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The beach in Heiligendamm is rather pebbly and definitely not the best beach along the Baltic Sea coast. 19th century bathers used wooden carts that were pulled out into the shallow water. People changed into their bathing clothes inside the carts and then went straight into the water, so the state of the beach was not very important to them. To us nowadays, however, it is. Better go to Kühlungsborn or Warnemünde if you want to spend a day on the beach than to Heiligendamm.
Written Aug 22, 2009
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The pier is also open to the public. From here the panoramic view of the coastline with the row of buildings is best.
Written Aug 22, 2009
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The panorama of Heiligendamm, the white Grand Hotel buildings and the row of greyed neoclassical villas which could look just as beautiful if they were restored, is best to be seen from the beach promenade. This is also the closest you will get to the Grand Hotel (unless you can afford staying there).
The easternmost building closest to the promenade, which is white and restored unlike the other small villas, hosts a ‘normal’ restaurant and an ice-cream parlour. If you want a meal, a coffee, an ice-cream for a reasonable price this is about your only option in Heiligendamm.
Written Aug 22, 2009
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In the 1990s the buildings of Heiligendamm were sold to an investor who planned to turn them into a five star luxury hotel. They received a lot of financial support of the state, but they restored only the buildings for the Grand Hotel, the rest, the row of villas along the beach, has not been taken care of. In the meantime the first investor has given up and new owners are searched. The location is too remote, the beach too pebbly and the Baltic Sea weather too unreliable to attract enough of the Upper 10,000 to make the business a success. Let’s see…
The “Society, Dance and Dining House” of 1816, now part of the Grand Hotel, is the most beautiful among Heiligendamm’s buildings. The facade presents the Latin inscription: “HEIC TE LAETITIA INVITAT POST BALNEA SANUM” (Here joy is expecting you when you are healthy after the bath – or something like that, the Latin is a bit strange).
The premises of the Grand Hotel are for hotel guests only and taboo for 'ordinary' passers-by like yours truly. If you are interested in the hotel, check out their website.
Written Aug 22, 2009
Kempinski Grand Hotel Heiligendamm
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The Granddukes of Mecklenburg and their court spent their summers in Bad Doberan and in the seaside resort of Heiligendamm which is 6 kms away, as did more and more other guests. Travelling to Heiligendamm and back by carriage was cosidered a nuisance. So in 1886 a train connection was established. The railway line was extended to the seaside villages of Brunshaupten and Arendsee, now Kühlungsborn, in 1910.
The railway is a narrow gauge one with a track width of 90 cm. The historical early 20th century steam locomotives and train cars are still running. "The Molli" is still the only train connection to Heiligendamm and Kühlungsborn, trains run once per hour in the daytime.
See the website linked below for all details on fares and timetables etc. and enjoy a nostalgic train ride.
Written Aug 22, 2009
Website: http://www.molli-bahn.de/Home.5.0.html
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If you arrive by car, be prepared for quite a walk if you park in front of the train station, and even more walk if you park behind. You cannot pass through the premises of the Grand Hotel but have to take a huge detour around them to reach the beach.
In case you are with someone who has difficulties walking or in case you are lazy ;-) it is good to know that there is one parking lot close to the beach. When coming from Bad Doberan watch out for the small street turning right in the forest just before actually reaching Heiligendamm. The street has a sign “Börgerende 4 km” (pointing to the next village) and another saying “Strand” (beach).
Parking fees apply in all parking lots of Heiligendamm.
Written Aug 22, 2009
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