Dornbusch Lighthouse: Hiddensee's Guiding Light

The Dornbusch Lighthouse, officially known as Leuchtfeuer Dornbusch/Hiddensee, is situated on the northern part of Hiddensee Island in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Built in 1887-88, it began operating on November 19, 1888. The lighthouse is perched atop the 72-meter-high Schluckswiek hill in the highlands of Dornbusch. Originally a cylindrical brick structure, the lighthouse was reinforced with a concrete shell between 1927 and 1929. Today, the white tower with its red lantern stands 28 meters tall, with its light reaching approximately 45 kilometers into the Baltic Sea. Visitors can climb the 102 steps to the observation gallery for views of Hiddensee, the Bodden landscape, and, on clear days, the Danish island of Møn. The lighthouse is accessible to the public since 1994, with a limit of 15 people at a time. A permanent exhibition inside details the history and technology of the lighthouse. The Dornbusch Lighthouse is not only a navigational aid but also a cultural monument, featured on postage stamps.