Hotel Adler

    History

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    How the Building evolved

    The history of “Adlers”, one of the most important of Lucerne’s hostelries of the late Middle Ages and the baroque period, has not been comprehensively appraised. Occasional indications are found about its significance and also about the renowned individuals who once lodged there.

    In the course of extending the city of Lucerne, it is calculated that in the second half of the 13th Century there was a building at the place where “Adlers” stands now. The “Golden Eagle” (Der Goldene Adler) was first mentioned in 1356 in a council record and is amongst the oldest of Lucerne’s former taverns.

    In accordance with the oldest building records handed down, Jost Rüttimann sold the “hostelry known as The Adler” in 1638 together with the rear meeting-room, the castle and all other associated belongings.

    The history of the ownership of The Hotel Adler can be traced back to 1674, so we know that from that time the building was known as “The Red Lion Inn” (Zum roten Löwen”) until the abolition of the Tavern Rights in 1804. This could well be connected to the fact the then owner, Franz Büelmann (Bielmann), on taking over the entire “Adler” consequently received intact only a public house to retain.

    On the spot where the former inn “Zum roten Löwen”, at the south-west corner house (Rössligasse 4) stood, in 1597 there was at first a two storey lean-to annexe against the main part of the “Adler “.

    The style and construction of the half-timbering on the north side shows it was erected in the 18th Century. It is probable that the building was newly constructed between 1758 and 1778 when the value of the house rose sharply.

    “The Adler” consists of four main parts. The south-west corner house (Rössligasse 4) was only at times joined to “The Adler” in the course of the last three-hundred years; this arose from the former Red Lion hostelry’s Tavern Rights (at least since 1674) having been sold in 1804.

    In 1864 the rear buidings (Süesswinkel 6 & 7) were sold separately and appear since then as independent properties with their own land registry number.