In a fantastic location overlooking the bay of Cologne and providing wonderful views of Cologne Cathedral, the Althoff Grandhotel Schloss Bensberg certainly knows to fascinate all visitors – may it be on a business trip, a city break to Cologne, or a wellness weekend.
Many festivities and events have taken place in gourmet hotel against the backdrop of such wonderful scenery - not to mention a number of weddings.
In fact, Schloss Bensberg is a pretty much ideal venue for weddings. For example, loving fiancées can say “yes” to each other in baroque Zanetti hall.
After that, everyone can move on to the wedding celebration – with Cologne as a constant backdrop – or the couple can rest briefly in a luxury suite.
HISTORY
Versailles and Winchester Castle served as architectural models when Prince-Elector Johann Wilhelm II of Duesseldorf – shortened to Jan Wellem in the Rhineland dialect – ordered the construction of his “Maison de Rétraite” at a prominent site on the Bensberg mountain terrace with a breathtaking view of the cathedral city of Cologne.
While he had at first conceived of the imposing structure as a hunting lodge for his second wife, Maria-Luisa of the Medici family, Johann Wilhelm changed his plans following a visit to Versailles and ordered his architects to build a castle whose dimensions already impressed visitors in his time – including Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.
When the Prince-Elector died in 1716 without ever having used his “Rhenish Versailles”, his widow soon returned to Italy. She took the numerous artists, plasterers and painters with her.
Thus the building remained unfinished and was used over the centuries as a military hospital, cadet school, boarding school and refugee centre.
Then in 1997 the Aachener & Münchener life insurance company bought the seriously dilapidated building and, with an investment of 75 million Euros, remodelled it as a grand hotel of the international luxury class.
The Althoff Grandhotel Schloss Bensberg near Cologne has 120 luxurious rooms and suites, which invite you to feel at ease and relax due to their combination of luxury and comfort at the highest level.
The elegant guest rooms at Grandhotel Schloss Bensberg are equally geared to the needs of business travellers as well as holidaymakers, and provide a beautiful view of Cologne
Cathedral, Bensberg Schlosspark or the Bergisch Land countryside.
Generous layouts, noble marble bathrooms, elegant interiors and the discreet integration of sophisticated technology round off the exclusive ambience in the castle hotel near Cologne.
The Presidential Suites are pure luxury king bedded Palace Suites.
They have one large living room with president’s table, large sofa lounge, chimney, separate bed and dressing room.
The Presidential Suites offer an exceptional view over the Rhine Valley and the Cologne Cathedral.
The large marble bathroom has a private sauna, exclusive Jacuzzi.
The suites are luxurious king or twin bedded Palace-Suites with separate, spacious and individually and tastefully furnished bed and living room.
The Dom Suites have a breathtaking view over the Rhine Valley and the Cologne Cathedral.
The Elector Suites are generous and elegant king or twin bedded Palace-Suites with seperate bed and living room.
The living room is furnished with a comfortable sitting area and an elegant desk.
They have a stunning view over the Rhine Valley or the courtyard.
The Junior Suites are individually and stylishly furnished king or twin bedded Junior Suites featuring spacious living room and magnificent views over the Rhine Valley and the Cologne Cathedral.
Roof Suites are comfortable king bedded suites with seperate bed and living room. The suites with romantic sloping roof have a stunning view over the Rhine Valley or the courtyard.
The freshly refurbished Grand Deluxe Rooms combine the baroque style of the historic hunting lodge with timeless elegance and contemporary furniture.
Room has a magnificent view over the Rhine Valley and the Cologne Cathedral.
The freshly refurbished Grand Superior Rooms combine the baroque style of the historic hunting lodge with timeless elegance and contemporary interior.
This classic shapes and precious woods are accented by shiny fabrics and leather upholstery combined natural discreet tones with the lamps held in ice blue.
The Grand Lit Rooms are freshly refurbished, double bedded rooms with timeless elegance and contemporary interior.
They are facing the garden or the courtyard. Light and spasious room is for your comfort.
The Single Rooms are elegant, bright queen bedded rooms with a classy and elegant interior style.
They are facing the Rhine Valley or the courtyard. Light and spacious room is for your comfort.
It is his love for the product and for pure favour as well as his infinity for refined compositions yet without frills that make Joachim Wissler one of Germany’s best chefs.
His individual style of cooking combines provocative, modern and creative elements, whereby he’s picking up components of molecular cuisine to accent his creations.
Joachim Wissler is considered to be one of the shaping personalities that are defining the so called trend of the “New German School”, saying that almost forgotten regional products and dishes are experiencing a modern rebirth.
Joachim Wissler was born on January 13, 1963, in Nürtingen and grew up in the Swabian Alps.
