GDR border tower in Cumlosen auctioned: Lutz Lange plans tourism!

GDR border tower in Cumlosen auctioned: Lutz Lange plans tourism!

On July 2, 2025, a former GDR border tower in Cumlosen, in the Prignitz district, was auctioned at an exciting auction in Berlin. Interest in this relic from history was enormous, attracting over 60 bidders. The hammer finally fell at 156,000 euros. The minimum price of 5,000 euros was a real bargain, which shows that many people could smell a good deal here. Katja Heringhausen from Deutscheimmobilienauktionen AG described the event as a “wild bidding war”.

The border tower is not only a piece of history, but also a listed building that stands directly on the Elbe with a property area of ​​almost 3,700 square meters. This location between Wittenberge and Lenzen is strategic, especially since the tower is on the popular Elbe cycle path, which makes it interesting for tourist projects.

Weekend plans for the tower

The tower will be taken over by Lutz Lange, the operator of the old oil mill in Wittenberge. He has decided to preserve the museum character of the building and plans to further develop the area. He is also thinking about tourist offers, possibly even accommodation options. This vision could not only help preserve the historic watchtower, but also boost tourism in the region.

There is enough potential for expansion, as the border tower comprises four floors and a former office extension. Despite the great potential, the current condition cannot be neglected: the building has suffered significant vandalism damage and has been vacant for decades, resulting in a high need for repairs. The responsible federally owned real estate company confirmed that the tower was built of solid construction and that it had a lease of 200 euros net per year at the auction.

Tourism and the region

The residents and the Prignitz district itself are not actively involved in the auction, but numerous inquiries from interested parties demonstrate keen interest in this special building. The region's tourism committee sees great potential in using the watchtower for tourism, especially in view of the existing tourist use of a comparable border tower nearby.

This auction not only revitalizes a piece of history, but also creates a perspective for the future use and tourist attractiveness of the Prignitz. It remains to be seen how Lutz Lange will actually implement his plans, but one thing is certain: the border tower will continue to form a connection between the past and the future.

For more information on this topic you can read the articles on Northern Courier, Kataria International and rbb24 read up.