and accept any locality if you know its “biography”. The same island of Rügen, whose history is worthy of study. But we can only talk about it briefly. Finds made by archaeologists indicate that people lived on the island back in the Stone Age. Various mounds and large stones are visible everywhere. The ritual of sacrifice was performed on them.
What follows are a few eras that we will skip. Let us only note that the island of Rügen was alternately part of various (state) German entities. Then he went to Sweden. It was later conquered by Napoleon Bonaparte. And the island came under French control.
Another stage is inclusion into Denmark. The next one is the transition to Prussia. It's like part of New Vorpommern. Finally, after World War II, it became part of the GDR.
Resort area
Both before and now the island is “fed” by the tourism industry. The impetus for such development of the territory was given by mineral springs (back in the 18th century). And later large seaside resorts appeared here. Those who were classified as the “upper middle” class rested and received treatment here. That is, the cream of society.
Interestingly, the most popular destination for world tourists was once a small village where fishermen lived. It is now the prestigious town of Binz on the island of Rügen.
Such a favorable transformation occurred in just 40 years (1870-1910). Otto Spalding, an architect, built a Kurhaus in the style of Brighton (England). There they also treated with sea water. And soon, thanks to this, a small fishing village turned into a fashionable resort. And it's very crowded. Until 1914 (that is, before World War I), no more than 10 thousand people came here every year!
Health Factory
“Strength through Joy” - such an organization was created during the German Nazism. She had at her disposal a lot of rest houses and sanatoriums of various profiles. Nevertheless, another (and huge!) medical workshop for those wishing to improve their health began to be built near one village - Pror. It was a continuous line of five-story concrete buildings. They stretched along the sea for 4.5 kilometers. True, they had a barracks-like, gray appearance. Inside there are rooms 2.5 by 5 meters.
And in the very middle of such a complex they planned to build another building. For mass events - for 20 thousand people! They made a mini-model of it and showed it at the World Exhibition (Paris, 1937). He won first place there. But after that the matter was never completed.
After the wall fell
In the victorious May of 1945, the island of Rügen received the USSR military contingent. And it stood there until 1992. It was a closed area. Then the area was given over to tourism purposes. And only after both Germany united did the government begin to restore the historical appearance of these famous resorts, which were formed in the last and century before last.
Island tours
If you come here to rest, the guide will definitely show Cape Arkona. It is located on the Vitov Peninsula. This is the northern tip of Rügen. Once upon a time there was an ancient Slavic village here, fortified according to all the rules against enemies. In the center stood a temple in honor of the god Svyatovit. Over time, this place was "eaten" by the sea. From everything only remained that earthen ramparts.
A lighthouse was built to the west of them in the 80s (XIX century). He is the oldest here. Now it is a museum. And next to the “old man” 13 years ago they installed another one, 36 meters high. He shines for the sailors.
The island of Rügen is very interesting. Its sights surprise many.
Thus, the main revival in the construction of resort villas occurred during the industrial revolution. The Furious Roland train now reminds us of this time. Tourists happily ride on it (it is a steam locomotive, after all!) on a narrow-gauge railway. They drive through picturesque forests, past wonderful lakes and bays, beaches.
Nature lovers on Rügen can expect the sea and a world-class “celebrity” - chalk cliffs. Tourists versed in art will pay attention to architectural monuments from different eras. These include rustic Gothic brick churches, luxurious castles in the classicist or modernist style, and other buildings.
You can also look at the pier. All paths on the island lead to this pier. It goes far, all 400 m, into the Baltic Sea. The island of Rügen has such a recognizable symbol that is reflected on many tourist postcards. Moreover, the predecessor (built in 1925) was destroyed during the war. But it was a hundred meters longer.
Baltic pearl
The Germans have every reason to be proud of such an object as the island of Rügen. Reviews from tourists confirm this. Some write with delight about carved balconies in residential buildings. Others are amazed by the untouched nature and special northern flavor. Still others cannot forget the view of the Stralsund Strait for a long time.
Still others remember the sunset over Rügen. Still others tirelessly repeat how the original owner of a private house in the town of Altefer built a weather vane on a bicycle wheel in his yard. He made it in the form of a lighthouse and two sailing boats. Sixth praise unobtrusive, intelligent service.
And of course, everyone is photographed against the backdrop of the Granitz hunting castle. This is the most visited building here. It was built a long time ago for Prince Wilhelm Malte I - back in 1846. One of the most important guests was von Bismarck, Chancellor of Germany.
We'll come again!
Are you wondering where to go on vacation? Look: here is the Baltic Sea on the map.
And in it there is an island that you may like so much that you will start coming here often! We don’t argue - there are many other addresses for travelers, where the bright sun mercilessly burns and there is a lot of oriental exoticism. But even here you can find a lot of things that will leave strong impressions for a long time.
There are not many hot sunny days on this island. And the water in the sea is cooler than expected. However, why then are there more and more people wanting to relax here every year?
Yes, the weather on the island of Rügen can be disappointing. But most likely you will be lucky. And then you will fully enjoy the soft warm sand and the quietest bays.
There will be no problems with nutrition either. After all, right on the shore there are cafes and mini-restaurants. The air is fresh and clean - like nowhere else! Typically 8 degrees is the average annual temperature. But often in the spring (March) there are up to twenty. In May, it’s all 30. In the summer, sometimes it’s even hot. Well, the sunniest month is June.
So welcome here! Pleasant impressions are 100 percent guaranteed.
The Slavic tribe Ruyan settled on the island of Rugia around the 6th century. The favorable geographical location and different, original faith aroused hatred among the neighbors, especially the Danes. Pavel Zhukov reports.
As befits island inhabitants, the Ruyans had a powerful commercial and military fleet. Their ships repeatedly visited the Scandinavian and Baltic countries for the purpose of robbery. Moreover, even some territories that were part of Denmark paid tribute to the Ruyans. And in the 12th century, a war began between the Danes and the inhabitants of the island.
