Goldene Rose

An addictive ménagerie of 15th-century Bavarian heritage and architectural intelligence, the design hotel Goldene Rose is an assemblage of latticed-timber facades located at the heart of the medieval haunt, Dinkelsbühl. 

A place once frequented by Queen Victoria in 1891, Crown Prince Frederik and hot European royalty of the day, the task of converting a cluster of five historical townhouses laced with unique history into a cohesive hotel was orchestrated by Bolzano-based architect studio NOA. Curating the design palettes of salvaged twisted beams, buttercup-yellow frontages, quirky undulating rooflines, a warren of slanting corridors and the hallmarks of uniformed age, NOA delivers a chameleon den of medieval charisma paired with bold comfort-centric design and confrontational rooftop architecture that slumbers above thick stonewalls. 

The Goldene Rose has always hosted hotel guests passing through Dinkelsbühl, the string of four adjoining medieval houses, however, harbour many a past incarnation being used as a cinema, a brewery, a ballroom, a casino, warehouses and restaurants - a legacy of purpose that is now reborn under the parental Goldene Rose. Studio NOA let the inherent traits of the past speak with pockets of rough plaster finishes, white limed oak floors contrasting with dark wood complementing the beamed ceilings, and modular sofas and seating in alabaster white. Bedrooms follow a similar, polished décor with nods to the past coming in the form of large-scale, medieval-style woven tapestry rugs framing the beds, hammock sofas, and an open bathroom that merges into the room employing mirrored, mosaic-like surfaces, all bound by medieval spatial structures. 

Elsewhere in the hotel, an unexpected auditorium, the Rose Hall provides the required culture tick box with a roster of concerts. Once a ballroom from 1870, NOA teased out its historical past using original fabric patterns and nostalgic glass ball lamps. 

Crowing the hotel is the rooftop ‘Attic Spa’, which includes a ten-metre-long outdoor infinity pool that, through its cut-out gables, offers a framed view of the neighbouring cathedral. 

Boutique Hotel Goldene Rose continues its regal legacy of rich hospitality, whereby today, the creative set, founders, fashionistas and entrepreneurs feel equally in residence in Bavaria's downtown beauty, Dinkelsbühl.

With over 40 rooms and 14 suites, Goldene Rose’s accommodation is spread between three different categories, although in each you’ll find the same attention-to-detail in the quest for a seamless aesthetic from past to present. 

Smooth-textured, lime-washed wooden floors meet plaster walls and beamed ceilings; contemporary furnishings, modern bathrooms, mirrored walls and hanging chairs are layered on top. The pièce de resistance are the tapestries that talk of times past with their medieval style and highlights the gentle patchwork approach to melding this heritage property together with style.

Whether you fancy fizz with nibbles, or a refined tasting menu paired with vino, Goldene Rose has it covered. Sit up at the mirrored bar or by the modern wood burner at the Queen Vicky bar, with a cold Bavarian beer, glass of champagne or even a cup of tea. Accompany this with a cheeky morsel of food described as Bavarian tapas - teeny wiener schnitzel, truffle fries, blinis with caviar or a locally sourced cheese plate are all very tempting. For something more sustaining, head to Canteen Raisin, enriched by the ornate wallpaper where menus showcase a refined Bavarian culinary journey including dishes such as asparagus, morel and shrimp; beef tenderloin, truffle and foie gras; plus puddings that combine cherry, chocolate and mustard seeds.

Quite unexpectedly, the top-floor roofscape of Goldene Rose is a haven for wellness-seekers, the cherry on the cake of this contemporary remodelling of a 15th century traditional timber house in Dinkelsbühl. The Attic Spa is housed within the original rafters, which architects NOA made special effort not to disturb in any way and to keep to its preliminary form. Within this are sculpted massage and treatment rooms, a sauna, fruit bar and a relaxation area found over two floors; the ancient beamed ceilings creating the perfect environment for peaceful contemplation. Adding to this is the wow-factor pool with its cradled view of Dinkelsbühl’s cathedral. At ten metres long, it’s large enough for lengths, although you may find yourself gazing at the sky through the gabled rooftop which allows for sky views.

Set as the middle point between Munich, Stuttgart and Nuremberg, Goldene Rose is centrally located in Dinkelsbühl, one of Bavaria’s most beautifully preserved medieval towns, and once an imperial city of the Holy Roman Empire. Lying alongside Germany’s Romantic Road, which winds its way through some of Bavaria’s prettiest stretches of woodland and mountains, Dinkelsbühl has a time-stood-still quality to it. Ancient city walls, defensive moats, cobbled streets and traditional timber houses painted in colourful tones speak of its 15^th century. St George’s cathedral is so well preserved it was used in a recent Netflix series The Empress.