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Rathausglöckel Baden-Baden, Germany
Painting and review are copyrighted work by Ginda Simpson
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Two fine old Baden-Baden homes,
built over three centuries ago, have been merged recently to become the newly
renovated Rathausgloeckel Hotel. It
is a small 4-star inn located in the most desirable position, a two- minute
walk to the famous Friedrichsbad and the Caracalla Spa in one direction, and a
short stroll downhill to the central Leopoldsplatz, a square that leads to all
the fine shopping streets and the elegant promenade, Lichtentaler Allee.
The structure has a rich history,
still visible in its 16th century wine cellar built over the
remains of the ancient baths of original Roman settlement of Aquae.
Records show that there was a simple house already in existence at
Steinstrasse 7 as early as 1674. At
that time, it was owned by a baker and the original oven is still to be seen
in the cellars today. In 1828, the property was sold and the new owners opened
a restaurant. In 2009, the
current owners took the already existing hotel/restaurant, joined it to the
adjacent house and created this very special inn. Our room is small but lacks no
desired comfort. The furnishings,
of fine burled walnut wood and the linens are of top quality.
It is not always easy to exit from beneath the comfort of a down cover,
but breakfast here is worth it. The
offerings are generous and arranged beautifully, buffet-style, in the attached
restaurant of the same name. Indeed, dinner in the Rathausgloeckel Restaurant is not to be missed. Chef Andreas does a super job of recreating many of the
traditional dishes of the Black Forest region, including a few of historical
significance. Nearby church bells call us forth to explore one of the most charming cities in Germany – all the sights within easy walking distance of our hotel, where we have been made to feel welcome and very much at home. |