Arkona - capital and cultural center
The main city of the Ruyans was Arkona, which was not just the capital, but a real cultural and spiritual center of the entire island. A special place in the city was occupied by the temple of the god Svyatovit, which was described by the Danish historian and traveler Saxo Grammaticus: “The city of Arkona lies on the top of a high mountain. It is surrounded by natural protection on the north, east and south... on the west side it is protected by a high embankment of 50 cubits. In the middle of the city lies an open square on which rises a wooden temple.” The temple was of impressive size - more than three hundred meters.
The first Slavs settled on the island of Rugiya in the 6th century
At the time of the peak of the island Slavic state, there were three hundred selected soldiers at the temple, who were considered almost the personal squad of the four-faced Svyatovit himself.
And this is how Grammar, in his work “The Acts of the Danes,” created in the 14th century, described the temple of the main deity of the Ruyans: “In the middle of the city there was a square on which stood a temple made of wood, of the most elegant workmanship... The outer wall of the building stood out with neat carvings, rough and unfinished, which included forms of different things. It had a single entrance. The temple itself contained two fences, of which the outer one, connected to the walls, was covered with a red roof; the inner one, supported by four columns, had curtains instead of walls and was not connected with the outer in any way, except for a rare interlacing of beams.”
Svyatovit - the supreme deity of Ruyan
Around the 11th century, the Ruyans reached the peak of their power. They were the rightful masters of the Baltic Sea, which neighboring peoples called the Sea of Rugs.
Wars for survival
At the beginning of the 12th century, the balance of power in the Baltic region began to change. The Ruyans, despite a strong fleet and a powerful army, find themselves at a disadvantage. The fact is that the inhabitants of the island found themselves surrounded by Christians who really wanted to spread their faith as far as possible. And Denmark became the main enemy of the Ruyans.
In 1136, the first conflict occurred between the two states. It ended tragically for the Ruyans - King Eric II of Denmark captured Arkona. But he did not destroy the city. Moreover, he returned the occupied lands, but with one condition - the Ruyans had to renounce the faith of their ancestors and accept Christianity. The island Slavs agreed, but did not accept the new religion.
This provoked further wars. For seven years (from 1159 to 1166), either the Danes or the Saxons attacked the island. The Ruyans resisted desperately, but they were unable to cope with a much stronger enemy. The Danish king Valdemar I managed to defeat the last Ruyan prince Jaromir.
In 1168, Arkona was completely destroyed, and the statue of the god Svyatovit was burned. Prince Jaromir escaped the death penalty. He recognized himself as a vassal of Valdemar I, and his island as part of the Bishopric of Roskilde. But this, of course, was not enough for the Danes. They wanted the Slavic tribe to become Christian. And Jaromir agreed. Ruyan was forcibly baptized, and those who refused to betray the faith of their ancestors were killed.
The Danes wanted to convert the pagan Ruyans to Christianity
It is also interesting that, under the terms of the peace treaty, the land where the Svyatovit Church had previously been located now came under the direct subordination of the church. The “makeweight” was the obligatory assistance of the Danish people in cases of war and the annual tribute.
In 1185, the Danes began building a church on the Wittow Peninsula in Altenkirchin. And they used the ruins of Arkona as building material. That is why the “Svantevita stone” is still alive there. It was even described in the “Saxon Chronicle” for the 16th century by David Hitraeus: “The image of the idol of the Ruyans, carved on stone, can be seen in the village of Altenkirchen, in the vestibule of the temple. More like a monstrous evil demon than any god; the former inhabitants of the island called him Svyatovit, the current Vitold.
A mention was also preserved in the “History of the Stone Diocese” from the 17th century: “Hence the evil god was called the Devil and Chernobog, that is, the Black God, while the good one was called Belbog, that is, the white god. The figure of this idol, carved in stone, can still be seen on Ruyan, on the Wittow Peninsula, popularly referred to as Wittold, as if “Ancient Vit”. With a large head and thick beard, he looks more like a monster than a fictional god.”
Last of the Slavs
In 1234, the inhabitants of Ruyan managed to throw off Danish rule. They even expanded the territory of their state and founded the city of Stralsund. But these, of course, were not the same Ruyans who ruled the Baltic two centuries ago. They became Christians and, for the most part, replaced their original traditions with Danish or German ones. Even the native language began to be forgotten.
In 1168 Arkona was completely destroyed.
By the end of the 13th century, the Ruyan Slavs had almost completely lost their culture and identity. The process of Germanization proceeded rapidly and inexorably.
And in 1325, the last Ruyansk prince, Wislav III, died. The Slavic branch of the rulers of the island ended there. And in 1404, the last man and woman who still remembered the language of their ancestors passed away one by one. With their death, the Slavic Ruyan dialect ceased to exist. The island of Ruyan has already unconditionally become Rügen, and its inhabitants are carriers of only German culture and language.
The Slavs could not cope with Germanization
Today, almost all of these lands belong to Germany, to its federal state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. And the fact that a proud and formidable Slavic tribe once lived there is only reminded by the ruins of their main city - Arkona. And even then, the territory of the settlement is becoming smaller due to frequent landslides. So, the day is not far when the last trace of the Ruyans will disappear.
Many people know Buyan Island from Russian fairy tales, but few know that this island really exists, and you can easily get to it by regular train. It's just called Rügen.
Rügen
You can get from Berlin to Rügen by train in 3-4 hours. We decided to stay in Bergen - this is the largest settlement on the island, located in the center, it seems to be equally close to getting to any point on the island. The hotel was booked by simply pointing a finger at the list. We assessed the pros and cons of this solution later.
So, we arrive in Bergen. First impression: we arrived in a remote village. This impression only intensified over time.
Small and old station.
They apparently forgot to tell local residents that the Reich has not existed for half a century.
Coming out of the station, you find a very familiar monument. It looks strange on a typical German street. 
The streets themselves in Bergen look something like this: 
Severe Rügen cats peek out from some buildings. 
In the center of Bergen stands the Marienkirche church - the oldest stone structure not only in Rügen, but in all of Pomerania (late 12th century).
