Früher: Villa Brunhilde

Former names: Villa Brunhilde

Today: Hotel Binzer Hof

Architecture: In the book “Pommersche Bäderarchitektur” (Pomeranian Spa Architecture) by Wolfgang Schneider & Torsten Seegert, “Haus Brunhilde” is described as follows: This three-story solid building in the “second row” … The building has a eaves-side design facing the street; the roof is designed as a half-hipped roof at the gables. The front facing Lottumstrasse consists of three main structural elements: The two outer axes are designed as open wooden loggias over the entire height of the building and are topped by a roof. The central axis, with its polygonal floor plan, is only designed as an open loggia in steel construction on the second floor; the lower areas are solid and closed. … In the 1990s, the building underwent profound changes …: The loggias were fundamentally redesigned by completely closing off the central axis and integrating the loggias on either side of it into the overall facade, …

Year of construction: Around 1904

History/owners until 1945: Today’s Hotel Binzer Hof consists of two buildings, Villa Cäcilie (later also known as Goethe House) and Haus Brunhilde.

Until 1903, the town plans show undeveloped areas at this location. In the 1904 town plan Binz-Führer, a house was marked on the corner lot at Lottumstraße/Goethestraße. A year later, the Villa Agricola (later Villa Cäcilie) was listed in the housing register with Hilgendorf as the owner – the neighboring building to Villa Brunhilde. Villa Brunhilde must also have been built around this time. Both lodging houses initially had the same owner family – the Hilgendorf family.

The 1909 Binz guide stated the following: Villa “Brunhilde” Lottum-Straße No. 8, directly on the forest, opposite the men’s and family baths. Modern furnishings, all rooms with balconies. Individual rooms and entire apartments with and without kitchens. Good beds. Manager: Dora Rode. Owner: Fritz Hilgendorf

Around 1920, the neighboring villa got a new owner. The Brunhilde house, on the other hand, remained in the possession of the Hilgendorf family with changing occupants. Miss Dora Rode was responsible for running the guesthouse for many years. From 1941 to 1945, “Brunhilde” was used by the Kinderlandverschickung (KLV) program.

GDR period: After 1945, the neighboring building (Goethe House) initially housed a school. The school was relocated in the early 1950s. The VEB Spezialbau Potsdam first acquired Villa Brunhilde from the owner (addendum: as part of the contract negotiations, the owner retained the right to live in the house) and then the Goethe House in the immediate vicinity. Both houses are connected and were used as a company vacation home called “Haus der DSF.”

After 1990: After 1990, the Krönert family acquired the two lodging houses: Goethe House and Villa Brunhilde. Since its opening on May 5, 1991, they have been running it as a hotel called “Binzer Hof.” In the 1992 room catalog of FVV Binz und Umgebung e.V., an advertisement stated: Hotel Restaurant Binzer Hof, 2337 Binz/Rügen, W.-Pieck-Str. 15, telephone 2362, fax: 2382

Current use: Family-run hotel with restaurant

Interesting facts/anecdotes: The Hotel Binzer Hof consists of two buildings that have been in Binz since the beginning of the 20th century: the Goethe House directly on the corner and the Villa Brunhilde right next to it.

Photo: Boy Collection, Binzer Bucht Tourismus Collection, Lutz Grünke, Binzer Bucht Tourismus/Christian Thiele

Text: Klaus Boy, Binzer Bucht Tourismus