BERGEN: District (Kreis) : Rügen State : Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
Origin/Meaning: In the 12th century a castle was built in the middle of Rügen island by the Princes of Rügen. In 1193 a Cistercian convent was built close to the castle and slowly a village grew around the convent and castle. Even though Bergen was mentioned as a fortified town in 1314 it did not receive city rights until 1613. Bergen belonged to Rügen until 1325. From 1325-1648 it was part of Pommerania, in 1648 it became Swedish and finally in 1815 Prussian.
The arms show the castle with the lion taken from the arms of the Princes of Rügen. The mountain is canting (Berg). The arms are identical to the arms on the oldest seal of the city, dating from 1613. |
