Did you know that Prince Edward VII once stayed at Haus Bachem? This grand building stands proudly before us a testament to Königswinter’s rich history. Haus Bachem wasn’t always a mayoral office and registry office. It began its life in 1825 as the home of Theodor Bachem a prominent stonemason. His family played a pivotal role in Königswinter’s 19th-century economy particularly in the quarrying industry of the Siebengebirge mountains. The house itself reflects this heritage. Its simple yet elegant design speaks of the Bachem family’s success. Additions like the mansard roof and a small annex appeared at the start of the 20th century.
Theodor Bachem was instrumental in forming Königswinter’s stonemasons’ guild around 1817. This guild essentially created a monopoly on the valuable stone from the Siebengebirge. It controlled the lucrative business of supplying stone for projects such as the Cologne Cathedral’s expansion. This monopoly however proved short-lived. The Prussian state seized the quarries at Drachenfels in 1829 to prevent the mountain and its ruins from being destroyed.
Despite the setback Lorenz Bachem Theodor’s eldest son saw opportunity. He built a small inn on the Drachenfels plateau in the 1830s. This modest establishment marked the beginning of a long and successful history in the hospitality business. The stonemasons’ guild itself dissolved in 1835 due to internal disputes. Individual firms took over and Bachem & Cie founded in 1840 became particularly successful. This company operated quarries not only in the Siebengebirge but also in the Eifel region. Its headquarters was a stunning historicist villa on the Rhine. Ironically built of brick not stone by Peter Joseph Bachem. The decline of stone quarrying in the Siebengebirge ultimately ended the Bachem company.
In the late 1980s Königswinter meticulously restored Haus Bachem. It now serves as the mayor’s office and hosts cultural events. The former coach house is a charming registry office with its own wedding room. Standing here you can almost feel the echoes of the past. The success of the Bachem family the influence of the stonemasons’ guild and the legacy of a building that has seen so much. Haus Bachem is more than just a building. It’s a living monument to Königswinter’s rich history.