Joachim Wissler successfully passed his professional training at the famous “Traube Tonbach”.
After several professional experiences at renowned addresses, Joachim Wissler was awarded with his first Michelin-star as Chef de Cuisine at Schloss Reinhartshausen (Erbach / Rheingau) in 1995.
In 2000, Wissler took a new challenge at the restaurant “Vendôme”, Althoff Grandhotel Schloss Bensberg.
Due to his excellent work, Wissler received his first Michelin star in 2001, followed by the second and third one in 2002 and 2005 respectively.
Since 2005, Joachim Wissler belongs to Germany’s elitist circle of chefs.
In addition to the three Michelin stars, the Restaurant Vendôme was decorated with 19,5 Gault Millaut points and therefore, belongs to one of Germany’s top-tier culinary addresses.
In the January edition of the Capital-Gourmet-Kompass, Joachim Wissler holds the top position among “Germany’s best 100 Restaurants”.
Furthermore, the Restaurant “Vendôme” is on rank 12 in the San Pellegrino Ranking of the World’s 50 Best restaurants.
3 GUIDE MICHELIN STARS
19 GAULT MILLAU POINTS
The restaurant Vendôme, near Cologne, headed by 3-star chef Joachim Wissler, is one of the best restaurants in Germany.
Joachim Wissler serves a blend of classical cuisine, creativity and modernity. In 2005 and 2013, the magazine "Der Feinschmecker" voted Wissler "Chef of the Year" and in 2009 he was deemed "The Best Chef in Germany."
Apart from three Michelin stars, the restaurant Vendôme has also been decorated with 19.5 Gault Millau points as well as 5 Feinschmecker F's, and is ranked Germany's best restaurant in the "San Pellegrino World's 50 Best Restaurants" list.
19.00h - 22.00h
12.00h - 14.00h
Enjoy the evening in the newly refurbished Salvador Dali Bar. A mixture of classic design and modern colors is expecting you.
You will be surprised with an innovative concept of light, Spanish dishes and more than 30 open wines.
The perfect combination for a relaxing and culinary evening.
Live music on the weekends as well as the monthly Afterwork Party make the Salvalor Dali Bar a real “place to be”.
18.00h - 01.00h
18.00h - 02.00h
15 GAULT MILLAU POINTS
In the Trattoria Enoteca, you will experience the full range of Italian cuisine — hearty dishes from the country kitchen, light dishes from the coast, and irresistible home-made pasta.
The warm colours, authentic aromas, finest ingredients and select wines together with perfect service — provide a setting for an unforgettable visit.
12.00h - 14.30h18.00h - 22.30h
One of the Leading Hotels of the World, awarded the Wellness Aphrodite, provides a unique feel-good ambience in its 1,000 square meter Beauty & Leading Spa to pamper the mind and senses.
No matter whether a wellness day at the Day Spa, a romantic spa weekend for two or a luxury spa massage with exclusive cosmetics products from La Prairie, ClarinsorLigne St. Barth, you can relax in the princely Beauty & Leading Spa of the Grandhotel Schloss Bensberg, near Cologne, par excellence.
Relax in the exclusive sauna area, recharge your batteries in the fitness centre or simply enjoy the refreshing cool of the pool under the romantic “starry sky”.
Enjoy the all-round treatment in luxurious cabins, equipped by Gharieni, or with beauty arrangements that are rounded off by the exclusive body care products from La Prairie, Clarins, Ligne St. Barth and O·P·I.
Whether meetings, seminars, work shops or other events - the 9 Function Rooms and exclusive Ballroom offer the perfect setting for any event to make your function a unique experience for your guests and a successful occasion for you.
The Althoff Grandhotel Schloss Bensberg, on the outskirts of Cologne, offers a unique setting and professional service to ensure that your event is also a memorable one.
The castle is an enchanting attraction to create the perfect atmosphere for every type of celebration, such as weddings, anniversaries, confirmations or a traditional "baroque" Christmas.
The Bel Etage, with its breathtaking panorama terrace, privides generous space for diverse individual requirements.
It offers a unique collection of 5000 antiquarian german, english and french books.
The Chambre Separée fits perfectly well for a dinner.
It has direct access to the park site of the castle.
Restaurant Jan Wellem provides a perfect setting for your dinner and your celebration.
The salon provides a beautiful view of the terrace including the rose garden and fountain.
The Salon Habsburg offers a total of 53 sqm. It offers a direct view to the inner courtyard of the hotels.
The salon offers a fantastic view to the terrace, the rosary and the fountain.
The salon is located on 3rd floor and offers a fantastic view over the city of Cologne.
ALTHOFF GRANDHOTEL SCHLOSS BENSBERG
Kadettenstrasse51429 Bergisch Gladbach/CologneGermany