Rössle - History

DISCOVER HISTORY - ENJOY MODERNITY

The Black Forest is a nature park with a fabulous idyllic scenery and a high recreational value, at least today. For a long time, the mountains were covered by impenetrable woodlands and the area was described, even in the 18th century, as “forlorn, terribly cold, full of hostile rugged rock formations and steep sided gorges, infested with wild animals”. At that time, the Black Forest was home to bears and wolves, rather than to humans. In particular in harsh winters, the crossing of the “Höchenschwander Berg” mountain was a dangerous and risky journey. However, once the traveller arrived at the Rössle Inn, he had managed the most perilous part of his journey.

 

AN ARCHITECTURE TO PROVIDE SHELTER FOR EVERYTHING AND EVERYONE

Even today, the dimensions of the building are astonishing and awesome. It was built as a typical Black Forest farmhouse, which incorporated all parts of the property in one building - the apartments of the farmer family, the rooms of the servants and maids, stables, storage facilities and hay barn.

Thanks to the roominess of the building, the Rössle Inn has always provided ample space to accommodate tired travellers and various activities.

 

COACHING INN – A BUSY PLACE

From 1870 to 1916, the Rössle Inn housed a post office and a horse relay station. At that time, given the unavailability of telephone, television and radio, it was the stagecoaches that provided communication and travel services, transporting not only the mail, but also travellers and information along rudimentary roads. At the service stations, such as the Rössle Inn, the exhausted horses were replaced - unless it was stagecoach carrying special mail - and the travellers and the coachman spent the night there.

For a long time, the Rössle Inn had its own brewery, the products of which were served to the travellers.

 

THE LANDLORDS OF THE RÖSSLE INN ARE STILL A TOPIC OF CONVERSATION

Some of the former Landlords of the Rössle Inn have gained a legendary notoriety among the population of Höchenschwand: for example, the owner Max Ebner, who was renowned for both his cleverness and entrepreneurial spirit or Alfred Ebner, who was commonly nicknamed “Fredi” by the inhabitants of Höchenschwand. The latter, who was actually a relative of the Porten Family, had managed the Rössle Inn from 1962 for 40 years. Until today, he is the protagonist of numerous anecdotes.