Rügen is Germany's largest island and is located in the Baltic Sea close to Poland. The island is connected to the
mainland by a 2 km long bridge over the Strelasund.
The diverse landscape with long sandy beaches, white cliffs, lagoons and castles
makes it a popular place for tourists.
Several megalithic tombs testify that it was already inhabited in the Stone
Age.
In the Middle Ages the Rani tribe became a local powerhouse that even challenged Denmark until they were completely
thrashed by the Danes in 1163.
Early in the 19th century the first bathing resorts appeared and Rügen became one of Germany's
major holiday locations.
Nazi Germany planned a huge resort in Prora, but it was never finished because of WWII.
After
the war the communist regime of the GDR
nationalized all property, threw the owners in jail and made the space available for
holidays, first to the armed forced and later also to normal law-abiding citizens.
Tourism really took off after theGerman reunification in 1990 and Rügen has overtaken Sylt as the most popular German vacation island.
Highlights are the white
chalk cliffs at Kap Ankona and the Königsstuhl, all well worth a visit.