Nearby is a white half-timbered house with a red roof - the oldest house on Rügen (1538). 
The interior of the church is also impressive: the original frescoes from the 12th century are almost completely preserved. 13 centuries. 
But the most interesting thing is some of the details on the outside. This is a stone with the image of a man placed at the foundation of the church. 
This stone is most likely the tombstone of a Slavic prince or other “high-ranking person.” And in order to understand where it came from and why it was installed, you need to make a small historical digression.
History of the island of Rügen
The island got its name from the Germanic tribe of Rugians, who inhabited it approx. in 4-3 centuries BC (Before this, the Celts most likely lived on the island). The Rugs lived here for several centuries and established trade with Rome (the Romans greatly valued Baltic amber). During the great migration of peoples, the Rugs also did not sit still and moved to the southwest, to the rich lands of the weakening empire. In the 3rd-6th centuries AD. The friends are gradually leaving the island, and new neighbors help them in this - in the 6th century. The first Slavs, known as the Rans, arrive on the island. These were excellent sailors and warriors, judging by the surviving data, they belonged to the western branch, i.e. were relatives of the Poles. Gradually the wounds completely drove out the Germans, and the island became completely Slavic. The Rans built many towns fortified with ramparts. The word "city" in some Slavic languages could sound like "grad", and in others like "gard", as in the Russian word "fence" (just like "swamp" in some languages - "blato", and in others "balto", hence the Baltic Sea). And to this day there are place names on Rügen with the word “gard” in the name (Zagard, Rugard). Even more names ending in -itz and -ow (Sassnitz, Gustow). All these names are of Slavic origin and indicate the ownership of plots of land (as in the Russian language, a person’s belonging to his father and family is conveyed in the patronymic “Petrovich” with the ending -ich, in the surname “Ivanov” with the ending -ov).The Slavs did not live on the island as a single state. They were separated, and this is proven precisely by the presence of many fortified settlements. If there are fortifications, it means that there were internecine wars in full swing. The largest fortified settlement was the city on the cape Arkona, at the northernmost point of Rügen. Here was also the temple of Sventovit, which was revered by all Western Slavs, i.e. the city was the religious center of at least the entire island. The Slavs were mainly engaged in fishing and cattle breeding, some farming, and traded with their neighbors. But they also loved to fight and plunder. Just like the Varangians, they made sea voyages in search of prey. At one time the Slavs became so strong that they imposed tribute
several provinces of Denmark and almost became masters of the Baltic Sea. The end to the power of the Rans was put by the Danish prince Valdemar I (mid-12th century), the great-grandson of the Russian prince Vladimir Monomakh, in whose honor it was named. He made more than 20 campaigns, gradually eroding the power of the Slavs, and during the last one, in 1168, Arkona was taken, the Sventovit temple was destroyed, and all the Slavs were converted to Christianity. The last Rana prince, Jaromir, recognized vassalage from Voldemar. Half a century later, the Slavs drove out the Danes, but were no longer able to resist the states surrounding them on all sides. Therefore, they became part of the Holy Roman Empire and remained there until they were completely Germanized for 200-300 years. By the 16th century, the population of Rügen, although unchanged, spoke entirely German.
During their heyday (10-12 centuries), the wounds not only robbed their neighbors, but also conducted active trade, incl. with Novgorod. Novgorod merchants were well aware of the name of the island in Slavic - Ruyana. There is a subtlety here - the word “island” in Western Slavic languages is usually feminine, and in Eastern Slavic languages it is masculine. Therefore, among the Novgorodians it passed into “Ruyan”. But this word doesn’t say anything to the Russian ear, it doesn’t make sense. But if you transform it into “Buyan”, then the meaning appears - the island is violent, stormy, windy (and this is actually
So). This is how the island of Rügen turned into Buyan.
Ruggard
Let's return to the stone.When the Slavs converted to Christianity, stones like these were placed at the foundations of churches being built - either tombstones, or monuments, either to deceased leaders, or to gods. The visiting Danes and Germans believed that these were images of gods, and the church towering above them symbolized the victory of Christianity over paganism. In another Rügen town, Altenkirchen,
in another old church there is the largest stone, which is called the Svyatovit stone, i.e. stone of the main god Ruyana.
Apart from the ancient interesting church, there are almost no attractions in Bergen. The only things that can be mentioned are amber, from which many types of jewelry are made, and sea buckthorn, from which the locals again make everything you can imagine - juices, liqueurs, soap, cosmetics, cocktails and even tiramisu.
Having familiarized ourselves with these specialties, we returned to the hotel in the rain through the foggy forest. 
And the next morning a surprise awaited me. I left the hotel and only then realized why it was called “Am Rugard” without indicating the street. The hotel building is located exactly in the center of the ancient Slavic fortress. The earthen ramparts still rise around the building. 
Cars drive into this fortified perimeter where the gate used to be. 
Stunned, I stood on the shaft, looked and thought. Rugard is Rug-gard, the city of the Rugards. And it is located exactly in the center of the island. This means that the Slavs did not settle here out of nowhere. Most likely, there was a German settlement here, and the Slavs who came called it exactly that - the city of the Rugs. And only the next morning I realized where I had to spend the night.
But I didn’t want to stand there forever. After a hearty breakfast we headed to Arkona. To do this, you need to take a bus to the town of Putgarten - again the Slavic name “under the city”, meaning the Arkona fortress. In Putgarten you can see ancient stone houses 
and a whole street of houses with thatched roofs. 
Previously, all the houses on Rügen were covered with reeds. But now the reed has run out, and in order to preserve the tradition, it is imported from China.
Arkona
From Putgarten to Arkona you can take a tourist road train or walk a couple of kilometers. On the approach to the cape: on the left there is a lighthouse, uneven hills behind the lighthouse - these are the remains of the huge earthen ramparts of the fortress.
