Previous names: The name “Villa Aesculap” has been retained since the opening until today.

Year of construction: 1902/03

History/owners until 1945: The villa was built around 1902/03 by Dr. Karl Wiedemann. He had been practicing as a spa doctor in Binz since 1896 and initially lived in the adjacent Warmbad. In 1901 and 1902, the Binz guide’s apartment directory stated: “Victoriastraße 1, Warmbad with doctor’s apartment and spa administration office” and further in the text: “Dr. Wiedemann (permanent doctor) apartment in Warmbade I. Etage”. A year later (1903), Villa Aesculap was still listed in the apartment directory without a house number.

He ran a medical practice there and rented out rooms. The 1905 Binz guide stated: Spa doctor: Dr. Wiedemann (permanent doctor) Apartment in Villa Aeskulap, Viktoriastrasse, next to the Warmbade, consultation hours: Weekdays from 8-9:30 a.m. and from 3-4 p.m. Sundays from 8-9:30 a.m. Vibration massage and electric light baths in the house. Villa Aeskulap (owner Dr. Wiedemann) 10 rooms/4 kitchens.

Villa Tusculum, also owned by Dr. Wiedemann, was first mentioned in 1907. The 1909 apartment directory listed Villa Aesculap: Viktoriastraße 2, number 2a Villa Tusculum, owner of both houses is Dr. Wiedemann. Villa Tusculum was sold in 1920. From then on, Dr. Fricke was the owner.

However, Villa Aesculap remained in the possession of Dr. Wiedemann. He presumably died in 1929, as from 1930 Mrs. Carola Wiedemann, also Mrs. widowed Dr. Wiedemann, was named as the owner. She ran the villa alone in the following years and advertised its rooms until 1950.

Other doctors probably used the practice temporarily, as stated, for example, in the 1933 Grieben travel guide (Volume 65 Rügen with Hiddensee, Stralsund, Greifswald, Stettin …): Doctors: Dr. Ehrlich (only during the spa season), Villa Aesculap, Viktoriastr. (Addendum: He moved his practice to Villa Zobler in 1934).

The advertisement in the 1935 travel guide “Praktische Winke – Ostseebad Binz auf Rügen” (Practical Tips – Baltic Sea Resort Binz on Rügen) read as follows: Haus Aesculap Viktoriastr. Apartments with some electric kitchens and accessories. Close to the beach. Sunny opposite the spa gardens. Quiet location, garden, parking space. Telephone 322. Owner: Mrs. Wiedemann, widow of Dr. med. Wiedemann.

GDR era: The accommodation directory for the Baltic resort of Binz on the island of Rügen from the summer of 1950 stated: Fremdenheim Aesculap, owner Wiedemann, 10 beds.

It can be assumed that it was also used as a residential building in the following period.

After 1990: In 1992, the company VEB Glaswerk Olbernhau (later: Olbernhauer Glas Pech & Kunte GmbH) was listed in the land register. In 2003, the extensive and loving renovation of the villa began, during which every detail was preserved true to the original. Since 2004, Villa Aesculap has been shining again in its former glory and full of color.

Current use: Vacation homes and apartments

Interesting facts/anecdotes:

The villa’s name comes from “Asklepios,” the Greek god of medicine. This fits perfectly with the owner and builder of the villa: Dr. Karl Wiedemann—a general practitioner and spa doctor, later also a specialist in pediatric diseases and long-time owner of Villa “Aesculap.”

Photos: Boy Collection, Binzer Bucht Tourismus/Christian Thiele

Text: Klaus Boy, Binzer Bucht Tourismus