Cape Arkona in Putgarten — Online Webcam
Cape Arkona — the Northern Tip of Rügen Island
At the northern tip of Germany's largest island of Rügen, on the Wittow peninsula, rises a forty-five-meter coast of chalk and marl — Cape Arkona, often called Nordkap Deutschlands, or the German North Cape. This place attracts travelers with the harsh beauty of the Baltic coast, where cliffs meet the endless sea horizon. The online webcam allows you to see this landscape in real time without leaving your home.
Arkona is not the northernmost point of Rügen, as is often mistakenly believed. About a kilometer to the northwest lies Cape Gellort, which is located slightly further north, but it is Arkona that has become the symbol of the island's northern edge thanks to its history and structures on the rocky promontory.
Ancient Capital of the Rani and the Temple of Svetovit
Centuries before the appearance of lighthouses and tourist routes, an ancient city of the Baltic Slavs, the capital of the Rani stood here. It was a large settlement with a temple of the four-faced god Svetovit, who was revered as the patron of military valor and abundance. In 1168, Danish troops under the command of King Valdemar I and Archbishop Esbern destroyed the city, demolished the sanctuary, and Prince Jaromar became a vassal of the Danish king.
Today, the place where the temple stood has been completely eroded by the sea — the coast constantly retreats under the onslaught of waves. The statue of Svetovit, according to descriptions, had 4 faces turned in different directions and a horn of plenty in its hand. Of its former glory, only legends and archaeological finds at the edge of the cliff remain.
Cape Arkona Lighthouses — Landmarks on the Horizon
The main architectural dominants of the cape are two lighthouses visible on the camera that serve as landmarks for sailors. The old lighthouse was lit in 1827, its height is 19.3 meters, and the light shines from a height of 60 meters above sea level. Nearby rises the new lighthouse, built according to the design of the famous architect Karl Friedrich Schinkel in the classical style. Both structures remain operational to this day.
Between the lighthouses is the Peilturm radio navigation tower, which was used for radio direction finding in the 20th century. Today, these three verticals — the old lighthouse, the new lighthouse, and the Peilturm — form the recognizable silhouette of Arkona, which can be observed on the webcam at any time of day.
Geographical Position and Landscape
Cape Arkona is located in the municipality of Putgarten in the north of Rügen Island, in the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. It is a high coast composed of soft rocks — chalk and marl — which are easily eroded. This is why the coastline here is constantly changing: the sea takes about a meter of shore annually, and after severe storms, entire blocks of chalk collapse.
The plateau at the top of the cape is flat and open to all winds — there are almost no trees here, only low shrubs and grass. You can descend to the sea via a wooden staircase that leads to a narrow strip of beach at the foot of the cliffs. The online webcam shows exactly this panorama — the cliff, the coastal strip, and the endless Baltic Sea all the way to the horizon.
Sea Routes off Cape Arkona
The waters off Cape Arkona are a busy shipping lane. Ferries, cargo and passenger vessels pass by, traveling through the Baltic Sea between Germany, Denmark, Sweden, and the Baltic states. One such vessel is the "Kap Arkona" (IMO 8009258), heading to the port of Sassnitz, which is the key ferry terminal of Rügen.
The Baltic ferry routes connect not only neighboring countries but also extend to Great Britain, Denmark, Sweden, Germany, and the Baltic states. Watching the camera in real time, you can see lights of passing ships appearing on the horizon — this is especially noticeable in the evening and night hours, when the sea is dark and ship lights stand out brightly against the sky.
Climate and Weather at Cape Arkona
The climate at the cape is typical of the North Western Pomerania coast. The average annual temperature is 8.9 °C, and precipitation amounts to 547.8 mm per year. It is almost always windy here: the Baltic is not protected from Atlantic cyclones, and storms are frequent visitors to the coast. In winter, temperatures rarely drop significantly below zero, but the wind from the sea creates a feeling of real cold.
In summer, Arkona attracts tourists with its sunsets — the sun sets directly into the sea, painting the chalk cliffs in warm tones. The online webcam allows you to observe the weather in real time: see storm waves, fog over the water, or a clear sky — it all depends on the season and time of day.
What You Can See on the Camera
The camera with a view of Cape Arkona is directed north toward the Baltic Sea. In the frame is a coastal strip with illuminated objects and individual light sources against the backdrop of the dark sea and sky. On the horizon, lights of passing ships are visible, and in the evening the lighthouses light up — the old and the new — which serve as navigation landmarks. The camera captures the coastal seascape with a view of the open sea, allowing you to observe the weather, waves, and ship movement in real time.
