The commemorative monument in Heiligendamm

Heiligendamm was founded in 1793 by Grand Duke Friedrich Franz I (who was also very interested in archaeology) as the first German seaside resort (see map). Located only 6 km from Doberan, the summer residence of the princely family, Heiligendamm soon became one of the favourite spas for upper society and the aristocracy; it managed to maintain this reputation until the 1930s.

During the 19th century, many other seaside resorts were founded all along the German coastline and they proved extremely popular in the 19th and 20th centuries, during Nazi-Germany (cf. Prora!), the GDR and the united Germany when masses of holiday-makers are attracted to the many beautiful seaside resorts along the Baltic Sea (see image above).

Nowadays, Heiligendamm (image left) is a spa with annually more than 10,000 patients, from all classes of society (Karge 1993; Bahra 1997: 36–45).

In 1843, the well-known architect Georg Adolph Demmler (1804–1886) was asked by Grand Duke Friedrich Franz II to erect a commemorative monument for the founder of Heiligendamm, his great grandfather Friedrich Franz I. A huge rock was chosen for this purpose and Demmler managed to transport the stone to the right location, despite great difficulties—his efforts being comparable to those of the megalith-builders (see Demmler 1911).

the commemorative monument in 1995	the transport (from Karge 1993: 42)

The inscription on the commemorative monument reads:

Literature

Demmler, Georg A. (1911) Denkmal Friedrich Franz I am Heiligen Damm [1843]. Sonntagsbeilage der Mecklenburgischen Zeitung, 17.9.1911.

Bahra, Hanne (1997) Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Ein Reisebuch in den Alltag. Reinbek: Rowohlt.

Karge, Wolf (1993) Heiligendamm. Erstes deutsches Seebad. Schwerin: Dellmer.

© Cornelius Holtorf