The story

The hotel’s history dates back to 1894, when the current half-timbered complex was built by a shipping magnate from Bremen as his summer residence. Around 1920, the main building was extended to include the distinctive ‘turret’.
Following the turmoil of the war, in 1945 the building was used as a craftsmen’s rest home and training centre, and after German reunification it was repeatedly let to various tenants from the hotel and catering industries.

The owner at the time and the various tenants of the hotel had carried out numerous haphazard alterations, gradually destroying the character of the complex. The original charm of this wonderfully situated building was lost; the property seemed trapped and disfigured. The odyssey of this historic complex came to an end in September 2011 at an auction in Berlin.

Following the spontaneous purchase at auction, the new owner, Dr Clemens Ritter von Kempski, initially planned only a selective refurbishment – as the property had been touted as a fully furnished and operational hotel. However, it soon became apparent that the building had much more to offer than small, dark and sound-permeable rooms or a rather tasteless dining area. The history and the enchanted atmosphere that permeated the building inspired the investor, and he resolved to try to restore the property to its original structure, beauty and former glory.

In 2013, the comprehensive restoration and refurbishment of the premises began. Working alongside a young architect and a skilled team of tradespeople, and with great passion and dedication from everyone involved, the original basic structures of the ground-floor rooms were largely restored. The old wall panelling was carefully uncovered, the gallery in the hallway—which provides natural light—was opened up, and high-quality hotel rooms were sensitively incorporated. Now, the overall picture once again comes together harmoniously—befitting its elevated position above the town of Stolberg. The building’s battered soul has been set free, and invigorating life flows through the building once more – which is why we named the hotel FreiWerk!

• 2014 Opening of FreiWerk
• 2020 Refurbishment and extension of the “20zwanzig” restaurant     
• 2024 HideAway with 7 Spa Suites