DistantNews
Support us
Nostalgic holidays: DDR-era bungalows offer authentic Baltic Sea vacations
🇩🇪 Germany /Culture & Society

Nostalgic holidays: DDR-era bungalows offer authentic Baltic Sea vacations

From Die Zeit · () German

Translated from German, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Sources not specified Context piece
  • A holiday resort in Rügen, Germany, offers an authentic DDR-era bungalow experience.
  • The 13 bungalows, preserved in near-original condition, are now listed as historical monuments.
  • The resort operator aims to evoke childhood memories and highlight the simplicity of past vacations.

A unique holiday experience is available on Germany's Baltic Sea island of Rügen, where the "Betriebsferienlager Gera" resort offers stays in authentic bungalows from the former German Democratic Republic (DDR) era. The operator, Candy Dassler, emphasizes a "less is more" philosophy, encouraging guests to focus on essentials.

The concept is actually very simple: Less is more. Remind yourself of the essentials and concentrate on the things that are important.

— Candy DasslerThe resort operator explains his philosophy behind offering DDR-era bungalow stays.

Dassler acquired the resort nearly a decade ago and has worked to preserve the 13 bungalows, which he describes as being "100 percent DDR" in their original state, from coffee cups to wallpaper. He aims to recreate the atmosphere of his childhood holidays and believes those who remember the era will feel a strong sense of nostalgia, while younger visitors will be amazed.

Those who still know it, they will definitely remember. But the younger generation also can't stop marveling.

— Candy DasslerDassler describes the nostalgic and surprising reactions of guests to the authentic DDR-era accommodations.

These distinctive bungalows, along with four lanterns and a playground, have been recognized for their historical significance and are now protected as monuments. The State Office for Culture and Monument Preservation of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern highlighted the ensemble's rarity, noting that most DDR-era bungalows have been demolished or altered. The preserved structures serve as vivid examples of DDR tourism, particularly illustrating how state employers provided seaside accommodations for their workers' recreation.

Since the majority of the bungalows built in the GDR era have been demolished or heavily altered in the last 35 years and no holiday complex like the one in Bakenberg in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern has been preserved to a large extent, the ensemble possesses high rarity and testimonial value.

— State Office for Culture and Monument Preservation of Mecklenburg-VorpommernThe monument preservation office explains the significance of the preserved DDR-era bungalows.

The area, initially developed with tents in the late 1950s, saw the introduction of "Type 34" bungalows from VEB Vereinigte Bauelementewerke Henningsdorf in the 1970s. These were delivered as kits and assembled on-site, often through self-help efforts. Dassler chose the name "Betriebsferienlager Gera" due to his personal connection to a nearby company holiday camp, evoking his own past experiences.

They show in particular how a state employer provided accommodation on the Baltic Sea for the recreation of its employees in the summer.

— State Office for Culture and Monument Preservation of Mecklenburg-VorpommernThe office describes the historical function of the bungalows within the DDR's tourism system.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Die Zeit in German. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog