History

The history of the present-day facility goes back to the Middle Ages. Holy Roman Emperor Frederick I, also called Barbarossa, confirmed the establishment of a monastery on the Jakobsberg in a certificate dated April 15, 1157.

Around 1450, however, the monastic community was abandoned. Various attempts to reintroduce the monastic life failed due to the rough living and working conditions. Contemporary witnesses during the 15th/16th century told of the "solitude of the place", of the threat from robbers, and they complained that here – far from civilisation – one was not able to realise any "missionary ideal".

In 1650, the property was sold to the Jesuits of Koblenz, and in 1773 it came into the possession of the grammar school of Koblenz. In 1891, the leaseholder of the now exclusively agriculturally used property bought the Jakobsberg estate, which since then has been privately owned. The oldest preserved photograph from 1896 shows the former monastic estate in good architectural condition and as an intact farming operation. However, in the years to come the estate started to degenerate more and more.

1960 was the turning point. Dr. Hans Riegel, a businessman from Bonn, came, saw and bought. While maintaining the architectural character of the old estate, he developed one of the largest and most beautiful hotel resorts on the Rhine.

Italian sculptor Professor Benetton, formerly teaching at the universities of Milan and Venice, contributed ideas and artwork for the remodelling of the facilities, including the interior of the old chapel. In addition to the new hotel wings, a variety of sports and play areas and the later golf course with its unique scenic location were created.