Kurhaus Binz

The Kurhaus Binz stands beside the seaside promenade in the Baltic resort of Binz on Rügen island. It looks out over the sandy beach and the long wooden Seebrücke pier. Built originally in 1890, the present stone building replaced an earlier timber structure after a fire in 1906. Berlin architect Otto Spalding designed the new Kurhaus, which soon became the town’s most famous landmark. Kaiserin Auguste Viktoria was among the first visitors in the summer of 1890. The building has witnessed many changes of fortune. In the 1920s it belonged to Jewish owners who ran a lively variety theatre, casino and Kakadu Bar. After the Nazis seized it, the house served as a wartime refuge before becoming an East German holiday home for army officers. Since reunification it has been carefully restored and now operates as a luxury hotel. Stolpersteine set into the pavement in 2012 recall the former owners who were driven out. Inside, the hotel preserves historic details such as the grand staircase and the original ballroom. The glasshouse café and lobby link the Kurhaus to the newly built Kaiserhof wing. Outside, the broad terrace faces the beach and the pier, offering views across the Baltic. The hotel’s five-star rating was once among the highest in the region.