Entrance to the fortress: 
Modern images of Slavic gods: 
A brief educational program on the gods of the Rügen Slavs (the female deity is simply called Baba): 
Actually, the entrance to the fortress was closed. But we thought that we had the right to visit our relatives, we climbed over the fence and looked from the cliff to the sea.
We wandered around inside the fortress. 
Then we climbed onto the lighthouse. From there the fortress is very clearly visible. 
And after descending from the lighthouse, you can take a photo with the ramparts in the background. 
On this side of the sea the cliffs are very steep, and the sea is constantly advancing on Arkona. 
Previously, the settlement was much larger, but part of it had already collapsed into the water. Therefore, archaeologists are now actively working in the fortress in order to have time to excavate and record everything that is possible.
A little to the side there is a new, taller lighthouse. At an altitude of 70 meters the wind almost knocks you off your feet. 
But the fortress is clearly visible. 
And in general the views from the top are beautiful. 
Then we went down the steep stairs from the cliff. And we walked along the pleasant, but very windy shore. 
It's time
come back. In Putgarten, a typical Rügen dinner (a glass of sea buckthorn liqueur, fish with vegetables in sea buckthorn sauce and tea with sea buckthorn tiramisu). From there, hitchhike 6-7 km to Altenkirchen. This is the same church: 
And here is the same “Svyatovit stone” (it is actually located horizontally): 
There is an opinion that it was this stone that became the basis for the legend that there is a white-flammable Alatyr stone on Buyan. How could you miss this! Of course, I couldn’t resist, touched it and made a wish, “even though I myself don’t believe in these superstitions.” 
It will probably be quite difficult to find a person in our country who, at his age, would not have read the fairy tales of Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin, as well as any other articles about Russia by the great Russian poet. And the first thing that comes to mind when mentioning Pushkin’s fairy tales and historical issues associated with this period, most likely, will be ancient cities and some geographical objects described in “The Tale of Tsar Saltan”, where “on the sea-ocean, and on King Gvidon lives on the island of Buyan...
Despite the fabulous origin of this island, quite a few researchers, both in the field of literature and in the field of historical science itself, were attracted by historical questions related to the location of this geographical object, the reality of which was indicated by other historical and literary sources, as well as some articles about Russia of the Middle Ages.
map of the island of Rugen 
However, as historical issues examined by such Russian researchers as V.B. Vilinbakhov and V.V. Merkulov have shown, Buyan Island is a very real geographical place, to the east of Hiddensee Island is the island of Rügen.
A significant difference in its name, not like the island of Buyan, but namely Rügen, was the result of a mixture of languages in stories about it - Buyan - Ruyan - Rügen... At the same time, the Germans and Poles, and Czechs, and Slovaks knew about the island, not to mention about us Northern Slavs, for whom Buyan Island had a cult significance, because here stood the capital of the entire Slavic world - Arkona.
At the same time, it is also worth noting that it was from these places that the glorious Ruriks came out, with their glorious squad, who lie at the foundation of our statehood. And if we remember about the Varangians, then by and large, the Varangians are not the ancient Germans or Swedes or Vikings, who did not exist then, they are the ancient Slavs who mined salt in the Baltic (Varangian Sea) and transported it almost throughout the North and Europe.
Nine centuries ago, on, above the snow-white cliffs of the island, which is now called Rügen, the city of Arkona rose.
The island itself was then called Ruyan and it was inhabited by the Ruyans or Rane - one of the peoples of the Baltic (Northwestern) Slavs.
These peoples, as their name implies, settled on the southern coast of the Baltic Sea in the territory of modern Germany and Poland. This is how medieval chroniclers described the Ranes: “The Ranes, called by others the Ruans, are cruel tribes that live in the heart of the sea and are beyond measure devoted to idolatry.
They take precedence among all Slavic peoples, have a king and a famous sanctuary. (...) completely neglecting the benefits of agriculture, they are always ready to launch attacks on the sea, placing their only hope and all their wealth on ships." The temple of Svyatovit in Arkona was the main sanctuary of the Slavic Pomerania, and was previously revered by other Baltic Slavs as sacred a people with a special closeness to the gods, without whose consent not a single important decision was made.
When, after an incessant four-hundred-year struggle with the Frankish, Germanic, Polish, Danish baptizers, the peoples of the Baltic Slavs, one after another, were enslaved, Arkona became the last free Slavic city honoring the forefather gods.
And it remained so until its destruction in 1168.
The 19th century historian Hilferding wrote the following about the North-Western Slavs: “Just as people who have suffered all sorts of hardships and troubles in their lifetime and have been hardened in struggle become prone to perseverance, so do the Baltic Slavs; there was hardly a more stubborn people in the world. Of all the peoples of Europe They alone laid down their lives for their antiquity, for their old pagan way of life: stubborn defense of antiquity, this is the first characteristic of all these advanced tribes of the Slavs, Vagrs, Bodrichs, Lyutichs.."
plan of the Slavic sanctuary on the island of Rügen 
The temple of Svyatovit was built there - Svyatovit, Sventovit (lat. Zuantewith) - according to the “Slavic Chronicle” of Helmold (1167-1168) - the god of the Ruyansk land, “the brightest in victories, the most convincing in answers,” who is among the many Slavic deities are considered the main one. The Slavs treat their deity with amazing respect, for they do not take oaths easily and do not tolerate the dignity of his temple being violated even during enemy invasions..."
The holiday in honor of the supreme deity Svyatovit among the medieval Slavs was celebrated by baking a huge public pie, the production of which would require a large number of grain graters. Saxo Grammaticus describes in detail how the Baltic Slavs on the island. Rügen, in the sanctuary of Svyatovit a ritual was performed in honor of the deity. The first day was spent putting the wooden temple in order. The next day, people gathered in front of the entrance to the temple, and the priest sacrificed a horn with wine (it is assumed that it is more correct to count with honey) and asked for an increase in wealth and new victories. He placed the horn in the right hand of the idol Svyatovit, “then they sacrificed a rounded honey pie, almost the height of a man. The priest put the pie between himself and the people and asked the Ruyans if he could be seen behind the pie. If they answered that he was visible, then the priest said a wish that next year these same people would not be able to see him (at the pie). However, this did not mean that he wanted death for himself or his fellow countrymen, but was only a wish for an even more abundant harvest for the next year."
