Salt spray in Damgarten harbor - Old Salt Road
Old Salt Road smuggling route
As a navigable river, the Recknitz was of economic importance for many centuries: goods were transported up and down the river, especially salt from Bad Sülze. The much sought-after raw material was loaded in sacks onto barges and shipped via Damgarten, Dändorf and Dierhagen to the Grand Ducal salt warehouse in Wismar.
Salt was a coveted commodity and trade in it was highly regulated. This attracted many a smuggler, especially as the Recknitz was a border river. In the 17th century, an incident near Pantlitz led to entanglements between the Ducal Mecklenburg-Schwerin government in Schwerin and the Pomeranian side. A manor owner living in Daskow suddenly demanded tolls for free passage. An armed conflict ensued and a salt barge was sunk. The wreck continued to obstruct shipping traffic on the Recknitz until the end of the 18th century.
The replica of the salt barge is a reminder of the former salt route and the smuggling of the white gold.
Did you know that ...
... you can smuggle again today - and without any danger? The eight providers on the map below will tell you what they still have to do with salt today. You will receive smuggled goods for your stop or your purchase, which you can exchange for new goods at the next station. At the end, you will have a bag full of high-quality souvenirs!