Der Reichsküchenmeister - Das Herz von Rothenburg

Our Heritage

The History of the names of the Reichsküchenmeister

The hotel's name is reminiscent of the imperial kitchen masters of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, who, as imperial servants and imperial ministers, were only responsible to the Emperor in the Middle Ages. They were of great importance for the administration of the region and its economic development. As "Masters of the Art of Cooking", the "Imperial Golden Bull" granted the imperial kitchen masters the office of the imperial kitchen.
The achievements of the imperial chefs earned them the status of imperial bailiffs at the Rothenburg Hohenstaufenburg. From here, they also exercised the administration of justice for the area of the Free Imperial City of Rothenburg as Imperial Bailiffs.
The most important representative was Mr Lupold von Nordenberg, whose ancestral castle Nordenberg was located two hours away to the north-east on the Franconian Heights. We can still admire his rich foundations today, including the Dominican Convent - now the RothenburgMuseum, formerly known as the Imperial Town Museum.
In addition to the knightly helmet visor, the imperial chefs bore a rolling pin and a chopping mallet in their coat of arms as symbols of their former activities. Today, even after 800 years, these insignia remain the emblem of the "Reichsküchenmeister" hotel in Rothenburg ob der Tauber. We thus commemorate the formative significance of the Reichsküchenmeister and contribute to the preservation of tradition.
Our establishment itself also looks back on a long history. The building is one of the oldest patrician houses in the heart of the historic old town. The von Brodsorg family has lived here since the late 12th century. The Brodsorg coat of arms still adorns the main entrance door of the hotel today. Great history: In the year 1540 the later Emperor Ferdinand I and in 1546 Emperor Charles V stayed at our hotel.

The Reichsküchenmeister then and now

1919

Master confectioner Ernst Attmannspacher buys the Café Köppel.

1920

Opening as Café Toppler-Diele with its own patisserie and dance hall.

1942

Son Ernst Attmannspacher and his wife Else take over the café and expand it into a restaurant.

1945

January - February

The café-restaurant and the kitchen are used as a canteen for a nearby emergency hospital.

31 March 1945

The café-restaurant burns down to the façade as a result of the American air raid on Rothenburg; only the rear part of the building remains intact. Else Attmannspacher, together with her daughter Emmi and some employees, begins to clear the building of rubble.

September 1945

Reopening of the Café Toppler-Diele.

October 1945

The café-restaurant is confiscated by the American Military and becomes a club venue for six weeks.

Mid November 1945

Reopening of the café-restaurant. Up to this point, only the ground floor and the first floor were open for business. In the following years, the burnt-out building was rebuilt (ground floor and three floors), sometimes under challenging conditions.

1948

Continued operation as Hotel Reichsküchenmeister by Emmi Kleinschroth and her husband Hermann. The floors are gradually converted into hotel rooms.

1955

Purchase of a town farmhouse for garages and a car park. The first holiday flats are constructed here in the year 1992.

1961

Hermann Kleinschroth buys some meadows 15 kilometres from Rothenburg to create a pond for rearing carp. The carps are served in the hotel restaurant.

1981

Daughter Barbara and her husband Wolfgang Niedner take over the hotel. Ongoing renovation of the rooms with bathrooms, the restaurants and the public restrooms.

1986

Construction of the first sauna and spa area in the basement of the main building.

1987

Opening of the "Löchle" wine tavern.

1990 – 1992

Acquisition and conversion of the former Viktoria cinema into the Viktoria annexe building, now housing about 25 of the guestrooms.

1995

Construction of the ‘Kleines Löchle’ private dining room in the cellar of the St Michael's Chapel.

2000

† Senior proprietor Emmi Kleinschroth.

Daughter Corinna joined the company.

2006

Opening of the Christmas Garden for the first time as part of the Reiterlesmarkt Christmas Market.

Juli 2012

† Senior proprietor Hermann Kleinschroth.

2012

The main kitchen of The Reichsküchenmeister is completely refurbished and brought up to the latest technical standards.

2013

Ten rooms in our main building are renovated and equipped with air-conditioning.

2015

Beginning of renovation work in the Viktoria annexe building into a modern country house style.

2016

Renovation of the half-timbered façade and completion of the rooms in the Viktoria annexe building.
Remodelling of the restaurant and the Korkenzieherstube, expansion of the breakfast and drinks buffet.

2019

New construction and expansion of the spa area.

2020

100th anniversary of the company.

We are the Heart of Rothenburg.