Previous names: Villa Metropol, Dankwardt’s Hotel Metropole

Today: Haus Metropol

Architecture: In the book “Pommersche Bäderarchitektur” (Pomeranian Spa Architecture) by Wolfgang Schneider & Torsten Seegert, the building is described as follows: This building also dates from the typical period around the turn of the century. Old views clearly show that it was formerly a three-story plaster building, which was converted into a four-story building in the course of various waves of expansion. The corner of Margaretenstrasse and Schillerstrasse (formerly Astastrasse) is dominated by a polygonal corner tower, whose portal and arched windows are covered by curved canopies. Adjacent to the three-axis Schillerstrasse structure is another corner tower. … The view towards Margaretenstrasse shows a left-hand side risalit and window shapes that vary from floor to floor. Framed by the risalit and corner tower is a partially glazed wrought-iron loggia with floors of varying heights. These loggias have been left largely in their original condition over the years …

Year of construction: Around 1907

History/owners until 1945: In the 1909 guidebook “Binz auf Rügen” (Binz on Rügen), the villa was described as follows: Villa Metropol Corner of Margaretenstraße and Astastraße, first-class guesthouse in the immediate vicinity of the beach, the spa house, and the bathhouses. Sea view. Renowned house, high, airy, comfortable balcony rooms with and without board. Excellent cuisine. Dining and music room. Electric lighting. Rooms from 12 to 40 marks per week. The owner was H. Faerber, who also owned Villa Felicitas around 1911. In the following years, Villa Metropol also changed hands. In 1925, Erich Dankwardt was the owner, who a year later renamed the guesthouse as follows: “Dankwardt’s Hotel Metropole”. This was also the case in 1933 in the Grieben travel guide (Volume 65 Rügen with Hiddensee, Stralsund, Greifswald, Stettin and information for motorists (29th edition). Two years later, Johannes Boyke recommended the “Metropol” in the 1935 travel guide “Praktische Winke – Ostseebad Binz auf Rügen” (Practical Tips – Baltic Sea Resort Binz on Rügen) as follows: “Metropol” Astastrasse, corner of Margaretenstrasse, 1 min. from the beach. Tried and tested, quiet guesthouse and lodging house, under new management since 1934. Large, friendly rooms with sunny verandas. Good and plentiful food at reasonable prices. Car garages. Owner: Johannes Boyke.

GDR era: During the GDR era, the villa was used as a residential building, among other things. There is said to have been a laundry and ironing room in the house as well. The book “Pommersche Bäderarchitektur” (Pomeranian Spa Architecture) by Wolfgang Schneider & Torsten Seegert states: Due to a fire in 1967, the corner towers were replaced by flat-roofed towers during the reconstruction work.

After 1990: After 1990, the building underwent extensive renovation. The villa regained its typical onion dome roofs, and vacation homes and apartments were created.

Current use: Vacation homes and apartments as well as commercial space

Photos: Binzer Bucht Tourismus collection, Lutz Grünke, Binzer Bucht Tourismus/Christian Thiele

Text: Binzer Bucht Tourismus