Rügen Island, Buyan, Arkona idol of the god Svyatovit 
This peculiar magical rite survived until the 19th century. It is known in Ukraine and Belarus, but as a family one, not a community one: the father hides behind the Christmas pie and asks his family if he can be seen behind the pie. The size of the pie is used to predict the coming year.
In Bulgaria, the communal nature of this Christmas ritual has been preserved; The role of the ancient priest was played by the priest, who stood behind the loaf and asked the parishioners: “Do you see me, villagers?”
The island of Rügen is located on the line connecting the “places of power” of Europe and Asia. “Places of power” are special points on the surface of the Earth. It is believed that “places of power” can increase a person’s abilities tens of times, but subject to a number of conditions: fasting, hermitage, psychological training, etc. Even the keepers of esoteric knowledge, the Druids, claimed that “places of power” have a miraculous effect on life and health. Therefore, it is no coincidence that German poets, philosophers and painters sought and found inspiration on the island of Rügen in Germany.
ISLAND OF RUGEN
Rügen (German Rügen, Latin Rugia, N. Lug. Rujany, Rjana, E. Lug. Rujany, Polish. Rugia, Pol. Rana, Czech. Rujána, Slovak. Rujana) - east of Hiddensee. The largest island within Germany (total area 926 km²). It is part of the federal state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. The population is approximately 77 thousand people.
origin of name
The toponym Rügen, according to one version, is considered to be derived from the name of the German tribe of Rugians, who visited the island before the Slavs. The phonetic difference between the German and Slavic names is explained by the variability of the sounds g / j in the Low German language, which are positional allophones (cf. the name of rye, from which the ethnonym rugi is derived: Old English ryge → English rye). According to another version, the name is associated with the Ruyan tribes who lived on and near the island. Herbord in his “Discourse on the Life of Otto of Bamberg” (12th century) calls Rügen the island of Verania, and its inhabitants the most barbaric people.
Jasmund National Park
The general shape of the island is quite bizarre, the shores are strongly indented, their bends form many bays, bays, peninsulas and capes. The southern coast of Rügen extends along the coast of Pomerania. The width of the island in the south reaches 41 km, the maximum length from north to south is 52 km.
On the Jasmund Peninsula in the northeast of Rügen there is a national park of the same name with an area of 3,000 hectares, founded in 1990. A well-known symbol of Jasmund are the chalk rocks, in particular the King's Throne (Königsstuhl - 118 meters). The highest point of Rügen is Piekberg (161 meters).
Cape Arkona
Cape Arkona (German: Kap Arkona) on the Wittow Peninsula is the northern tip of the island. Here was a Slavic fortified settlement with a temple dedicated to the god Svyatovit (Swantewit). The location of the ancient settlement was partially “eaten by the sea”, but the earthen ramparts were preserved.
To the west of the former settlement, in 1826-1827, a lighthouse was built according to the design of Karl Friedrich Schinkel, the oldest on the coast of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Now it houses a museum exhibition. Then, in 1902, the current lighthouse with a height of 36 m was built nearby.
lighthouse on Cape Arkona Rügen Island, Buyan, Arkona 
Historical information
Archaeological finds indicate that the island was inhabited back in the Stone Age. There are burial mounds and stones for sacrifices throughout the island.
The island and the remains of the Arkona temple located on it are the subject of research, including by German archaeologists. The island is associated with the location of the Rugii or Ruyan tribe. Until the 14th century, the island was somewhat larger than it is now: cartographer Gerardus Mercator wrote in his “Cartography”: “The island [Rügen] in ancient years was much more spacious than it is now; by God’s will the water washed through that island.”
The main occupation of the Ruyans was cattle breeding, agriculture and fishing. The Ruyans owned a large fleet and had extensive trade ties with Scandinavia and the Baltic states, and also carried out military campaigns and waged wars to protect their territories. For example, some provinces of Denmark before the era of King Valdemar I paid tribute to the Ruyans, which was one of the reasons for the wars that Valdemar I waged with them. At one time, the principality of the Slavs-Ruyans became so powerful and courageous that the Ruyans became the masters of almost, which for quite a long time was called the Sea of Rugov.
View from the lighthouse to the remains of a Slavic fortification 
During these wars, the Ruyans lost their independence in 1168, their capital Arkona was destroyed, and the sanctuary of Sventovit (Svyatovit) was destroyed. As Danish chronicles testify, the king of Rujan, Jaromir, became a vassal of the Danish king, and the island became part of the bishopric of Roskilde.
The first forced conversion of the Ruyans to Christianity dates back to this period. In 1234, the Rujans freed themselves from Danish rule and pushed the boundaries of their possessions to the coast of the modern German state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, founding the city now known as Stralsund (in Pomeranian Strzélowò, in Polish Strzałów). In 1282, Prince Wislaw II entered into an agreement with King Rudolf I of Germany, receiving Rügen for life along with the title of Imperial Jägermeister. Further, the Slavs of Rügen, being part of various German state entities, gradually lost the Slavic language, Slavic culture, and identity over the next several centuries - they became completely Germanicized. In 1325, the last Ruyan prince, Vitslav (Wislav) III, died. In fact, the Slavic Ruyan dialect ceased to exist by the 16th century. In 1404, Gulitsyna died, who, together with her husband, belonged to the last inhabitants of Ruyan who spoke the language of the Polabian Slavs.
In 1325, as a result of a dynastic marriage, the island became part of the Principality of Pomerania-Wolgast, and in 1478 it was annexed to Pomerania. Under the terms of the Peace of Westphalia, Pomerania, together with Rügen, went to Sweden. Then, as a result of the strengthening of Brandenburg-Prussia, the island was captured by the Brandenburgers.
