Atlantis is the most famous city that is said to have sunk in the sea. But many places in Germany also fell victim to the floods.
The legendary city of Atlantis is known to many. The island kingdom, which was first described by the Greek philosopher Plato, supposedly sank around 9,600 BC. As a result of a natural disaster in the sea. But even if there is no historical evidence for the existence of Atlantis, it would not be an isolated case: cities in Germany have already fallen victim to the floods.
The Baltic city of Vineta
The city of Vineta was once located on the Baltic Sea coast in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. It is said to have been one of the largest and most beautiful trading centers in Europe. The place is first mentioned in records around 965. Allegedly Vineta went down in a storm flood. Legend has it that the residents were haughty and wasteful, which is why God punished them. Three months, three weeks, and three days before the doom, people received a warning. The city was reflected in the air, which the elders interpreted as a sign of disaster. But the residents did not listen to them and sealed their fate.
As reported by the Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania State Archives, the search for the sunken city began in the 16th century. But to this day it is unclear where Vineta was. The legendary place is believed to be in Koserow on the Baltic Sea island of Usedom for the first time. Later the area around the island of Ruden came into focus. Others locate Vineta near the towns of Wollin and Barth.
Even if the city has not yet been found, the legend is a breeding ground for poems, songs or plays. The Vineta Festival has been taking place in the Baltic resort of Zinnowitz on Usedom since 1997. From the end of June to the end of August, plays dealing with the fall of Vineta are performed four times a week. After the 2020 festival was canceled due to the corona pandemic, it should take place again in 2021.
Berich in the Edersee
The existence of Berich is not in dispute. The village was three kilometers southwest of Waldeck Castle in the north Hessian district of Waldeck-Frankenberg. When the planning of the Edertalsperre dam began, it turned out that the place was 13 meters below the water level of the Edersee that was created. Therefore, a total of 134 villagers had to leave their home in 1914 and found a new home in Neu-Berich near Bad Arolsen. Even the church was dismantled before the flooding and rebuilt in the new location. The remains of the village are visible when the water level is low and some of them are accessible.
Fall in Bavaria
A fate similar to that of Berich befell Fall in the Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen district. The village was on the Isar and fell victim to the Sylvenstein reservoir. The reservoir was built from 1954 to 1959 for flood protection. The residents of Fall therefore had to relocate. Just 100 meters from the old settlement, they found their new home in Neu-Fall. The foundation walls of the former village can only be seen after long periods of dryness, when the water level drops sharply.
Rungholt: The "Atlantis of the North Sea"
The village of Rungholt is known as the "Atlantis of the North Sea". What is certain is that the place existed and that it went down in the sea during a storm surge in 1362. However, myths and legends entwine around the settlement on the former island of Strand in the North Frisian Wadden Sea. Accordingly, the downfall of the rich trading town of Rungholt was a punishment from God.
Legend has it that farmers made a pig drunk and put it in a bed. Thereupon they called a preacher to give the last anointing to a supposedly sick person. When he came, he was laughed at by the farmers and forced to drink along. Back in church, the preacher prayed that God would punish these people. Shortly afterwards, the storm came and the city finally went under in the floods.
Some artists and writers were fascinated by the story. For example, Theodor Storm (1817-1888) took up the myth in his novella "Eine Halligfahrt" (1871). Rungholt is believed to be near the Hallig Südfall today. Local researcher Andreas Busch (1883-1972) began his studies on Rungholt in 1921 and discovered wells, graves and stakes to the west and south of Südfall, among other things.