Hotel Fürstenhof
THE ABANDONED HOTEL IN GERMANY
This is the former luxury ‘Hotel Fürstenhof’ in Eisenach, Germany. The complex was used as a hotel for almost 100 years until it was closed and abandoned in 1996.
In 1854, the master butcher Samuel Liebetrau built its summer house on this site. Later, in 1861 Johann Georg Bornemann, a geologist and building contractor, bought the property and built Villa Bornemann. The villa was resold and extended after his death in 1902. Eventually, the ‘Kurhaus Hotel Fürstenhof’ opened on 15 May 1902. Eisenach wanted to become a fashionable spa town.
Even though, the best times of the spa towns were unfortunately already over. A casino was built on the terrace of the hotel in 1920. In 1928, a fire destroyed the ballroom. In time, it was rebuilt in a simpler form and could now accommodate up to 2000 guests. Additionally, the ballroom was also used for election events. For instance, on 23 October 1932 Adolf Hitler was the main speaker there. He held an electoral speech for the Reichstag elections of 6 November.
Military rehabilitation center
Throughout the Second World War, it functioned as a residence and recovery facility for injured soldiers. Interestingly, the structure remained unharmed during the war and provided refuge for the displaced and refugees following the German surrender.
Over the following years, they renovated the establishment and used it for various cultural, athletic, and dance activities. They rebranded it as the ‘Hotel Stadt Eisenach’ in the 1950s. However, they reinstated its original name in 1991. They eventually stopped operating the hotel in 1996, and it has been deserted ever since.
Due to vandalism and neglect, it is now in a state of disrepair. I explored the hotel in both 2016 and 2019. Check here for more abandoned hotels.
