Güstrow

Güstrow
Güstrow Palace, a marvel of Renaissance architecture
Flag Coat of arms
Güstrow
Location of Güstrow within Rostock district
Coordinates: 53°47′38″N 12°10′35″E / 53.79389°N 12.17639°E / 53.79389; 12.17639Coordinates: 53°47′38″N 12°10′35″E / 53.79389°N 12.17639°E / 53.79389; 12.17639
Country	Germany
State	Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
District
Government
• Mayor	Arne Schuldt (Ind.)
Area
• Total	70.86 km2 (27.36 sq mi)
Population (2015-12-31)
• Total	28,845
• Density	410/km2 (1,100/sq mi)
Time zone	CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2)
Postal codes	18273
Dialling codes	03843
Vehicle registration	LRO
Website	www.guestrow.de

Güstrow (German pronunciation: [ˈɡʏstʁo], Latin Gustrovium) is a town in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany. It is capital of the ( itself is a district-free city and regiopolis).

It has a population of 28,600 (2012) and is the seventh largest town in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Since 2006 Güstrow has had the official suffix Barlachstadt.

The town is known for its renaissance Güstrow Palace, the old town and its brick gothic cathedral with Barlach's Floating Angel sculpture.

Güstrow is 45 kilometers south of at the Nebel, an arm of the Warnow. The Bützow-Güstrow-Kanal (channel) is a navigable connection to the Warnow and used by water tourists. There are five lakes (Inselsee, Sumpfsee, Parumer See, Grundloser See and Gliner See [lake]) and several forests around Güstrow.

The name Güstrow comes from the Polabian Guščerov and means lizard place.

In 1219 the Wendish castle Güstrowe was built where the renaissance palace stands now. Güstrow is said to be founded by Heinrich Borwin II, a grandson of Henry the Lion, between 1219 and 1226 and was first mentioned in 1228 in the deed of city rights of Schwerin, confirmed by the sons of Heinrich Borwin II, who donated the cathedral as collegiate church in 1226. Güstrow was a residence of the lords of Werle from 1229 until 1436. In 1441 the first privileged shooting society of Güstrow was founded.