Königsstuhl National Park Centre
Königsstuhl National Park Centre
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| Established | 2004 |
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| Location | Stubbenkammer 2, 18546 Sassnitz |
| Coordinates | 54°33′36″N 13°39′14″E / 54.56000°N 13.65389°E |
| Type | National park centre |
| Visitors | 313,000 |
| Website | www |
The Königsstuhl National Park Centre (German: Nationalpark-Zentrum Königsstuhl) is the visitor centre for the Jasmund National Park on the German Baltic Sea island of Rügen. It was opened in 2004 and, with around 300,000 visitors per year (as of[update] 2008), is one of the most popular national park centres in Germany.
Its aim is to provide information on the unique characteristics of the park while instructing visitors how to avoid damaging the ecology of the park. The centre offers an interactive exhibition, a multi-vision theatre, and other activities in the outdoor area. It is named after the nearby chalk cliffs of Königsstuhl.
The operator of the centre is the Nationalpark-Zentrum Königsstuhl Sassnitz GmbH, whose members are the World Wildlife Fund of Germany and the town of Sassnitz.
Because of the fascination of the imposing chalk rocks in the 19th century, there was an interest in creating visitor facilities in this location. In 1835, an inn was built in a wooden, Swiss style under the direction of Karl Friedrich Schinkel. After this building had burned down and been rebuilt several times, it was decided in 1893 to build a stone hotel which served as an inn and post office. This building still exists today and has part of the National Park Centre.
During the Second World War, around 1943, the building was used as a hospital. Later, it was occupied by the Red Army. Even the East German navy (Coastal Border Brigade) used this building subsequently as a barracks. Other bunkers and a guard tower were erected on the site.
In 1990, the East Germany's Council of Ministers, declared the area a national park. Until 1999, the area lay fallow and the buildings fell into ruins. In 2000, the guard tower and barracks (except one) were demolished. The World Wildlife Fund of Germany, the state of Mecklenburg-West Pomerania, and the town of Sassnitz founded a company, the Stubnitzhaus Sassnitz GmbH, to establish a nature information centre. In March 2004, the Königsstuhl National Park Centre was opened.
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