Historical copper plate from Güstrow: A treasure from 1726 discovered!

Historical copper plate from Güstrow: A treasure from 1726 discovered!

An exciting discovery was recently made in Güstrow that puts local history in the spotlight. A historical copper plate was found in the former superintendent's office showing a view of the cathedral and city of Güstrow from 1726. However, the artist who created this copper plate is unknown. Those interested in city history can rejoice because the copper plate was made in a commemorative publication for the 500th anniversary of the foundation of Güstrow Cathedral. Dr. Dieter Pocher, a member of the parish council, emphasizes the importance of this discovery, which arouses interest in both architectural and urban history, which is of great interest to many residents and historians.

The Güstrow Cathedral, an impressive building, was consecrated in 1235 and is characterized by Romanesque and Gothic stylistic elements, as the historical information records Wikipedia prove. The copper plate, which measures 13.5 x 19.5 cm, offers a simplified city silhouette and also shows the floor plan of the cathedral with the demolished extensions from 1867. Printmaker Hannes Schützler from Qualitz carefully examined and cleaned the copper plate in order to preserve the fascination of this historical print.

Art and history in Güstrow Cathedral

The cathedral in Güstrow is known not only for its architectural features, but also for its important works of art. Among the many treasures is the late Gothic winged altar from the 15th century and the famous “The Floating” memorial, which was created by Ernst Barlach in 1927. Although it was removed by the National Socialists in 1937 as degenerate art, it was later returned to the cathedral in the form of a replica and is particularly effective when the sun's rays shine through the windows.

The cathedral is also home to impressive organs, including the important Lütkemüller organ from 1868, which has 37 stops. The Herzog Ulrich Monument, an epitaph, was also made by Philipp Brandin between 1584 and 1599 and is visible again after a two-year restoration. The restoration costs amounted to an impressive 760,000 euros, which underlines the important status of this monument.

Anniversary and commitment to social causes

To celebrate the upcoming 800th anniversary of Güstrow Cathedral in 2026, there will be 50 high-quality new prints of the copper plate, which will be made on copperplate handmade paper. These can be purchased from Astrid Neckel's cathedral parish office, which is currently located at Philipp Brandin-Straße 4 due to construction work. Some of the proceeds go to the cathedral anniversary festival week and also to social projects, so that every purchase not only revives the history of the cathedral, but also supports a good cause.

The opening times of the cathedral parish office are Monday to Friday, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., so that those interested do not miss any of the offers. The people of Güstrow are looking forward to the celebrations and invite everyone to be enchanted by the captivating history of their cathedral and the city of Güstrow.

The discovery of the copper plate is another piece of the puzzle in the long and eventful history of this region, which remains alive in the home of important people such as Duke Ulrich of Mecklenburg. This valuable piece of cultural history is not only important for historians, but also offers all citizens an opportunity to learn more about their roots.