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

Architecture: Villa Salve was built in the Italian Neo-Renaissance style. Since its restoration in 1993, Aphrodite has adorned the roof, and lion sculptures stand on the entrance roundabout. A fountain with horse heads was added to the terrace. Inside, the elegance and style of the late 19th century are evident: canopy ceilings with floral ornaments, gold-decorated wall lamps, Art Nouveau paintings, and more.

Year of construction: 1899

History/owners until 1945: In 1899, Countess Kreis had Villa Salve built as a first-class guest house. The first guests arrived a year later. The 1902 Binz apartment directory listed Miss Kracht as the owner of Villa Salve, which had 16 rooms and no kitchen. In 1909, a kitchen was added to the list of rooms, and by 1911 there were two kitchens in the house. In 1913, the house got a new owner: Reinhold Nagel, who advertised regularly in the Binz guide until 1919. In 1920, Miss Schubert was listed as the owner in the housing directory. The next change of ownership followed in 1929. Until 1939, the Danish Christine Bahn managed the house. She was succeeded in 1940 by Irmgard von Saleski as the owner. When she died in 1948, her daughter Barbara-Ina Lemke took over the house.

GDR period: In the early 1950s, the von Salewski family was expropriated as part of the Aktion Rose campaign. They fled to the western Harz Mountains. Until 1953, the villa was the vacation home of SDAG-Wismut and was used as a sanatorium for the children of Wismut employees. From 1970, it housed the “Käthe Niederkirchner” kindergarten of the municipality of Binz.

After 1990: In 1991, the house was transferred back to Mrs. von Salewski’s daughters (three women aged 72 to 85). The following advertisement was still listed in the 1992 room catalog of the FVV Binz e.V.: Kindergarten “Haus Salve” on the beach … Care also available for children on vacation (full-day place: DM 10 with lunch and snack, half-day place: DM 6 with lunch).

In 1992, the Schewe family purchased the villa from Ina Barbara Lemke, a daughter of Irmgard von Salewski. On June 9, 1993, the Schewe family opened the hotel after its restoration. The construction of a new apartment building on the courtyard side followed later.

Current use: Family-run hotel with its own restaurant and bar

Interesting facts/anecdotes: Many celebrities have been guests at the Villa Salve restaurant. Highlights included visits by the chancellor or chancellor candidates during election campaigns, such as Helmut Kohl in 1994 (died 2017). The then German Chancellor Angela Merkel came to Binz in 2002, together with the Norwegian Crown Prince and Princess Haakon and Mette-Marit. Lunch was served at Villa Salve. Other well-known visitors to the house included sports stars such as Uwe Seeler, Henry Maske, and the management of Schalke 04. The Thai princess and former ministers Kanther and Rühe have also been guests.

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

Text: Schewe family, Klaus Boy