Lauterbach Rugen

Lauterbach is a sub-municipality of Putbus on the island of Rügen. The railway line on Rügen, which starts in Bergen and runs via Stralsund and Sassnitz, terminates here several times a day. Lauterbach has a harbour, and in addition to the narrow-gauge railway known as the Rasender Roland, you can also use the standard-gauge rail network to travel from Rügen to the German mainland. The island is connected to the mainland via a fixed link, meaning the crossing can be made not only by ferry but also by car or train.

The History of Lauterbach

The area where Lauterbach now stands was already inhabited as early as 1819, when a paper mill was built here. In 1817, Prince Wilhelm Malte zu Putbus had a bathhouse constructed on the site, which was later used during the GDR era as a rest home for miners working in the surrounding region. Lauterbach itself was officially founded in 1840, when a harbour was built due to the location being more favourable than that of the nearby village of Neuendorf. At the time, Lauterbach consisted of just seven houses. The construction of the harbour allowed ships from Sweden and steamships from Stettin and Stralsund to dock here, giving rise to a thriving economy based on shipbuilding, fishing and trade. The bathhouses, which had provided income since the village's founding, also continued to operate for many years. The train station in Lauterbach is named Lauterbach Mole, a reference to the paper mill that was built here in the early 19th century.

Why Do Tourists Visit Lauterbach?

Alongside fishing and shipbuilding, tourism is an important source of income for the residents of Lauterbach. The village offers a range of hotels for visitors. The harbour also accommodates yachts, and from Lauterbach you can take a trip to the nearby island of Vilm, which is known for its beautiful natural scenery. The well-known German photographer Botho Waldorf was born in Lauterbach in 1945.