In 1807, Rügen was conquered by Napoleon and until 1813 was under French control. According to the Kiel Peace Treaty of 1814, the island became part of Denmark, but already in 1815 it passed to Prussia as part of New Vorpommern.
In the final phase of the Great Patriotic War, on May 4, 1945, the German garrison of the island surrendered to Soviet troops without a fight.
In the post-war period, the island belonged to the GDR, and military units of the Group of Soviet Forces in Germany (Western Group of Forces) and the DKBF were located on Rügen until the summer of 1992.
Administrative affiliation and settlements
Administratively, the island's territory is occupied by the administrative district of Vorpommern-Rügen, which is part of the federal state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.
In total, there are 4 districts (Amt) on the island (Ämter Bergen auf Rügen, West-Rügen, Nord-Rügen, Mönchgut-Granitz), which are divided into 45 communities (cities and towns). Free Cities (Kreisfreie Städte) - Bergen an der Rügen, Sassnitz, Putbus, Harz.
Economy
Currently, the main source of income for the island is tourism. The tourist development of Rügen began with the mineral springs in Zagarda in the 18th century. In the 19th century, seaside resorts began to develop, for example in Sassnitz and later on the coast from Binz to Gören. The main audience consisted of representatives of the “upper middle” class.
In addition to tourism, fishing and agriculture are developed on the island.
Rügen is connected by road and rail to the German mainland. Near the city of Stralsund there is a dam and, opened on October 20, 2007, the Stralsundkverung, the longest road bridge in Germany (4104 m), similar in appearance to the Golden Gate in San Francisco. Due to the significant height of the central span (42 m), the largest ships can easily pass under it.
On the eastern edge of the island, near the city of Sassnitz, there is a large railway and port complex Mukran, previously considered the “sea gate” between the GDR and the USSR. Sea freight and passenger railway and car ferry lines connect Mukran with the ports of Russia, Denmark, Lithuania, and Sweden.
Resorts in Rügen
In the second half of the 19th century, resorts appeared on Rügen. The most famous resort place on the island was the fishing village that became the city of Binz between 1870 and 1910. Here, according to the plan of the architect Otto Spalding, a Kurhaus was built, creating the atmosphere of English Brighton. Already before the First World War, about 10,000 people vacationed in these places every year. After the war in the 1920s and 1930s, the cream of society gathered in Binz.
During Nazi times, the organization “Strength through Joy” (KdF) was created at the state level, which had a wide network of sanatoriums and holiday homes, including the famous cruise ships “Wilhelm Gustloff” and “Steuben”. On the narrow coastal spit, which was a natural reserve in the 1930s, large-scale construction began from 1936 to 1939. Rugen Island, Buyan, Arkona 
One of the island's resorts
Among the activities started, but not completed due to the war, is the project to create a giant health factory on the shore of the island of Rügen near the village of Prora, the largest construction project of the Third Reich - the “Greatest Sea Resort in the World” designed by the architect Klotz. . A line of five-story barracks-type concrete buildings, 4.5 km long, was built along the sea coast. The living quarters were rooms measuring 2.5 x 5 m. In the center of the complex it was planned to place a grandiose building for public events with a capacity of 20,000 people. A model of this complex was presented at the World Exhibition in Paris in 1937 (where the Soviet pavilion and the German pavilion stood opposite each other) and received the Grand Prix there.
During the GDR, Rügen first became a closed zone where military personnel were stationed. Then, what remained of the war's destruction became a place of mass tourism and recreation. After the unification of Germany, they began to restore the historical appearance of the resorts, which was formed at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. However, the prospects for bringing the project to the design scale are not clear yet. Rugen Island, Buyan, Arkona 
HOW TO GET THERE, WHERE IT IS
According to competent sources in the field of travel organization, the best way to get to the island of Rügen is not directly, through the same Kaliningrad by train, but by an AirBerlin flight flying between Moscow and Hamburg. At the same time, having spent a certain number of units of foreign currency savings and about three and a half hours of flight, you end up in Hamburg, from which our Buyan-Rügen is just a stone's throw away.
In Hamburg you need to change to the high-speed train, which goes to the main resorts of the island of Binz. But we will need to get off the train a little earlier, at the Stralsund railway station. And then on an old, branded train, the nineteenth century Rasender Roland, we get to Bergen, from where two road bridges lead to the island itself, the new one, built in 2007, Rügenbrücke, and the old one, built in 1936, Rügendamm.
At the same time, you can also get to Rügen by sea, by transferring to one of the ferries at the port of Bergen and for only three or four euros, get to the island in just fifteen to twenty minutes and enjoy the history of the Russian state with your own eyes. Rugen Island, Buyan, Arkona 
CAPE ARKONA
Cape Arkona (German: Kap Arkona) is a high coast (45 m) of chalk and marl on the Wittow Peninsula in the north of the island of Rügen, the location of the ancient sanctuary of the Polabian Slavs - Ruyan.
The natural monument of Cape Arkona near the fishermen's village of Witt belongs to the municipality of Putgarten and is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Rügen (about 800,000 visitors annually).
At the cape there are two lighthouses, two military bunkers, a Slavic fortress and several tourist buildings (restaurants, souvenir shops). On the western side of the cape there is a ring-shaped shaft in which the temple of the Vendian god Svyatovit was located. The Danish king Valdemar I the Great took this fortified point on June 15, 1168, burned the temple along with the idol and took the temple treasures to Denmark. In 1827 a lighthouse was built over the rampart.
The smaller of the two lighthouses was built in 1826-1827 according to Schinkel's design. Commissioned in 1828. Its height is 19.3 m. The height of the fire in it is 60 m above sea level.
Cape Arkona is often incorrectly called the northernmost point of the island of Rügen. Approximately 1 km in a northwest direction there is a place called Gellort, which is the northernmost point.
Built in 1927, the Cap Arcona was named after the cape.
RUYAN (RUGEN) - RIDDLES
History books often emphasize events within the borders of existing states. And if a kingdom or principality has disappeared from the historical arena, then they talk about it much less often. A striking example is the state that existed until 1168 on the Baltic island, which is known as Rügen, but a thousand years ago was called Ruyan. It is often compared to Buyan Island from Russian fairy tales. But the reality was perhaps even more interesting.
