Amid the rumble of the crowd in Cologne’s streets throughout Euro 2024, England supporters discovered a surprising sanctuary: Pascha, the largest brothel in the world. Priced at £169 per night, far lower than other nearby hotels, it provided a low-cost refuge for football supporters. However, aside from its services, Pascha has been placed in the international spotlight for a succession of controversies, including a 2024 raid by authorities and unsubstantiated claims of spying.
Founded in January 1972 as “Eros Center,” Pascha was Europe’s first high-rise brothel, built with municipal support to move prostitution off Cologne’s streets and into a regulated environment. Renamed Pascha in 1995 after a change in ownership, it has grown into a landmark of the European sex industry, with additional locations in Salzburg, Munich, and Linz. The 12-story, 9,000-square-meter building houses 126 rooms across seven floors dedicated to sex work, alongside a hotel on the ninth floor, a nightclub, bars, and a table dance club. Themed floors cater to varied preferences, including budget services and transgender sex workers, making Pascha a multifaceted operation.
Pascha’s business model is built on autonomy and regulation. Approximately 120 sex workers, about 30% of whom are German nationals, rent rooms for €180 per day. This fee covers meals, medical care, and local taxes, including Cologne’s unique “pleasure tax” of €6. Clients pay a €5 entry fee and negotiate services directly with workers, who are self-employed and retain all earnings after the rental fee. The brothel’s money-back guarantee for unsatisfactory services is a distinctive feature, emphasizing customer satisfaction in an industry often criticized for exploitation.
The center has over 80 workers, ranging from security guards to cleaners and administrators, to keep it running smoothly. Other luxuries, including a hairdresser, tanning salon, and complimentary German lessons for the workers, go to show Pascha’s commitment to the welfare of the workers.
The history of Pascha has been marred by both legal and ethical issues. A Thai sex worker was stabbed to death in June 2003 by a client, although immediate action by security resulted in the killer’s arrest. A sex worker narrowly escaped a knife attack in 2006, again with security intervening. A 2005 police raid resulted in the discovery of underage sex workers, some as young as 14, working with fake documentation, with the workers being arrested for breaking immigration laws.
Founder Hermann Müller was given a three-year prison sentence for tax evasion in 2017. The brothel struggled during the COVID-19 pandemic, declaring bankruptcy in September 2020 as a result of extended closures impacting 120 sex workers. It reopened briefly before being shuttered again in January 2021 and sold to a Chinese buyer, Jing Hu, for €11 million in March 2021. After renovations, Pascha reopened in March 2022 run by a German manager with the upper floor operating as a hotel.
In June 2024, authorities raided Pascha to investigate tax compliance among sex workers, with the owner citing challenges with a voluntary tax collection system. More dramatically, in September 2024, the brothel was seized amid suspicions that its purchase was funded by an organized crime ring smuggling wealthy Chinese nationals into Germany. Despite this, Pascha continued to operate.
Adding to the intrigue, reports in 2024 alleged that Pascha’s Chinese ownership was linked to espionage, with claims that spies resided on the ninth floor. Brothel operator André Wienstroth dismissed these allegations, jokingly offering a “discount for spies” on social media. These claims remain unverified, with sources like Daily Star and Daily Mail reporting concerns about England fans potentially being compromised during Euro 2024.
Pascha’s influence extends beyond its physical presence. The 2010 documentary Like a Pascha, directed by Svante Tidholm, offered a feminist perspective on its operations, sparking discussions about sex work and labor rights. Bold marketing stunts, such as a 2008 campaign offering free lifetime entry for clients who tattooed the Pascha logo on their arms, have kept it in the public eye.
