Fountain meadow in Sagard

Fountain meadow in Sagard - Rügen's historic fountain of health

A small wood near Sagard on the island of Rügen still bears the name Brunnenaue and is a reminder of a remarkable episode in the island's history. Pastor Heinrich Christoph von Willich opened Rügen's first health resort here in 1795 - making Sagard the pioneer of bathing on the Baltic coast of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, long before other towns in the region took up this tradition.

Park with springs, bathhouse and amusements

The area around several natural springs was laid out as a picturesque park. Paths led along a stream with small waterfalls, past arbors and seating areas. A bathhouse offered hot and cold baths for medical therapies, while games tables, a merry-go-round, swings, seesaws and a bowling alley provided entertainment. Music and dance events were also part of the program. Between 1794 and 1806, hundreds of guests stayed in Sagard in the summer for treatment and relaxation.

What remains today

Only little remains of the former spa, which lasted until around 1830. The field name "Brunnenaue" and the small wood with its meandering stream still give a vague idea of this short, lively era. A quiet but historic place on the island of Rügen.

How to get to the Brunnenaue in Sagard

Sagard is easily accessible by train - Sagard train station is only around 0.9 km away. Alternatively, Lancken train station is around 3.6 km away and Sassnitz ferry port station is around 5.3 km away. If you arrive by ferry, for example via the Sassnitz ferry port, you can also be there in a short time. By bus, the line stops at the Sagard Schulstraße bus stop, just under 0.5 km from Brunnenaue.