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

Architecture: “Villa Ruscha was built in the Swiss chalet style with a wide, overhanging roof and long balconies. Modeled on Alpine architecture, it features fretwork decoration on the gable and balcony railings. The delicate ornamental grilles on the balconies and the sky-gray paintwork counterbalance the rustic nature of the Swiss house and give the villa an airy and light feel. The rear of the house surprises with its elaborate design. The rear façade, as well as the side façades, feature numerous bay windows and balconies of various sizes, which are also decorated with filigree fretwork ornamentation.“ (Quote from the book ”Rügen und Hiddensee” by Barbara Finke)

Year of construction: 1896

History/owners until 1945: The following advertisement appeared in the 1898 address book for the island of Rügen: “Villa Ruscha, Binz, located on the beach promenade, directly on the beach next to the Curhaus, with 15 comfortably furnished guest rooms, beautiful balconies, and spacious verandas, is highly recommended to our esteemed guests. Fritz Beator.” The house served as a bed and breakfast for many years. Mr. Beator ran the house until 1919, then a new tenant took over for three years. In 1922, Kuno Kunigk acquired Villa Ruscha. The Kunigks owned the adjacent Villa Undine for many years. In 1924, the entry in the apartment directory was for the “Weinhaus Ruscha” hotel, and there was an advertisement for “Weinhaus Ruscha – elegant guesthouse, well-known wine bars.”

The wine bars were located on the glass veranda on the first floor facing the lake. At that time, it was possible to enter the “well-known wine taverns” directly from the promenade through the front garden via a wooden staircase. In 1935, Gertrud Wittmüß became the owner of Villa Ruscha.

GDR era: In 1953, as part of “Aktion Rose” (Operation Rose), the then owners were expropriated and the living space was made available to refugees in particular. After that, Villa Ruscha was in a desolate condition.

After 1990: After the current owners acquired Villa Ruscha, the house was renovated in 1999 under strict monument protection requirements. The more than 100-year-old ceiling beams, the old veranda doors, and many other old structural elements were preserved, as were the 120-year-old box trees in the front garden. Since 2001, the 13 lovingly furnished apartments have been operated as vacation homes again. In 2022/23, the entire sewage pipe system was renovated and replaced. This necessitated a redesign of the vacation apartments, including the kitchens and bathrooms.

Current use: Privately run apartment building

Interesting facts/anecdotes: There are two box trees in the front garden that are almost as old as the house itself.

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

Text: Klaus Boy, Binzer Bucht Tourismus