On the beach at Heiligendamm

What is now the oldest seaside resort in mainland Europe is established on the Mecklenburg coast

Whilst English holiday-makers could choose from a number of seaside resorts by the end of the 18th century, their continental cousins had nowhere comparable to take in the sun and sea air. After reading an article by the Enlightenment philosopher Georg Christoph Lichtenberg about the benefits of seawater bathing, the personal physician of the Duke of Mecklenburg recommended to his employer that he establish a seaside resort on the Heiligen Damm (Holy Dam), a naturally formed embankment on the Baltic Sea. The Duke agreed, and construction of the first bathhouse began immediately. The first visitors to the resort – which opened on 21 September 1793 – were required to follow special bathing rules. For instance, it was laid down that bathers should refrain from taking to the waters “immediately after a violent emotional outburst”.

The Duke himself opened the 1794 bathing season. He returned to Heiligendamm every year with his court and soon set a trend followed by the rich and noble elements of society. Entrepreneurs responded by building a number of bright, neoclassical buildings such as bathhouses, social clubs and hotels, which earned the town the nickname “White Town by the Sea”. Many more such resorts opened up along the German coast, but none were as beautiful as Heiligendamm.