Kühlungsborn
Encyclopedia
Kühlungsborn (ˈkyːlʊŋsbɔʁn) is a Seebad (seaside resort) town in the Rostock
district, in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany
. It is situated on the Baltic Sea
coast, 11 km northwest of Bad Doberan
, and 25 km northwest of Rostock
.
The town has an elongate beach and promenade, many hotels in typical German spa town
architecture and a marina
. It is the largest seaside spa town in Mecklenburg
.
Kühlungsborn is a place with long spa traditions. It was one of the first seaside resorts to be founded in Germany, dating back to the 1860s. While the bicycle is a popular way of transport, the Molli train is a historical tourist attraction that also allows to explore the area. In summer times many people rent one of the traditional Strandkorb
on the beach, a covered chair protecting one from wind and sun.
At the end of World War II in 1945, many refugees settled temporarily or permanently in Kühlungsborn. In 1953, the East German government partially expropriated and arbitrarily nationalized a number of hotels and boarding houses in the city during the so-called "Action Rose". Over 50 of these institutions were transformed into holiday and health resorts for the regulated vacations of East German citizens which were controlled by FDGB Trade Union. If the former owners resisted, they were often convicted in show trials. Many were forced into exile in the Federal Republic of Germany.
During East Germany's uniform holiday period of July to August, Kühlungsborn was flooded with vacationers. The cost for use of the FDGB vacation facilities were very small, normally 60-100 East German Marks for 14 days of full board. During this time there were frequent shortages in commercial establishments. Annual festivals were conducted for three decades, during the "Baltic weeks", usually the first week of July. There were numerous high-profile cultural events during these festivals. Participants from the Baltic Sea countries and Norway were accommodated in free boarding houses.
From 1958 to 1990 approximately 100 men of the East German Navy's (Volksmarine
) elite 18th Combat Swimmer Command (Kampfschwimmerkommando 18 (KSK-18)) were stationed in Kühlungsborn.
Since the mid-1990s Kühlungsborn has again become a popular year-round destination for the holiday season.
Kühlungsborn has remained a community without tall buildings, because no house is allowed to be built higher than the tallest trees. After the reunification of Germany the historic center of Kühlungsborn has been thoroughly renovated, with many historic buildings restored. However, in 1994, 26 historic buildings representing resort architecture were demolished during this renovation, such as the Arendseer Kurhaus completed in 1906. There are many new hotels and apartments as well as renovations of old hotels and pensions. From 2002- 2004 the new marina was built with 400 moorings in East Kühlungsborn. The resort's bridge was built in 1991 and the 3,200-meter-long beach promenade was completely renovated in 2007.
For the G8 summit in Heiligendamm
in 2007 the press was accommodated in East Kühlungsborn. Around 5,390 journalists from 78 countries representing 1,045 media outlets were accredited and lived mostly in Kuehlungsborn.
Rostock (district)
Rostock is a district in the north of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. It is bounded by the district Nordwestmecklenburg, the Baltic Sea, the district-free city Rostock and the districts Vorpommern-Rügen, Mecklenburgische Seenplatte and Ludwigslust-Parchim...
district, in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. It is situated on the Baltic Sea
Baltic Sea
The Baltic Sea is a brackish mediterranean sea located in Northern Europe, from 53°N to 66°N latitude and from 20°E to 26°E longitude. It is bounded by the Scandinavian Peninsula, the mainland of Europe, and the Danish islands. It drains into the Kattegat by way of the Øresund, the Great Belt and...
coast, 11 km northwest of Bad Doberan
Bad Doberan
Bad Doberan is a town in the district of Rostock, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. It was the capital of the former district of Bad Doberan. As of 2010 its population was 11,325.-Geography:...
, and 25 km northwest of Rostock
Rostock
Rostock -Early history:In the 11th century Polabian Slavs founded a settlement at the Warnow river called Roztoc ; the name Rostock is derived from that designation. The Danish king Valdemar I set the town aflame in 1161.Afterwards the place was settled by German traders...
.
