A hotel with history

Hotel ‘Goldener Adler‘ is one of the earliest and well-known guesthouses in Bressanone/Brixen (land registration number 1). It was first mentioned around 1500. Since then, Kayser Max I., Charles V., the French writer and philosopher Michel de Montaigne, heir to the throne Cosimo of Medici and numerous others have been guests at our hotel. Since 1988, the hotel has been owned by Hermann and Maria Mayr, who have decided to revive the century-long tradition of hospitality. In December 2000, they re-opened the newly renovated Hotel ’Goldener Adler’.

It’s very rare that a hotel can look back to such a long tradition. 500 years, half a century, continuously servicing the needs of its visitors …..
Every era has left something special behind. Therefore, it is important that we learn to cherishe what has been left. Whether great things and small, e.g. buildings that tell stories about times gone by and which are nonetheless are still part of history today. At the ‘Goldener Adler‘, you can still feel the atmosphere of the past, but you do not feel as if you live in old ruins. In our hotel the preservation of historic buildings and a contemporary style form a harmonic symbiosis.

1500 First mentioned as a guesthouse and eating place. Ulrich Halbegg, mayor of the town of Bressanone/Brixen, and two years later, Ruprecht Halbegg, are the hosts of the hotel at that time.

1520 Floods in Bressanone/Brixen. The historic books of the time say: ‘….. the Ruepert Halbegg Hotel of Gulden Adler was half destroyed …..’. Kayser Max I. is one of the hotel’s visitors. Together with his entourage, he is supposed to have stayed in the historic town. The same is said about Charles V.
According to the fixed town tax established in 1523, the ‘Goldener Adler’ of the Halbeggs consists of two houses. A hotel letter dating back to 1555 states that Juliane Halbegg sold the existing building, which consists out of three dwellings, to Augustin Beeseen from Torbl at Lake Gart (Torbole at Lake Garda?) who in turn sold it to Hans Kienhuber.

1579 When Hans Kienhuber died, his widow Marie Kienhuber married Melchior Peisser. The Peisser family originated from the Peisserhof in Oberau near the Franzensfeste. A branch of the family moved to Bressanone/Brixen where they soon began to work for the prince-bishop’s court.

1580 The French writer and philosopher Michel de Montaigne stayed at the Goldener Adler of the Peisser family. In his book ‘Le voyage en Italie’, he writes that he stayed overnight in Bressanone/Brixen, a ‘tres belle ville‘ (a very beautiful town) in a ‘bonne auberge’ (a great hotel).

1582 The Peissers have the honour of waiting on Archduke Ferdinand and his entourage on their way to Parma.

1651 The future wife of Kayer Ferdinand III, Eleonora of Mantua, travelled with her entourage of 800 people via the Puster Valley to Vienna and is listed in the hotel’s calendar on 31st March 1651.
1659 The Venitian Delegate Nani stayed at the hotel.

1667 Heir to the throne, Cosimo of Medici honours the Peisser family with his presence.
The Peissers‘ keep the hotel until around 1716. By working at the royal court, the family is awarded a title in this year and stops running the hospitality business.
According to the royal archives of 1745, Michel Bergmeister became the owner of the ‘Goldener Adler‘. A certificate in 1772 marks the sale of the hotel by Johann Perkmeister.

1757/58 Once more, Bressanone/Brixen is plagued by floods and the Adler bridge is totally destroyed. After this catastrophy, the statue of Johannes Nepomuk, who is supposed to protect people from floods, is erected.

1829 Anna Leichter, nee Schrott, bought the building, which consists of three dwellings and which is called ‘Zum Goldenen Adler’.
From 1842 to 1915, the Adler is the property of the Augscheller family (butcher).

1854 During the building of a slaughterhouse, the old hall is destroyed. In 1881, the newly re-built hall is opened.

1932 According to the land register, Rudolf Knoflach, pig butcher of Bressanone/Brixen, bought the Adler.

1984 Elsa Knoflach sold the house on the condition that it would be given to the Mayr family so that it is in good hands: They are passionate hosts with respect for history and tradition.

since 1988 the hotel has been owned by Hermann and Maria Mayr, who have revived the long-standing tradition of hospitality. In December 2000, the newly renovated hotel ‘Goldener Adler‘ re-opened its doors. Today, the hotel avails of 30 stylish rooms with modern comforts and most likely, it will continue to write history.