Name and Location

Leuchtturm Buk, also known locally as the Bastorf Lighthouse, stands on the chalk cliffs of the Buk headland at the entrance to the Bay of Wismar on the Baltic coast of northern Germany. Its address is Zum Leuchtturm 7, 18230 Bastorf (Municipality of Neubukow-Salzhaff), District of Rostock, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany.

Construction and History

Leuchtturm Buk was erected in 1878 and has been continuously operated since then. It was built during the rapid expansion of German coastal navigation aids in the late 19th century and is listed as a heritage monument ("historic=yes", "heritage=yes"). The lighthouse serves as both an active coastal light, now fully automated, and a popular public viewpoint.

Architecture and Materials

The lighthouse is a freestanding masonry tower with an attached keeper's house (now private or commercial use). It was constructed using red brick over a stone foundation, with a lantern room made of cast iron and glass. The tower shape is slender cylindrical (tapered) rising from a rectangular service building. Markings include unpainted brick with a dark lantern and gallery railing.

Light and Navigation

The lighthouse functions as an active coastal light, automated in the 20th century. Its nominal range and light characteristic are not available to the public. Radar/AIS details are also unavailable.

Accessibility and Visiting

Visitors can access the interior staircase leading up to the gallery (wheelchair access is not available). The lighthouse operates as both a working beacon and a viewpoint/tourism site, with opening hours and fees available at the local "Café am Leuchtturm" at Zum Leuchtturm 8 or Bastorf tourism office.

Notable Views and Landscape

From the gallery platform, visitors enjoy 360° views over the Bay of Wismar, the forested Buk headland, and the open Baltic Sea. On clear days, one can spot passing ferries, fishing boats, and distant shoreline. The adjacent coastal trail forms part of the 2,200 km "Ostseeküsten-Wanderweg" (Baltic Coast Hiking Path).

Technical and Operational Details

The lighthouse stands at a height of 20.8 m (structural height above ground level) with a focal plane approximately 30 m above sea level.

Further Information