Hohe Düne and Markgrafenheide are adjacent districts that are part of Rostock, which is the largest city in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. These two districts are on the east side of the mouth of the river Warnow, which is the river that forms Rostock's large port. (Most of Rostock's seaside development is in the district of Warnemünde, on the opposite side of the mouth of the river.)

Both Hohe Düne and Markgrafenheide have limited development and few permanent residents. Hohe Düne has a large yacht resort at its far west end, next to the Warnow, but otherwise the district is occupied mostly by a military base. Markgrafenheide has a number of small hotels and a large campground. Nudity is acceptable along most of the beach of Hohe Düne and Markgrafenheide. This placemark is pinpointed approximately at the border of the two districts.

The two red lines are approximations of two long zones of FKK use in Hohe Düne and Markgrafenheide, while the two green lines approximate textile areas. Starting at the southwest end, a short stretch of beach adjacent to the yacht resort in Hohe Düne is textile. To the immediate northeast is the first of the two FKK zones, which extends nearly 3 kilometers through the rest of Hohe Düne and into Markgrafenheide. There is actually quite a mix of nudists and textiles in this zone. Continuing northeast through Markgrafenheide, there is a textile zone of a little more than a kilometer in the vicinity of the campground and other development. Continuing northeast past this textile zone, you will enter the second FKK zone, which is a seemingly endless stretch.

If you keep walking far enough, you will reach a small lake called Heiliger See (pinpointed) that is just inland from the beach. The area around Heiliger See is called Rosenort, and it is generally the preferred gay area of the beach. Rosenort is quite a long walk from the parking lots at Markgrafenheide—nearly 4 kilometers. It is actually closer to approach this area from the opposite end. There is a parking lot at coordinates 54.2438, 12.2126 (Map It). This lot is accessed from a turnoff in Torfbrücke, which is a village along route L22 at the northernmost part of Rostock. (Just beyond Torfbrücke is the neighboring town of Graal-Müritz.) Heading southwest along the beach from the Torfbrücke access (to the left when facing the sea), you'll be in a lightly populated part of the beach where nudity may be encountered, and you'll reach the Rosenort area after about 2.5 kilometers.

Between Markgrafenheide and Torfbrücke (a span of over six kilometers), there is a large forest area called the Rostock Heath (Rostocker Heide), which is one of the largest urban forested areas in Germany. The paths to the beach through this forest are for pedestrians and cyclists. There is no automobile access, which is why it is such a long walk to Rosenort from the nearest parking.

The two pinpointed parking lots in Markgrafenheide are the only beach lots in the area, and they are insufficient for summer crowds. Many visitors overcome this parking shortage by taking the bus. Rostock city bus #18 goes from the central city to Markgrafenheide and Hohe Düne (via Nienhagen and Hinrichshagen). The bus stop at Markgrafenheide is at coordinates 54.1936,12.1455 (Map It). After Markgrafenheide, bus 18 turns westward along the coast and makes four more stops before terminating at the pinpointed ferry crossing. There is also a train station in Torfbrücke.

Rostock public transit info

more info (in German) from nacktbaden.de

VISUAL RESOURCES

GPS: 54.1878, 12.1305

municipality/district, state, country
  Rostock, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany

There are 9 placemarks related to this site.