For centuries, Bad Doberan has been a religious and cultural centre, as it is the oldest seaside resort in Germany and has an important Cistercian Abbey. Today the abbey buildings, Ehm Welk's house and Bad Doberan racecourse are popular with lovers of culture and the fine arts.Grounds of Bad Doberan Abbey and Kornhaus (corn store)
When the grounds of the medieval abbey were chosen as one of the official sites for the 2003 International Garden Exhibition they attracted a great deal of attention. A stroll through the grounds is a real pleasure and it's easy to understand their appeal. You can explore the distinctive abbey buildings such as the brewhouse, ossuary and "wolf's barn". The Kornhaus (corn store), with its eye-catching Cistercian-style architecture, is also part of the abbey, which was built around 800 years ago.Ehm Welk's House
In a simple clinker brick building on the outskirts of town, the author Ehm Welk wrote famous German novels such as The Heathens of Kummerow (Die Heiden von Kummerow), Gottlieb Grambauer's Hourglass (Die Lebensuhr des Gottlieb Grambauer) and My Country That Shines From Afar (Mein Land, das ferne leuchtet). Today the house is used as a cultural forum for different areas of the arts. Readings, literary seminars, theatre productions and concerts enrich the art and cultural scene. During the week you can visit the house and learn about the author's life and work from a small exhibition in the hall and his summer study. You can also take a look at the main study which has been preserved in its original state or stroll through the extensive gardens behind the house.Bad Doberan Racecourse
Bad Doberan is a town steeped in tradition and it is here that Germany's oldest racecourse can be found. The first thoroughbred horse race was recorded in 1822 and took place in a field not far from the fashionable seaside resort of Heiligendamm. From that time regular meets were held under the patronage of the grand-ducal family, who were horse enthusiasts. And today, race meets in Bad Doberan once again have a firm place in the German horse racing calendar. The highpoints of the season are always celebrated with many high-profile guests.