Tourism was only able to develop in the late 19th century when the railway allowed rapid travel to the province. The first destinations worth mentioning were the coastal towns of the Samland such as Cranz (today Zelenogradsk) or Rauschen (Svetlogorsk), which welcomed bathers in summer. In the 1890s the Masurian landscape was explored and around 1900 the small village of Nida on the Curonian Spit was discovered as a meeting place for artists.
It was only after the First World War that notable tourism began. As a result of the Treaty of Versailles, East Prussia was isolated and had to develop new sources of income. Marienburg (today Malbork Castle), the Tannenberg monument or even soldier cemeteries were seen as travel destinations for nationally-minded people, because East Prussia was the only place where fighting had taken place on German soil. Königsberg (today’s Kaliningrad), the Spits, Warmia (Ermland), Masuria or the now Lithuanian Memel territory developed into popular holiday regions in summer and autumn. In winter ice sailing attracted guests to East Prussia.
Illustrations:
1.) Beach promenade of the Baltic seaside resort Cranz, 1928
The town, already recognised as a Baltic seaside resort in the early 19th century, was a popular destination due to its spacious sandy beach. The Königsberg-Cranz railway (KCE) opened in 1885 promoted tourism. Every hour trains drove the almost 30 kilometres and soon transported well over one million guests a year. Even today the now Russian Zelenogradsk is a popular seaside resort.
2.) Thomas Mann and his family in front of their newly built holiday home in Nida, July 1930
In 1929 Thomas Mann was awarded the Nobel Prize. With this money he built a holiday home in the former Lithuanian town of Nida, fascinated by its landscape and light – the so-called "Italian view". Since he had already emigrated in 1933 as an exposed opponent of National Socialism, he only enjoyed the summers in Nida a few times.
Sitting in the sand from the left: Katia Mann, Elisabeth Mann, Thomas Mann, Michael Mann, two boys who did not belong to the family, on the bench in the background Monika Mann.
Photo: ETH Library Zurich, Thomas Mann Archive / Photographer: Fritz Krauskopf / TMA_0192