More than a thousand years ago, the north of modern Germany was covered with dense deciduous forests. The Slavs lived here then, making up three large tribal unions - the Polabian (along the Labe River, now the Elbe), the Lutichian, and the Lusatian. There were about thirty tribes. The Polabian union was dominated by the Bodrichi, and from this union the Ruyans sprang off, living on a large island near the Baltic coast.
They did not shy away from piracy, often attacking the Danes, the Jöts and the Swedes (today, the Danes, southern and northern Swedes). They pirated and were given. One of the famous leaders of the Baltic pirates in the 9th century was Rorik of Jutland (Jutland is part of present-day Denmark), known to us from the history of Rus' as the chronicle Prince Rurik. But the reign in Novgorod dates back to the time when Rurik was already old. His squad included not only Varangians, but also Ruyans. Rugen Island, Buyan, Arkona 
Many names of cities in the north and east of Germany sounded different then. For example, not Schwerin, but Zwerin, not Brandenburg, but Branibor, not Leipzig, but Lipsk, not Braunschweig, but Brunzovik. This is recognized by all historians, including German ones. Some names have not changed, for example, the port of Rostock was called that way, only the emphasis was on the second syllable, and not on the first, as it is now. The Polabian Slavs had their own pagan sanctuaries, for example, Radogoshch, also known as Retra, Korenitsa and Arkona. The last two were on Ruyan Island.
The Ruyans themselves most revered Arkona as the center of worship of Svyatovit. Radegast - the god with swan wings - was considered his spiritual son and was revered most of all in Radogoshch.
The sanctuary of the god of war Yarovit in Korenitsa was also popular, depicted with seven heads, six of which were on the common neck, and the seventh, lion-headed, on the chest. He held a sword in his hand, and he also had seven spare swords in his belt. In those parts, weapons were never superfluous - after all, Charlemagne even carried out campaigns against the Baltic Slavs in 811 and 812. The fleet of the future Danes attacked these lands in 845, but was defeated near present-day Hamburg. In the 10th century, the governor of the German Emperor Otto I invited 30 Slavic leaders to a feast, where they were simply killed.
Some Bodrichi princes were baptized in the 10th century, which opened the way for them to profitable dynastic marriages. But the policy of pushing towards the east sometimes misfired. There is a known case when, after such a marriage, the Bodrichi prince Mstivoy, together with his son from his first marriage, Mechislav, took Hamburg. In 983, the Gavolian tribe rebelled; their capital city of Branibor was retaken by the Germans only eight years later.
Meanwhile, in Denmark under Harald Bluetooth (ruled until 986), and in Sweden around 1000 under Olaf Shetkonung, Christianity was adopted. For a long time they used runes and practiced dual faith, but still the Slavic neighbors began to be considered pagans. The German lands adopted Catholicism even earlier. If Kievan Rus was baptized (but not from Rome, but from Constantinople), then the Polabian Slavs remained faithful to the old faith.
In XI, the tribal alliances of the Bodrichi and Lutich were especially strong. The former fought on equal terms with the Danes, the latter once decided the question of who was stronger - the Lutich or the German imperial army - in a duel of heroes, and the Lutich won.
Prince Gottschalk, who tried to unite the Polabian Slavs, was killed in 1066 by supporters of paganism, united around a prince named Bluss. The missionaries were met with extreme disapproval, and one of the bishops in Radogoshch was executed. In response, Radogoshch was attacked in 1068 by an army led by Bishop Burchardt of Halberstadt. Prince Bluss was soon killed.
As a result, the Ruyans, protected by the sea, strengthened, led by a leader with the “speaking” name Krut, that is, Krutoy. The quarter century of Krut's reign was the period of greatest strength of the Baltic Slavs. He managed to unite many Polabian lands under his rule, while the capital of the state was Arkona, and the religion was paganism. The neighbors called Krut the king, so at the end of the 11th century the island of Ruyan was the center of a large Slavic power.
The presence of a contender for the crown, supported by the Germans and Danes, weakened Krut's power. He was Heinrich, Gottschalk's son from his marriage to the Danish Sigfrida. In 1093, at the Battle of Smilov Field, Krut's army was defeated by the allied forces of the Saxons, Danes and Henry's supporters. For a short time, Henry managed to unite the Bodrichi and Lutich under his rule (as was the case under his father Gottschalk), but the Ruyans again became a principality independent from everyone. Campaigns against them did not lead to anything, even in winter. Later, in 1129, Gottschalk’s great-grandson, Prince Zvenko, was killed and the power of the Polabian Slavs collapsed.
And in 1147 a crusade was proclaimed against the Baltic Slavs. Before this, the crusaders were heading to Palestine, so the decision on a major campaign in a different direction was made “democratically” at the all-German Diet in Frankfurt. And the “start” of the campaign was given in June 1147 at a special ceremonial meeting in the city of Magdeburg. The Slavs' intelligence was, apparently, up to the mark: in the same June 1147, the port city of Lübeck, by that time already German, was taken by a counter-preemptive strike from the squad of the Polabian prince Niklot.
But still the crusade began. Two large armies of the Germans were led by the Duke of Saxony and Bavaria, Henry the Lion, and the knight Albrecht the Bear. The crusaders managed to storm the sanctuary, now called Retra. Prince Niklot died in battle in 1160.
The Ruyans held out the longest. Their island was captured only in 1168 after a large crusader force led by the Danish king landed on it. The sanctuary in Arkona was destroyed at the same time. And now connoisseurs of antiquity are restoring the features of the worship of the pagan god Svyatovit, relying on the notes of Christian chroniclers and legends.
It was customary to depict Svyatovit with a ritual tury honey horn in his right hand. He had four faces, each of the faces looked in its own direction of the world. Sometimes in Rus' Svyatovit was called Belbog, in contrast to the evil Chernobog. But Svyatovit is not only a “bright” god like the Indian Vishnu, but also the god of a just war, and the ruler of the four cardinal directions and four winds.
