Zum Kater Hotel, Warnemunde, Germany Postcard

A black cat adorns the sign for the Zum Kater Hotel in Warnemunde, Germany. Zum Kater translates to Tom Cat or Hangover. Warnemünde, literally Mouth of the Warnow) is a seaside resort and a district of the city of Rostock in Mecklenburg, Germany. It is located on the Baltic Sea at the estuary of the river Warnow. Founded in about 1200, Warnemünde was for centuries a small fishing village with minor importance for the economic and cultural development of the region. In 1323 Warnemünde lost its autonomous status as it was purchased by the city of Rostock in order to safeguard the city’s access to the Baltic Sea. It was not until the 19th century that Warnemünde began to develop into an important seaside resort. Today Warnemünde has about 8,400 inhabitants.