Historical notes on the curative and healing forest
Heringsdorf forest looks back on an interesting history. In the 19th century, many looked to the forest as a source of identity and as a promoter of health.
In 1903, work on plans to create a memorial in honour of the “Iron Chancellor” Otto von Bismarck was initiated. Typically for the Wilhelmine era, it had to be magnificent and gigantic – a tower with column for a torch (42 metres high).
The arboretum was located in a forest glade with sufficient moisture year-round without the risk of waterlogging. On 1000 square metres, you can still find black pines, some old blue spruce trees and Douglas firs (exotics).
Why this hill is named the Präsidentenberg cannot be precisely determined. It is said that an old resident, when he still a child, found a longer poem, which contained the words: "A president came out, this hill is named after him."
The stone table was inaugurated in 1888 as a resting place with an open view under the high beech canopy. It was built by a group of students from Greifswald University.
