A royal past. A humble present. That’s the story of the Rintheimer Bahnhöfle.
Before you stands a restaurant unlike any other. It’s housed in a meticulously restored railway carriage from 1928. This isn’t just any old train car. Oh no. This carriage had a fascinating history. It once belonged to Alexander I King of Yugoslavia.
Imagine. Alexander I used this very carriage as a personal salon car. He traveled in luxury across Europe. Then tragedy struck. In 1934 Alexander I was assassinated in Marseille France. He died in this very carriage. The dying King was transported home in it. Sadly he never made it.
After his death Prince Regent Paul took over. He used the carriage too. He toured many countries in it. But war changed everything. The carriage was transferred to Germany in 1941. It served as a high-level staff car. It played a significant role during World War II.
After the war it was used by the occupation forces. Then in 1957 it became property of the German Federal Railroad. Chancellor Konrad Adenauer even used it as a campaign car in 1958. He toured West Germany in this stately carriage.
For years the carriage was used by railway engineers. Finally in 1979 it was retired and left to rust in Duisburg. It sat forgotten on a siding. That is until the Rintheim railway allotment gardeners stepped in. They rescued it from neglect. They painstakingly restored it. They transformed this relic into the charming restaurant you see today.
The Rintheimer Bahnhöfle is more than just a restaurant. It’s a living monument. It’s a testament to resilience. It’s a reminder that even in the most humble of settings history endures. It whispers stories of kings and chancellors of wars and peace. So raise your glass. Let’s toast to this remarkable piece of history. And to the Rintheimer Bahnhöfle. Its story continues. Enjoy the meal. And remember this extraordinary past.