Christoph Heiling, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
Schwerin is the state capital of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern in northern Germany. It's known for Schwerin Castle, a neo-Renaissance palace with ornate rooms and elaborate gardens. The castle sits on an island in Lake Schwerin, one of several picturesque lakes. The Staatliches Museum Schwerin has 17th-century Dutch and Flemish paintings, including works by Peter Paul Rubens. In the old town is Gothic Schwerin Cathedral.