The History Of The Brudermühle

Anno Domini 1314 the –Brudermühle – has been mentioned for the first time in a document by King Otto. The mill supplied the Babenberger`s castle and the oldest centre of Bamberg.

Count Adalbert von Babenberger and his brothers were the owners of the castle and mill in 898. In 906 the Babenberger`s` possessions were confiscated by the state and handed over to the Bavarian duke Heinrich der Zänker in 975.

His son and heir Emperor Heinrich II   gave it as morning gift, to his wife Kunigunde von Luxemburg. As the couple remained childless, the entire king’s wealth was donated to the newly founded diocese Bamberg and so the Brudermühle fell under rule of the cathedral’s chapter. This structure of ownership remained through centuries. In 1406 a –Gült- were 76 sacks of wheat grinding stock

Being located next to the Franziskus-Monastary or so called barefeet-bretheren (brothers) the mill became the mill next to barefeetbrothers or mill next to brothers or lower brothermill (brother meaning Bruder, mill meaning Mühle).

Many millers managed the Brudermühle throughout centuries, fighting repeatedly for their rights of using the water and of fishing. The mill burned down four times.

Today’s building was erected after the fire 1762 and decorated with a fabulous Madonna, probably by Leonhard Gollwitzer`s sculptor workshop.The mill produced flour until 1850appr.

Bamberg city overtook the building in 1888 and established the first water supply works, later the old water wheels served to generate power. It closed down in 1922 and an urban bureau for inspecting counters was furnished.

Toni Schenk, Sophia und Wolfram Zachert bought the Brudermühle in 1976 and renovated the venerable building under strict regard of guarding the monument

May 30th 1980 Erna and Georg Vogler could welcome the first guests from the twin-cities Villach and Rodez.Later Oct. 17th 1980 the- reborn- house was introduced to the public. The Vogler-Family has brought tradition and modern catering to a harmonious whole ever since.

The Brudermühle is a very popular place for informal gatherings and meetings and many prominent visitors have written into the guest’s diary, such as:

Richard von Weizäcker, Bernhard Vogel, Lothar Späth, Henry Kissinger, Barbara Rüting, Hannelore Kohl, Erzbischof Elmar Maria Gredel, Reinhard May, Peter Wackel, Karl-Heinz Böhm, Hardy Krüger sen., Günter Strack, Karel Gott, Gustl Bayerhammer, Eberhard Feick, Max Schautzer, Carolin Reiber, Heinz Sielmann, Kai Pflaume, Klaus Augenthaler, Tatjana Gsell mit Prinz von Hohenlohe and naturally the incomparable Bamberger SAMS.

In 2002/ 03 the Hotel Brudermühle got more space. The opposite building was turned into a guesthouse  – Mehlwaage – .  For centuries, the former flour-balance had been the official counting and balancing place to the millers along the Regnitz. The Vogler-Family put a
lot of love for details into creating the four apartments named Rottmeister, Zaubergarten, Rotkäppl and Geyerswörthblick with view at the Alte Rathaus, Schloß Geyerswörth, the Cathedral or the Ensemble of the Mills. PURE BAMBERG.

The first guests were welcomed in April 2003.
The 25th anniversary of the Brudermühle was celebrated in 2005. The Vogler-Family had invited everyone to a first ham-party with lots of music and high spirit. A trip for two could be won and there was a balloon far – flight competition for the children. The furthest got to France.

The Vogler-Family and Co-workers

 

 

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