Prora: From the KdF dream to a tourist flop - What's going on at the Baltic Sea location?

Prora: From the KdF dream to a tourist flop - What's going on at the Baltic Sea location?

The Baltic Sea continues to be very popular with German holidaymakers. Last year around 1.4 million tourists visited the Baltic Sea islands of Rügen and Hiddensee. However, the region around Prora near Binz in particular has to struggle with a special image. The former KdF complex, which is avoided by many holidaymakers, is at the center of discussions about the site's tourism development. This reports derwesten.de.

Originally planned as part of a large-scale project to create affordable vacation options for German workers in the 1930s, the Prora complex was built under the direction of architect Clemens Klotz starting in 1936. The construction work, which lasted until 1939, includes eight six-story blocks with a total of 10,000 guest rooms. These were kept simple, equipped with two beds, a seating area and a hand basin. A variety of community facilities were also planned, including restaurants, bowling alleys and a cinema. The costs for the construction far exceeded the original plans and ultimately amounted to 237.5 million Reichsmarks Wikipedia noted.

A divided legacy

Although the construction remained largely incomplete before the Second World War, its use after the war turned out to be chaotic. The complex was initially used by the Red Army and later converted to serve as barracks for the GDR's National People's Army. Prora has only been open to the public since 1993 and has been a listed building since 1994. The facility is now to be developed into a modern holiday resort that will focus on the history of National Socialism and the GDR. But how derwesten.de reports, the tourism development in Prora is not attracting the desired number of visitors.

There are reports that there is a lack of welcome feeling, which affects a pleasant atmosphere for visitors. Nevertheless, there are a few cafés and restaurants in Prora that attempt to increase the attractiveness of the location. However, the plans to build a family hotel and a museum have not yet been realized. In 2024, the Prora Center filed for bankruptcy, which further aggravated the situation. Most of the blocks are empty, reflecting the sad state of the once ambitious holiday planning.

Hope for a turnaround

Nevertheless, there are voices of hope among business owners in Prora. Mohammed Ali Abid and the operators of the “Patcus” café express their desire for positive development in the region. The challenges are considerable, but the community hopes for new impulses that could enable the site to be revitalized. The average price per square meter for properties in Prora is currently 5,741 euros, which could represent a further incentive for potential investors.

Ultimately, Prora represents both the dark sides of German history and the possibilities for redesigning tourism. The success of these efforts will have to be seen in the coming years.