December 5, 2025, 4:14 pm | Read time: 3 minutes
Secluded location, sea view, and a touch of historical maritime nostalgia: On the Baltic Sea island of Rügen, an old weather station has gone under the hammer as an extraordinary property. The result surprised even experienced auctioneers. A veritable bidding war drove the price well beyond expectations.
The former weather station at Cape Arkona, one of the most famous places on Rügen, was sold at the winter auction of Norddeutsche Grundstücksauktionen AG (NDGA) for 462,000 euros to a new owner. This highest bid was significantly above the original minimum bid of 179,000 euros, as BILD reports. The auction house announced on Wednesday that “a true bidding war” had developed.
The brick building with a view of the Baltic Sea is located in close proximity to the lighthouses at Cape Arkona. It sits on a 3,300-square-meter plot. The historic house was built about 120 years ago by the Imperial Navy.
Enormous Demand–Almost 400 Exposés Requested
The property in a solitary location had sparked great interest in advance. Realtor Heiko Jacobi, who conducted the viewings on behalf of the NDGA, stated beforehand to BILD: “Almost 400 exposés have been requested so far.”
Who purchased the building remains confidential for privacy reasons. However, it is clear: The buyer must invest extensively. The approximately 600-square-meter house with a total of four residential units has been vacant for years. The German Weather Service (DWD) had withdrawn its staff some time ago and replaced them with an automatic station located on the same site.
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Coastal Location Makes Property Particularly Attractive
The view from the cliff over the Baltic Sea is one of the reasons for the strong interest: From the property, there is a 180-degree panorama over the sea, and the distance to the cliff is only about 100 meters. Additionally, NDR still regularly broadcasts weather reports from this location.
Part of the property is still intended for use by the weather service. The DWD would like to rent one of the four residential units in the two-story building from the future owner, according to Jacobi. According to the exposé, a net annual rent of 11,547 euros has already been agreed upon for this.
Potential for Vacation Rentals
The municipality had signaled openness to new usage possibilities. A change in the development plan to create vacation rentals is possible–quite sensible given the high visitor numbers on Germany’s largest island.
The auction thus promises not only a new owner for a historic coastal building but possibly also a fresh start for a property with maritime flair that has fallen into a slumber. Whether the new owner is interested in a tourist use remains to be seen.
According to BILD, the weather station was one of a total of 22 properties offered at the NDGA winter auction from Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Lower Saxony, and Schleswig-Holstein. According to the auction house, 16 properties found a new owner, with total proceeds amounting to 2.9 million euros.