Rockland / USA

On the northeastern coast of the United States, on the shores of Penobscot Bay, lies Rockland. The city in Knox County, Maine, has just under 10,000 inhabitants.

The area, previously inhabited by indigenous Native American tribes, was first settled by Europeans around 1769. In 1850, it received its current name, and four years later, it became a city that quickly grew thanks to the shipbuilding industry and lime production. When the railway opened in 1871, it brought the first masses of tourists to Rockland, for whom luxury hotels and inns were built. By the end of the 20th century, Rockland was even one of the busiest ports on the eastern coast of the USA. It remains a popular tourist destination today, attracting visitors with its ideal sailing conditions, charming downtown, and relaxed atmosphere.

The historic main street of the city is lined with well-preserved brick buildings, which today house unique shops, antique stores, boutiques, quality restaurants, and art galleries. A popular walk is along the 1,330-meter-long breakwater, built in the 19th century. At its end stands a lighthouse, which can be visited inside during the season.

Cultural enthusiasts can look forward to the Maine Contemporary Art Center or the world-renowned Farnsworth Art Museum. The Maine Lighthouse Museum is certainly unique, home to the largest collection of lighthouse lenses and the most important collection of lighthouse-related artifacts in the entire United States. Those who prefer cars, boats, motorcycles, bicycles, and other means of transport should not miss the Owls Head Transportation Museum.

Just a stone's throw from the harbor is the Project Puffin Visitor Center, where visitors can get acquainted with puffins and other seabirds through live video, which the project has successfully returned to their original nesting sites.

Rockland is the gateway to the islands of Penobscot Bay, renowned for having some of the best sailing conditions in the world, so it's no wonder that sailing enthusiasts abound here.

If you have time, you can head to Camden, just a 15-minute drive north of the harbor. Camden is a place where beautiful mountains meet the sea and is often considered one of the most beautiful towns in New England.

Every year in August, Rockland comes alive with the Maine Lobster Festival, founded in honor of the city's main export. Thousands of visitors from around the world do not miss the five-day event, where they can taste lobster and other delicacies freshly pulled from the sea.

Places Worth Seeing

Main Street – Explore the historic alley lined with brick buildings featuring charming boutiques, art galleries, and quality restaurants.

Rockland Breakwater – Stretch your legs with a walk along the unique, nearly 1.5-kilometer-long breakwater and visit the lovely lighthouse at its very end.

Project Puffin Visitor Center – Observe puffins and other seabirds through live videos, which have been successfully returned to their original nesting sites.

Maine Lighthouse Museum – Don't miss a visit to the unique museum with the largest collection of lighthouse artifacts in the United States.

Farnsworth Art Museum – Admire works by American artists from the 18th to the 21st century associated with Maine, including the collection of the famous Andrew Wyeth.

Camden – Venture beyond Rockland to the town bordered on one side by mountains and on the other by the sea, considered one of the most beautiful between New York and Canada.

Maine Lobster Festival – Enjoy five days full of fun and delicious lobster delicacies, the city's main export.