Forty kilometres from Rostock, the 800-year-old town of Güstrow was home to the expressionist sculptor Ernst Barlach, whose studio is open to visitors. Its 16th-century castle is one of the most attractive in the region while the old town has the 13th-century gothic cathedral, and the Market Square. The Oase Badeparadies is popular with swimmers and numerous water sports are offered on Insel Lake, two kilometres from the centre.
