Vacation on the Baltic Sea – Warnemünde and the Hotel Neptun
How did a Baltic Sea town become a dream destination—and a hotel a symbol of the GDR? The new episode of “Orte Ost” takes us to Warnemünde and tells the story of a vacation spot that became, for many people in the East, the very embodiment of vacations, freedom, and wanderlust.
Historian Dr. Ilko-Sascha Kowalczuk explains how vacationing only became a mass phenomenon in the 20th century and why the Baltic Sea coast took on special significance for the GDR. After all, the region was not only a place of relaxation but also part of the strictly secured state border.
The episode focuses on the Hotel Neptun. Opened in 1971 and located directly on the Baltic Sea beach, it was considered by many to be the most prestigious hotel in the GDR. At the same time, the hotel was a place full of contradictions: a vacation paradise and a Stasi hotspot, a window to the world and a symbol of the limitations of the socialist system.
Why did the Baltic Sea become one of the most sought-after destinations in the GDR? And why does the Hotel Neptun continue to fascinate people to this day?
“Orte Ost” is the DDR Museum’s new film series about (East) German locations, themes, and events whose history continues to resonate today. Historian Dr. Ilko-Sascha Kowalczuk guides viewers through “lost places,” sites of memory and the future, combining historical context with current developments and personal memories. The series is released regularly on the DDR Museum’s YouTube channel and sets out on location to uncover traces of the past.
“Orte Ost” offers a lively, vivid, and contemporary exploration of GDR history and invites viewers on an exciting journey of discovery between the past and the future.
Additional information
Dates
July 2026
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