Mirow

For Polish place-names, see Mirów (disambiguation).

Mirow
Coat of arms of Mirow Coat of arms
Mirow
Location of Mirow within Mecklenburgische Seenplatte district 250px
Coordinates:
Country	Germany
State	Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
District	Mecklenburgische Seenplatte
Municipal assoc.	Mecklenburgische Kleinseenplatte
Government
• Mayor	Carlo Schmettau
Area
• Total	156.37 km2 (60.37 sq mi)
Population (2013-12-31)
• Total	3,453
• Density	22/km2 (57/sq mi)
Time zone	CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2)
Postal codes	17252
Dialling codes	039833
Vehicle registration	MST
Website	http://www.amt-mecklenburgische-kleinseenplatte.de/

Mirow (German pronunciation: [ˈmiːʁoː]) is a town in the district of Mecklenburgische Seenplatte in southern Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany.

Name (Etymology)

"Mir" in Slavonic languages means "peace" or "glory". The name "Mirow" was derived from "villa mirowe", translating as "location of peace".

Geography

Mirow lies in the middle of the Mecklenburg Lake District (Mecklenburgische Seenplatte) on the southern shore of Lake Mirow, which is connected to the Müritz and the Havel by a system of lakes, rivers, and canals. There are several more lakes on the territory of this municipality. The neighboring towns of Diemitz, Fleeth, Granzow, Peetsch, and Starsow were incorporated into the city in 2004 and are now part of the municipality.

History

In 1227, the Order of Saint John founded a commandry on the shore of Lake Mirow after Duke Borwin II had given them land there; the first quarter of the coat-of-arms of the town still displays the cross of the Johanniterorden (the Order of Saint John) in commemoration of that gift. In 1701, the town became part of the duchy of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. In 1919, it gained town privileges. Mirow is the birthplace of Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, Queen consort of George III of the United Kingdom.

The baroque palace, under construction from 1749 to 1760, was designed by Christoph Julius Löwe. It is notable for a ballroom with stucco decoration, and for the Red Salon lined with silk Chinese-style wallpaper. The English-style park of the palace includes the burial place of the last reigning Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, who died in 1918. The grand-ducal tomb is situated in the Gothic Church of Saint John, which was rebuilt after its complete destruction in 1945.

Gallery

• Mirow Schloss.jpg

  Baroque and early Classicist Mirow Castle, standing on the Castle Island inside the lake Mirower See

• Mirow Schloss Liebesinsel Brücke 2010-04-07 057.jpg

  Bridge connecting Mirow's Castle Island to Love Island

• Mirow Kirche1.jpg

  Castle Church of Mirow

• Mirowersee.jpg

  Boat houses at Mirower See

• Diemitz Vilzsee 2010-04-07 116.jpg

  Vilzsee

• Mirow Schleuse Jul 2010 a.jpg

  Watergate at Müritz-Elde waterway

Links

• Website of Mirow (German)