High above the Rhine the Petersberg stands. Its summit holds secrets whispered through centuries. From its heights you can see the Rhine valley stretching out before you. This majestic mountain was once known as Stromberg. That was before a chapel dedicated to Saint Peter was built in 1764. This gave the Petersberg its current name.
The Petersberg’s story begins long before that. Evidence shows people lived here as early as 3500 BC. A ring wall from around 1000 BC was even discovered. Cistercian monks from Himmerod Abbey took over an old hermitage in 1189. They built Heisterbach Abbey in the valley below.
The Petersberg became a fashionable spot in the 19th century. Joseph Ludwig Mertens bought the land in 1834. His wife Sibylle built a summer home. She became known as the Rheingräfin or Countess of the Rhine. The Nelles brothers then built the Hotel Petersberg in 1892. They also built the Petersbergbahn a rack railway connecting the hotel to Königswinter. This railway closed in 1958.
After World War II the hotel became important again. It served as the headquarters of the Allied High Commission. It also became a guesthouse for the Federal German Government. Many world leaders stayed there. The Petersberg Agreement was signed there in 1949. This gave West Germany more sovereignty.
The hotel changed hands several times. It was a spa a guesthouse and a hotel. It was even used as a military hospital during both World Wars. In 1979 the German government bought the Petersberg. The Hotel Petersberg was renovated. It reopened in 1990. It is now a luxurious hotel and conference center. The Petersberg continues to play a significant role in German history. It offers stunning views and a rich past. The Petersberg has hosted many important events and people. It continues to welcome visitors from around the world. It remains a special place. A place of history beauty and intrigue.