In Arkona, after the harvest at the end of summer, sacrifices were made to Svyatovit, after filling his horn with mead. The cult of Svyatovit goes back to the ancient Indo-European prototype. Chernobog on Ruyan was called Chernoglav, his idol with a silver mustache patronized sea raids.
There was a fortune-telling ritual - to predict the course of the war, a white horse was introduced into the temple of Svyatovit through three rows of crossed spears. It was considered a good omen if the horse started moving with the right foot and never stumbled. The name Arkona itself, translated from the ancient Indo-European dialect, means “White Mountain”; white cliffs fall into the sea there to this day. A later association is the city of the Ardent Horse. But the ritual horse was the image of the patron of the place, the “horse” - the mountain on the cliff.
The priests of the Svyatovit temple in Arkona wore white clothes. They were revered above princes, but the names of the high priests were not communicated to foreigners, which is why they did not reach us. Other tribes of the Baltic Slavs paid a special tribute to the Ruyans, which went towards the maintenance of the sanctuary in Arkona. The temple had a red hipped roof, and the interior decoration was dominated by crimson tones. Judging by the chronicles, inside the large temple there was another, smaller hall, supported by four pillars and draped with crimson curtains. It was in it that the statue of Svyatovit stood.
During its heyday, Ruyan minted its own coins. By 1168, at least 70 thousand people lived on the island, more than in the last century. The trading center was the city of Ralsvik, there was a written language based on “devil and rez”. Unfortunately, after the capture of the island, much was simply destroyed. The last prince of Ruyan, Vitslav, died in 1325. The island no longer had independence then, and this prince became famous more as a Minnesinger who wrote songs in German. Power on Ruyan passed from the Danes to the Germans. The ancient language was gradually supplanted.
Nowadays, archaeologists are working on Ruyan, trying to unravel the secrets of this Baltic island. And yet, there are cases when tornadoes form near white rocks; superstitious people consider them either a message from restless souls, or a sign from the ancient gods... Rügen Island, Buyan, Arkona 
JASMUND PARK
Jasmund National Park is located on the Jasmund Peninsula in the northeast of the island of Rügen in the federal state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and has existed since September 12, 1990. It is the smallest national park in Germany, with an area of 3,003 hectares. On its territory is the highest point of Rügen - Mount Pikberg with a height of 161 m.
The natural chalk deposit on the Jasmund Peninsula has been mined in chalk quarries for a long time. When in 1926 there was a threat of reopening the already suspended chalk quarry, the coast north of the city of Sassnitz was set aside as a nature reserve. On September 12, 1990, as part of the program to create national parks in the GDR, this section of the coast was declared a national park.
Chalk rocks - “Royal Chair” Rügen Island, Buyan, Arkona 
The chalk cliffs of the island of Rügen are subject to constant erosion. With each storm, large pieces break off from the rocks, breaking trees and bushes in the process and throwing them into the sea. Fossils are also separated: here you can find fossil remains of sea urchins, sponges and oysters. Coastal erosion has increased since large glacial boulders were removed from the coastline in the 19th and 20th centuries to be used to fortify harbors. The boulders in front of the chalk cliffs were like natural breakwaters. From the moment of their removal, they fall on the steep coast with indestructible force.
The most significant site of the national park is the 118 m high chalk cliff "King's Chair" (Königsstuhl). On average, 300,000 people annually step onto the site of this cliff that stands out from the coastline to look out over the Baltic Sea and the neighboring impressive stretches of coastline.
Fauna and flora
In the forests of the park you can find numerous water-filled, drainless depressions and depressions, which mostly arose as breaks in the dead ice of the Ice Age. Where these water surfaces become shallow, so-called basin swamps arise. In these depressions and basin swamps you can find numerous black alders. In drier areas you can find wild pear, wild apple, mountain ash and yew trees. The orchid species found here include the lady's slipper. Another feature is the salt vegetation on the northern coast of the national park.
The fauna within the national park is diverse and diverse. Only 1,000 species of beetles live in or off wood. In the clear streams you can see an unusual animal, the alpine planaria (Crenobia alpina), which is found only in the mountains. Kingfishers can also be observed along these same streams. City swallows and the chalk cutworm, a cream-colored nocturnal moth found only in Germany on the Jasmund Peninsula, nest in the cliffs of chalk cliffs.
Due to the high number of visitors to the park, peregrine falcons and white-tailed eagle can be seen occasionally in the national park.
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SOURCE OF INFORMATION AND PHOTO:
Team Nomads
Ganina N. A. Rugen Island: to the basics of interaction of cultures and languages // Atlantic: Notes on historical poetics. - M.: Moscow University for the Humanities, 2011. - P. 18.
Herbordi Dialogue de Ottone episcopo Bambergensi, Bibhotheca rerum Germanicarum, ed Ph Jaffe, t 5, Berlin, 1869. (Chapter 11 "De Verania insula et gente barbarissima")
V. A. Zalgaller Life of war
Martin Kitchen. The Cambridge Illustrated History of Germany:-Cambridge University Press 1996 ISBN 0-521-45341-0
Ganina N. A. Border in the linguistic and cultural space of Rügen // Russian German Studies: Yearbook of the Russian Union of Germanists. - M.: Languages of Slavic Culture, 2009. - T. 6. - P. 237-245.
Ganina N. A. Rugen Island: to the basics of interaction of cultures and languages // Atlantic: Notes on historical poetics. - M.: Moscow University for the Humanities, 2011. - P. 3-33.
Herrmann J. Obodrits, Lyutichs, Ruyans // Slavs and Scandinavians / Transl. from German; total ed. E. A. Melnikova. - M.: Progress, 1986. - P. 338-359.
http://skylineru.net/secret/ruyan-zagadki-baltijskogo-ostrova.html
Wikipedia site
http://www.photosight.ru/
photo: M. Nugmanov, I. Winter, L. Shoikhet,
