The Officers' House in Borne Sulinowo — symbol of the lost town

On the shore of Lake Pile stands a building that could tell the whole story of Borne Sulinowo. German officers once gathered here; later a Soviet orchestra played and festive concerts were held. Today the building is a reminder of the past of a town that stayed closed to the civilian world for decades.

The Officers' House (Dom Oficera) is one of the best-known historic landmarks in Borne Sulinowo. Its monumental silhouette above Lake Pile has become a symbol of the “lost town” and an important stop for anyone exploring the unusual history of Western Pomerania.

A German officers' mess: where the story begins

The Officers' House was built in 1935–1936, when the Gross Born military garrison was taking shape on the site of a small village. It was a prestigious building and one of the garrison's main social centres.

From 1936 to 1945 it housed an officers' mess and a restaurant for the military, run by Georg Tobeck. Its rooms were also used for lectures and training for artillery and armoured-troop officers. Among the military figures linked to training at Gross Born was General Heinz Guderian.

In 1942 the building was also used to train officers of the German air force — the Luftwaffe Kampfschule Gross Born. According to local tourist information, the building covered around 6,000 m².

It was not just a restaurant or a place for ceremonies. The Officers' House was part of Nazi Germany's military infrastructure, which shaped life in the garrison and the surrounding area.

The Soviet garrison: the building becomes a cultural centre

After the Second World War, Borne Sulinowo became a closed military town where Soviet troops were stationed. For most civilians it remained off-limits for a long time, and everyday life there was cut off from the surrounding region.

The Officers' House took on a new role as the garrison's culture house for soldiers and their families.

It contained:

• a dance hall and a ballroom;
• a music school;
• a library;
• a cinema;
• a restaurant;
• a large concert hall seating around 1,000 people.

State and military holidays were celebrated here, and concerts, plays and ceremonies were held. Military ensembles and artists from the Soviet Union and Poland performed on its stage.

So the building that had first served a German garrison became one of the main cultural centres of a Soviet military town.

Soviet troops left Borne Sulinowo in 1992. The town began opening up to civilian life, and its former military buildings gradually found new uses — or stood empty.

The 2010 fire: how the Officers' House became a ruin

After the military era ended, the building passed into private hands. There were plans for its future use, including conversion into a hotel, but its former grandeur was never restored.

On the night of 1 February 2010 a major fire broke out in the Officers' House. The flames destroyed a large part of the building, and the roof structure over the concert hall burned down completely.

After the fire, the building continued to deteriorate. What was once a cultural centre is now a structure that stirs curiosity, sadness and a wish to learn more about the place's history — all at once.

That contrast is what makes the Officers' House so striking: music once filled it and hundreds of people gathered here; now the building itself is a silent witness to several different eras.

Why does the Officers' House matter to Borne Sulinowo's history?

The story of this building helps explain why Borne Sulinowo is so different from other Polish towns.

During the 20th century the area went through radical change: the creation of a German military garrison, the Soviet period, and the town's opening to civilian life in the early 1990s. The Officers' House connects all of these periods in one place.

It is a reminder that behind the unusual architecture, the big buildings and the “lost town” atmosphere lies a complex history — of war, of military presence and of people's lives in a closed garrison.

That's why visiting the Officers' House is not just a chance to see an impressive building. It's also a chance to see Borne Sulinowo as a place where history is literally right in front of you.

How to see the Officers' House today

The Officers' House stands by Lake Pile and is part of Borne Sulinowo's town walking trail. You can combine it with a walk through the historic streets and other sites of the former garrison.

When planning your visit, keep a few important things in mind:

• View the building from the outside only. According to the local tourist office, it is private property.
• Don't go inside. The damaged structure can be dangerous, even if it looks stable from the outside.
• Don't try to get into closed-off areas. Respect private property and any fences that are in place.
• Combine your visit with a walk by Lake Pile. It's the best way to take in the atmosphere of this part of town.

Before your trip, it's worth reading the description on the local tourist office's website: Officers' House in Borne Sulinowo — Dom Oficera (in Polish).

The full list of stops on the town route is on the Borne Sulinowo walking trail page (in Polish).

Discover the lost town

The Officers' House is just one of the stories Borne Sulinowo has to tell. There are former military villas, remains of the garrison's infrastructure, unusual buildings and places where the past feels especially close. The next part of this series is about the military museum.

If you'd like to explore the town without rushing, leave time not only for the sights but also for walks by the lake and through the quiet streets of the former garrison.

For a holiday like this, it helps to stay somewhere you're happy to come back to after a full day. Slow Life Apartment can be your base for getting to know Borne Sulinowo and its history. See what the apartment offers, and find booking details on Airbnb.

Sometimes a single old building can tell you more about a town than dozens of ordinary travel guides. The Officers' House is exactly that kind of place.