Previous names: The name “Seeschloss” has been retained since the hotel opened.

Architecture: … In the book “Pommersche Bäderarchitektur” (Pomeranian Spa Architecture) by Wolfgang Schneider & Torsten Seegert, the building is described as follows: Together with the ‘Ostsee’ and “Strandhotel” buildings, this building, constructed by Wilhelm Klünder at the end of the 1880s, (addendum: “Seeschloss”) formed an important part of the old large guesthouses on the Binz beach promenade. The front of the thirteen-axis, eaves-side solid construction was interrupted by an asymmetrically inserted risalit, which protruded from both the building line and the roof structure. … In front of the massive three-story structure was a wooden loggia construction, which was kept open across its entire width and almost entirely dispensed with the use of decorative elements. Only the wooden balustrade with horizontal paneling and the upper moldings provided a certain degree of relief from the austere forms.

Year of construction: Around 1891

History/owners until 1945: Wilhelm Klünder, who built the first hotel on the beach in 1883 (Strandhotel, now Grand Hotel), continued his construction activities in the following years. The Hotel Seeschloss followed in 1891. It was already praised in the highest terms in Grieben’s travel book “Die Insel Rügen 1896” (The Island of Rügen 1896):

Hotel Seeschloss. First hotel in town, directly on the landing stage. 70 comfortable and modernly furnished guest rooms with magnificent balconies and verandas, elegant dining room. Large restaurant hall in a shady garden, located directly on the Baltic Sea beach. … Excellent cuisine, good service. Cheapest prices. Owner: W. Klünder, oldest innkeeper.

In 1909, the Binz guide listed a new owner: Ernst Siemon, who recommended Klünder’s Hôtel Seeschloß, thus also commemorating the original owner. The “Seeschloß” remained in the possession of the Siemon family in the following years, but in 1911, Ferdinand Siemon, also owner of the Hotel Kaiserhof, was specifically listed. In the mid-1920s, Mrs. Christine Bahn was the owner. In the “Praktische Winken – Ostseebad Binz auf Rügen” (Practical Tips – Baltic Sea Resort Binz on Rügen) from 1925, it said: Hotel Seeschloß. First-class hotel located on the beach promenade and near the Hochwald forest. View of the sea. 60 rooms. Daily concerts. Reunions in the hotel. Car garages. Stables. Electric lighting. Good cuisine. Telephone 1, owner Mrs. Chr. Bahn.

In 1928, Colmsee-Gieseke was named as the owner, who marketed both the Hotel Seeschloss and the Hotel Colmsee together.

It is unclear whether Christine Bahn only handed over the hotel to Colmsee-Gieseke for operation and management, but remained the owner.

She (Christine Bahn, also the long-time owner of Villa Salve) reappeared as the owner in the 1935 Binz travel guide “Praktische Winke”: Hotel Seeschloss. Beach promenade and Hochwald forest. Long-time owner Mrs. Christine Bahn. Only garden on the beach. Own pastry shop. Time-honored, elegant guesthouse. First-class and plentiful meals. Contemporary prices for rooms with full board. Discounted prices in the early and late seasons. Rooms without meals also available. All rooms with running hot and cold water. Central heating. Bathroom in the house. Car garage, stables for riding horses, private car.

GDR era: From the book “Pommersche Bäderarchitektur” (Pomeranian Spa Architecture) by Wolfgang Schneider & Torsten Seegert: “Due to the general developments of the 1960s and 1970s, the building underwent extensive changes to become the FDGB ”Seeschloß” (Seaside Castle) home, as a result of which the loggia structures, which were particularly distinctive elements of the building’s façade, were removed.

The Seeschloss Binz was the first holiday home of the Free German Trade Union Federation (FDGB) in Binz.

After 1990: The building was demolished to make way for a modern new building (modelled on the old building). (Information from the book “Pommersche Bäderarchitektur” by Wolfgang Schneider & Torsten Seegert).

Current use: Apartment building with vacation apartments

Interesting facts/anecdotes: Around 1900, a bridge, the so-called “Klünderbrücke,” was built in front of the “Seeschloß” hotel. It soon became apparent that the jetty was too short and the water too shallow at this point. A larger bridge was needed. In 1901, the municipality of Binz decided to build a landing stage as an extension of Wilhelmstraße (now Hauptstraße). The construction was carried out according to a design by the Berlin-based company Haverstadt & Contag and cost 130,000 Reichsmarks. On July 22, 1902, the 560-meter-long structure was officially opened after a record-breaking construction period of only two months. Ships with a draft of more than four meters could now dock at the bridgehead of the landing stage.

Photos: Binzer Bucht Tourismus collection, Lutz Grünke

Text: Binzer Bucht Tourismus