The J8 summit is being held in Wismar this year. But where in Germany is it - and what's so special about it? Jessica Aldred finds out

EducationGuardian.co.uk

How many people live there?
Wismar has a population of 52,000.

What is it known for?
Wismar lies in a picturesque setting on the Baltic coast and its historic Old Town is one of the best-preserved medieval town centres in northern Germany. It is also famous for its Gothic red brick buildings, including the cathedral of St. Nikolai, which have earned the town Unesco world heritage status.

Wismar was ruled by Sweden for 200 years until 1903, something which had strong influences on the architecture and style of the city. Many of the street and place names, as well as Swedish gable houses, are reminders that the city was once a Swedish possession.

Wismar was badly damaged in world war two, but the medieval town centre was left intact.

Film buffs may be interested to know that the town was the setting of the 1922 vampire movie Nosferatu.

Why have they decided to hold J8 here?
The reason that J8 is happening in Wismar is because that it the nearest place to the G8 summit in Heiligendamm which has the facilities to host the J8 summit. Like Wismar, Heiligendamm, is also on the coast, and is Germany's oldest seaside resort.

Wismar is often described as a Hanseatic city - what does this mean?
The Hanseatic League was an alliance of trading guilds that established and maintained a trade monopoly over the Baltic sea, some of the North sea, and most of northern Europe between the 13th and 17th centuries. In many countries, the red brick Gothic style of building which is characteristic of Wismar, is closely associated with the Hanseatic era.

What is the economy made up of?
Wismar is an industrial centre and an oil and fishing port. It manufactures metal products and refined sugar, and there are shipbuilding yards in the city. There is a long history of maritime trade and shipbuilding in the town, with exports in the 19th century including grain, oil-seeds and butter, and the imports coal, timber and iron.