Years ago, when I was in college, I had the chance to live and work in Aschaffenburg, Germany for a few months. The firm for which I worked had only one client, who would purchase and rehabilitate old properties throughout Germany. They would turn old hunting lodges into hotels, and old stores into restaurants.
The original lodge, or “schloss” was built by the archbishop of Mainz, Werner von Eppstein in 1265. He lived in the “castle” until his death in 1284. The castle then burnt down, and was rebuilt in 1557 by archbishop Daniel Brendel of Homburg. In 1907 the von Cancrin family acquired the property and began to reconstruct some of the areas that had been damaged by time and neglect. In 1991 the property was sold and following strict historical guidelines it was turned into a hotel, The Weyberhofe. The offices of the firm in which I worked were located in a converted barn in the property.
I was fortunate enough to stay in The Weyberhofe while I worked in Germany. I lost a lot of my photos from that trip to a flooded basement a few years back, but I want to share with you some images from this lovely place, which still inspires me to this day.
Photo from the Weyberhofe website, by Thomas Haltner
You enter into a courtyard formed by the lodge, or schloss on the far end and two old barns on either side.
Photo from the Weyberhofe website
One of the barn structures has been turned into an event facility, and a spa.
Photo from the Weyberhofe website
This is the interior of one of the barns, set up for a wedding.
Photo from the Weyberhofe website
The old pig barn was turned into a restaurant.
From the Weyberhofe website
The oldest part of the complex, the lodge, is used for the guest rooms.
Photo from the Weyberhofe website
You can see the original stone walls in this room.
Photo from the Weyberhofe website
This is one of the rooms on the third floor, which happens to look just like the room I called home…
Photo from the Weyberhofe website
The old cellar was recently converted into a wine bar.
Photo from the Weyberhofe website
This is the lodge complex as seen from its private park.
Photo from the Weyberhofe website
This is a photo of the private park located behind the hotel.
Photo from the Weyberhofe website
This is the oldest part of the complex, the original “hunting castle”.
Photo from the Weyberhofe website
A funky fish eye shot of the old barn that used to be my office.
Poto from the Weyberhofe website
A detail of the same space.
Photo from the Weyberhofe website
I remember as if it was yesterday, when the taxi driver pulled up to the Weyberhofe and told me that was the address I had given him. “Surely there has been a mistake”, I thought to myself… I am so thankful to my hosts for letting me work and live in such an amazing place. I still can not believe that I got to live in an actual castle! A big birthday is fast approaching, and we are hoping to be able to go on a bit of a ” grand tour”… The owners are not the same as when I lived there, and the firm for which I worked has closed its doors, but I can’t wait to share this very special place with my family.
Thanks for visiting!
Rodolfo