The town has an elongate beach and promenade, many hotels in typical German spa town
Spa town
A spa town is a town situated around a mineral spa . Patrons resorted to spas to "take the waters" for their purported health benefits. The word comes from the Belgian town Spa. In continental Europe a spa was known as a ville d'eau...
architecture and a marina
Marina
A marina is a dock or basin with moorings and supplies for yachts and small boats.A marina differs from a port in that a marina does not handle large passenger ships or cargo from freighters....
. It is the largest seaside spa town in Mecklenburg
Mecklenburg
Mecklenburg is a historical region in northern Germany comprising the western and larger part of the federal-state Mecklenburg-Vorpommern...
.
Kühlungsborn is a place with long spa traditions. It was one of the first seaside resorts to be founded in Germany, dating back to the 1860s. While the bicycle is a popular way of transport, the Molli train is a historical tourist attraction that also allows to explore the area. In summer times many people rent one of the traditional Strandkorb
Strandkorb
A strandkorb is a special chair designed to provide comfort and protection from sun, wind, rain, and sand on beaches frequented by tourists....
on the beach, a covered chair protecting one from wind and sun.
Town history
The town of Kühlungsborn was founded on April 1, 1938 with the merger of the three municipalities; Fulgen, Brunshaupten and Arendsee. On the town coat of arms the three flying seagulls on a blue background represent these former municipalities.At the end of World War II in 1945, many refugees settled temporarily or permanently in Kühlungsborn. In 1953, the East German government partially expropriated and arbitrarily nationalized a number of hotels and boarding houses in the city during the so-called "Action Rose". Over 50 of these institutions were transformed into holiday and health resorts for the regulated vacations of East German citizens which were controlled by FDGB Trade Union. If the former owners resisted, they were often convicted in show trials. Many were forced into exile in the Federal Republic of Germany.
During East Germany's uniform holiday period of July to August, Kühlungsborn was flooded with vacationers. The cost for use of the FDGB vacation facilities were very small, normally 60-100 East German Marks for 14 days of full board. During this time there were frequent shortages in commercial establishments. Annual festivals were conducted for three decades, during the "Baltic weeks", usually the first week of July. There were numerous high-profile cultural events during these festivals. Participants from the Baltic Sea countries and Norway were accommodated in free boarding houses.
From 1958 to 1990 approximately 100 men of the East German Navy's (Volksmarine
Volksmarine
Volksmarine was the official designation of the maritime forces of the German Democratic Republic . It was part of the National People's Army, established in 1956.-History:...
) elite 18th Combat Swimmer Command (Kampfschwimmerkommando 18 (KSK-18)) were stationed in Kühlungsborn.
Since the mid-1990s Kühlungsborn has again become a popular year-round destination for the holiday season.
Kühlungsborn has remained a community without tall buildings, because no house is allowed to be built higher than the tallest trees. After the reunification of Germany the historic center of Kühlungsborn has been thoroughly renovated, with many historic buildings restored. However, in 1994, 26 historic buildings representing resort architecture were demolished during this renovation, such as the Arendseer Kurhaus completed in 1906. There are many new hotels and apartments as well as renovations of old hotels and pensions. From 2002- 2004 the new marina was built with 400 moorings in East Kühlungsborn. The resort's bridge was built in 1991 and the 3,200-meter-long beach promenade was completely renovated in 2007.
For the G8 summit in Heiligendamm
Heiligendamm
Heiligendamm is a German seaside resort, founded in 1793. The small cluster of structures which still survive are reminders of the glory days of days gone by when this part of the Baltic Sea was one of the playgrounds of Europe's aristocracy. It is the oldest seaside spa in Germany...
in 2007 the press was accommodated in East Kühlungsborn. Around 5,390 journalists from 78 countries representing 1,045 media outlets were accredited and lived mostly in Kuehlungsborn.
Sister Cities
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, GermanyGermanyGermany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate... - GrömitzGrömitzGrömitz is a municipality in the district of Ostholstein, in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. It is situated on the Bay of Lübeck, approx. 35 km northeast of Lübeck, and 23 km east of Eutin.Grömitz is a settlement on the Baltic Sea...
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, RussiaRussiaRussia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
External links
- Official website (German)
- Tourism website (German, English)