Heiligendamm () is a German seaside resort founded in 1793.

It is the oldest seaside spa in continental Europe. Heiligendamm is part of the town Bad Doberan in the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and historically belongs to Mecklenburg.

The cluster of resort architecture mansions and spa buildings at the seafront are reminders of the glory days when this part of the Baltic Sea was one of the playgrounds of Europe's aristocracy. Due to the classicist white buildings lining the beach promenade, the town is also known as the "White Pearl" () or the "White Town by the Sea" ().

Today, the area by the sea is occupied by a five-star hotel, the Grand Hotel Heiligendamm. A narrow-gauge steam railway, known as the "Molli", links Heiligendamm with Kühlungsborn and Bad Doberan.

History

thumb|left|Established in 1793, Heiligendamm is the oldest [[seaside resort in continental Europe.]]

thumb|left|Panorama of Heiligendamm, 1887

Heiligendamm was developed as an elegant meeting place for the nobility and high society. Among its most prominent guests were the German Emperors.

Its founder and first guest in 1793 was the Grand Duke of Mecklenburg Friedrich Franz I; he made the resort fashionable.

In July 2013, the Grand Hotel Heiligendamm was bought by Hannover-based accountant Paul Morzynski, who intends to carefully extend and reorganize the hotel.

Sights

thumb|120px|Protestant forest church of 1904

The resort architecture near the beaches of Heiligendamm, consisting of classicist and historicist mansions and spa buildings, is part of a unique heritage, as the first such buildings of the European continent can be seen here. The area of the Grand Hotel is partly accessible to visitors, but should be experienced respectfully to not disturb the hotel guests.

The narrow gauge railway known as Bäderbahn Molli ("Molli Resort Railway") runs through Heiligendamm from Kühlungsborn to Bad Doberan. The line between Bad Doberan and Heiligendamm was built in 1886. The Protestant Forest Church (Evangelische Waldkirche) was renovated after die Wende, the Catholic Church of the Sacred Heart (Herz-Jesu-Kapelle) is close by.

Heiligendamm also has a 200-metre-long pier into the Baltic Sea that allows great views of the White Pearl Mansions at the beach.

Images

<gallery widths=150>

Image:Heiligendamm_Gedenkstein.jpg|Foundation memorial stone

Image:Kurhaus, Heiligendamm.jpg|The Kurhaus, earliest example of resort architecture, part of the Grand Hotel Heiligendamm

Image:Heiligendamm Beach Villas Panorama 2.jpg|Beach villas at Heiligendamm, the so-called Perlenkette.

File:Heiligendamm Villa Großfürstin Marie - Perle.jpg|Reconstructed Villa Perle in 2013 (formerly demolished in 2007 for the G8 summit)

File:Heiligendamm Alexandrinen-Cottage 2010-05-17 076.jpg|Alexandrinen-Cottage, a noble mansion next to the Grand Hotel

File:Heiligendamm May 2007 019.jpg|The narrow gauge line Bäderbahn Molli in Heiligendamm station

File:Heiligendamm Waldkapelle 2010-05-17 045 detail.jpg|Catholic forest chapel of 1888

</gallery>

Literature

;in English language

  • Charles James Apperley: "Nimrods German Tour" – a travel through northern Germany, especially to Heiligendamm in 1828. Publishing company: Godewind Verlag, Germany 2006.

;in German language

  • Hans Thielcke: Die Bauten des Seebades Doberan - Heiligendamm um 1800 und Ihr Baumeister Severin. Godewind Verlag, 2004 . (Reprint d. Originalausgabe von 1917)
  • Friedrich Compart: Geschichte des Klosters Doberan. Godewind Verlag, 2004. . (Reprint der Originalausgabe von 1872)
  • Heinrich Hesse: Die Geschichte von Doberan-Heiligendamm. Godewind Verlag, Wismar 2004, . (Bearbeitete Neuauflage der Originalausgabe von 1838)
  • Adolf Nizze: Doberan-Heiligendamm: Geschichte des ersten deutschen Seebades. Godewind Verlag, Wismar 2004, . (Bearbeitete Neuauflage der Originalausgabe von 1823)
  • Die Reise eines Gesunden in die Seebäder Swinemünde, Putbus und Doberan. Godewind Verlag, Wismar 2005, . (Bearbeitete Neuauflage der Originalausgabe von 1823)
  • Hans-Jürgen Herbst: Kalender 2007, Doberan & Heiligendamm, erstes deutsches Seebad. Godewind Verlag, 2007, .
  • Samuel G. Vogel: Allgemeine Baderegeln zum Gebrauche für Badelustige überhaupt und diejenigen insbesondere, welche sich des Seebades in Doberan bedienen. Godewind Verlag, 2004, . (Bearbeitete Neuauflage der Originalausgabe von 1817)

See also

  • List of G8 summit resorts
  • Zingst

References

  • Heiligendamm official website