History

The history of our house dates back to 1628. At that time, the Thirty Years' War had been raging for ten years. It was only by a stroke of luck that the house survived the “Great Fire of Oestrich” when Swedish soldiers were ordered to reduce the entire town to ashes.
Over the centuries, the Schwan (German for “swan”) underwent numerous additions and renovations, but was able to retain its original appearance for the most part.
In addition to Mozart, Sir Sean Connery, and the Dalai Lama, numerous politicians have stayed at the Schwan.
Since the end of the 19th century, the Schwan has been owned by the Winkel-Wenckstern family. Martina Wenckstern is still a member of the management team today.
At the end of 2023, the owners of the property and the management of the Schwan decided to future-proof the operating model and convert all rooms into serviced apartments. Here, guests can live independently for a longer period of time without having to forego the amenities typical of a hotel, such as cleaning, laundry service, and a reception service.
This work will be completed in the first quarter of 2026, and 65 apartments will be offered under the label “Swan 1628.”