Grand Hotel in Sopot - a century of dramatic history

Writer: Helena Bergström

The Grand Hotel in Sopot, Poland, will soon be 100 years old. We didn't stay at the hotel, but we went on a guided historical tour, and it was unbelievable exciting. The story of the hotel is at the same time a story of the whole of Europe, involving Hitler and Putin as well as Charles de Gaulle and Prince ...

Grand Hotel in Sopot

You can't help but notice the Grand Hotel (Sofitel Grand Sopot) when you visit Polish Sopot. Standing majestically on the beach, the hotel exudes classic resort luxury from the beginning of the last century. At the same time, this is very much a living hotel, which in summer is packed with tourists.

1927: A casino-palace was born by the sea

The Grand Hotel in Sopot opened its doors in 1927 as an exclusive casino-hotel for the upper classes. Its beachfront location and proximity to the famous wooden pier made it an obvious meeting place for European society, artists and politicians. It blended resort life with international glamour. It couldn't get more luxurious than this at the time!

The hotel was built in a very solid and solid material, with reinforced concrete as a frame, and all details were meticulously planned. The rooms had their own bathtubs with both ordinary water and heated sea water in the taps (!) - an extreme luxury that was widely talked about.

The golden age of the spa

Sopot was already an established spa town, and the Grand Hotel became its glittering crown jewel. Society flocked to the sea air, music, balls and elegant salons. In those days, travelling was partly about resting and partly about showing off in the right circles.

1930s: Unrest under the chandeliers

Behind the polished façade, Europe began to shake. The Grand Hotel continued to be an exclusive holiday resort, but tensions were also felt in the hotel's corridors, where political conversations became increasingly charged.

World War II: Occupation and Hitler's visit

When war came, the hotel was put to use by the German occupying forces. The solid construction, with reinforced concrete walls, was perfectly suited for military purposes.

Adolf Hitler used the hotel as a temporary headquarters for his operations after the invasion of Poland at the beginning of the war and stayed there around 19-25 September 1939.

One of the most fascinating anecdotes about the hotel tells of the master of the The whole peninsula, Józef Unrug. It is said that his coastal artillery could have targeted the hotel when Hitler was there, but that Urug declined because he did not want to kill civilians.

Post-war: New country and communist rule

When the war ended, Sopot found itself in Poland, under Communist rule. The Grand Hotel suddenly became a state hotel, open to workers, party officials and foreign guests from the Eastern Bloc.

Cold War: Diplomacy, discretion and dual worlds

During the Cold War, the Grand Hotel in Sopot became a place for meetings between East and West. Now, journalists, politicians and businessmen often frequented the lobby, and conversations could centre on business as well as information exchange.

1967: Visit of Charles de Gaulle

One of the most famous people to have stayed at the Grand Hotel in Sopot is French General, and later President, Charles de Gaulle. He stayed at the hotel as a guest of honour during an official trip in 1967, and today you can still visit the hotel room that bears the name Charles de Gaulle. The suite, which is 110 square metres and has a enormous balcony, can be booked for a mere €3,000 per night.

1990s: Freedom and glamour all over again

With the fall of communism, the Grand Hotel returned to luxury and glamour. The hotel was renovated and once again the celebrities, business elite and world leaders began to flock to the hotel in a more relaxed setting.

2000s: Celebrities and world leaders ... including Putin

Over the years, the Grand Hotel has been visited by many famous people, from world leaders to artists. For example, Alfonso XIII (King of Spain), Fidel Castro, Henry Kissinger, Hermann Göring, Lesh Walesa, Reza Shah Pahlavi (Shah of Iran), Greta Garbo, Marlene Dietrich, Prince, Annie Lennox, Shakira and Boney M.

Our guide explained that some guests make ”time stop”. He told us vividly about when Prince visited the hotel and needed special extra-soft mats to rest his feet, which were tired after long days in high-heeled shoes.

We also learnt about when Vladimir Putin visited the hotel in 2009. Putin and his party booked half the hotel and paid for their stay in cash, which they carried in suitcases, and which took the hotel staff a whole night to count... Fifteen snipers were deployed on the roof and the FSB effectively made sure that none of the hotel's other guests got too close to the Supreme Leader.

Today: Living history

Today, the Grand Hotel in Sopot is a fully functioning luxury hotel, where spas, dining, conferences and weddings coexist with a century of dramatic history. If you want to learn even more about this fascinating history, the hotel sometimes offers guided tours that take you on a journey into the past.

Grand Hotel in Sopot will soon celebrate 100 years

The Grand Hotel in Sopot opened its doors in 1927, which means it is fast approaching its 100th anniversary. Our guide was very clear that this coming to be celebrated, but exactly how, we don't know...

In conclusion, the Grand Hotel in Sopot stands as a monument to Europe's turbulent 20th century. Few hotels can tell a story that encompasses resort life, war, dictators and democracy - and continue to welcome new generations of travellers.

More inspiration about Sopot

Curious to read more about Sopot? Get inspired by this report about a winter weekend in Sopot. Here you will find tips on restaurants in Sopot and here you will find tips on things to What to see and do in Sopot.