History

We turn the time back…

In 1231 the Haxenhaus was first mentioned in documents as “Huus am Bootermaate”. Since then the ancient inn has served the hiring sailors as a home, the widely travelled pilgrims as a hostel, the French as a brasserie and until today as a restaurant opens its doors daily for you, the welcome guest in the heart of the old town of Cologne.

Built in the 13th century as a home for hiring sailors, the building continues to serve as a place of hospitality for residents and visitors of the city of Cologne. The listed building has been restored several times over the centuries and was spared destruction during the world wars.

Stairs and doors from Anno at that time remind also today of the legend of the legendary “Heinzelmännchen von Köln”, who left the city from our Rhine bank forever. Old culinary art, inherited recipes and traditional methods of preparation show Cologne cuisine at its best here.

The listed house bore many names over the centuries:

“Huus on Bootermaate”
“Brauhaus Könixstein”
“To the Prodigal Son”
“The Wappenhof”

And last but not least: “Haxenhaus zum Rheingarten” (Shank house to the Rhine garden)

All, the brewers and merchants, the couplers, the shipowners and innkeepers, all left traces of the changing history of the old town quarter in the house. The building was restored several times, was spared destruction during the World Wars and thus preserved the Cologne ceilings, its vaulted cellars and its unique charm for future generations. Stairs and doors from Anno at that time still remind today of the legend of the legendary “Heinzelmännchen von Köln”, who left the city from our bank of the Rhine forever.

Tradition of the art of cooking

Old cooking art inherited recipes, the “Cologne knuckle” and traditional ways of preparation prove: the bourgeois cuisine of Cologne combines the excellent taste of the cooks from the patrician houses and the masterly skills of all cooks who had brought their skills over the centuries to Cologne.

Why beer, schnapps and homemade bratwurst have been served by the metre here for so long is a question that the old lantern man answers as follows: it was because measurements were different! For everyone understandable and visible! There was the cubit, a hand or thumb width and also with a meter beer was measured.

In addition: in those days when not everyone could read and write and there were no newspapers, wage writers wrote messages and advertisements on meter boards. Day labourers, stack workers and sailors waiting for work at the pier were able to offer their labour to the wealthy guests in the Haxenhaus for less money.

Experience history authentically and culinary

These ancient traditions have been integrated into special, historically based programs to allow guests to enter the entertaining and cheerful side of the past.

In the old centre of Cologne, many testimonies remind us of the eventful history of the city. Every discovery tour through the old town inevitably leads visitors in the direction of the Haxenhaus to the Rheingarten.

For almost 30 years now, the Haxenhaus zum Rheingarten has been inviting today’s generations to rediscover and appreciate the history and tradition of the area through stories. A restaurant in which special value is placed on service and hospitality, in which the taste experience of the regional and house specialities is constantly refined, where guests meet, help to create the atmosphere and return with pleasure.

Pleasure. Hospitality. History.