Your Hosts in Die Reichsstadt. Hotel & Restaurant.
Gerhard and Carmen Hummel
We, the cook and interior designer, Gerhard and Carmen Hummel, were meant to find each other. To breathe new life into the old pension "Die Reichsstadt". We both grew up in Gengenbach, this charming half-timbered town at the foot of the Black Forest, but we didn't meet until we both returned from many years in the wide, wide world. We have made a highlight in the hotel landscape of the Ortenau out of an abandoned traditional house. The house was built in the 16th century as the brewery of the Gengenbach Monastery, later it was run by two generations of Hummels. In 1998 Gerhard Hummel took over: Die Reichsstadt. 4-star Hotel & Restaurant.
With courage. With Style. With a personal touch. In the hotel – and on your plate
We are a pair with a soft spot for modern design and a love of tradition. Both have the courage to be creative and add a personal touch. In the interior – and on your plate. In the beginning somewhat timidly, we continued the tradition of the regional tavern cuisine. But Gerhard's drive to be creative and cook at a higher standard took over. We reorganized the restaurant to serve gourmet cuisine. At first, 80 % of our regular guests stayed away. But our courage was rewarded. The restaurant critics came. And when they left, they were thrilled. Their critiques lured the connoisseurs to the Reichsstadt's restaurant in the heart of Gengenbach. Today there are times when guests have to wait weeks to get a table.
A historical monument on its way into the future
13 years of renovations. Core removal. Energy from a thermal power station. Connection to the neighboring houses. Drainage of the city walls on which the house is built. We managed to get through it. We put a terrace in the garden, exposed old beams and stones wherever possible. We built a beautiful spa and a skylounge, a bar and a fireplace lounge. All under Carmen's leadership: hotel director and interior designer.
Die Reichsstadt, Hotel & Restaurant in Gengenbach has become a life's work. But you, our guests, are what make the Reichsstadt so special. We love pampering you. To help you plan your day successfully. To give away a cooking secret at the table. To surround you with beauty, with fresh flower decorations and candles at dinner .... Let us know what we can do for you.