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When Heidelberg's new railroad station was built on the outskirts of the city in 1840, it not only established the rail link between Heidelberg and neighbouring Mannheim (opened on September 12, 1840 as the first section of the connection between Mannheim and Basel) but was also a major factor in the economic boom that the city was soon to enjoy.
By 1865, the population of Heidelberg had grown to some 18,000 citizens. Up to this time, most of Heidelberg's inns had been concentrated around the Heiliggeist church in the center of the town. Now, however, hotels started springing up in the neighbourhood of the station. When the University celebrated its 500th anniversary in 1886, the city was able to offer its many illustrious visitors from Germany and abroad the style of accommodation to which they were accustomed.
15.01.1862 In the name of its "hospital fund", the board of trustees of the Catholic church foundation sells 211 square rods of the "hospital grounds" via voluntary public auction to the innkeeper Joseph Schrieder for 26,586 gulden.
17.01.1862 Exchange of property shares with the City of Heidelberg (St. Anna cemetery) in order to build the Wilhelmstrasse (now Nadlerstrasse).
21.02.1863 Joseph Schrieder purchases a further 149.46 square rods of the "hospital grounds" from the Catholic founders' association for 13,109 florins (gulden)/ 32 crowns.
24.03.1870 The City of Heidelberg sells parts of the former St. Anna cemetery comprising a total of 290.94 rods for 54,695 gulden to Herr Haefeli-Gujer. On this land the latter builds the townhouse No. 27 Sofienstrasse.
26.10.1872 The City of Heidelberg sells a further portion of what was once the St. Anna cemetery, measuring some 400 sq. yards, to Joseph Schrieder as building land for the sum of 8,820 gulden. It is here that No. 25 Sofienstrasse is to be built in 1873. At the same time, a further section of the cemetery, measuring some 500 sq. yards (where today the coachhouse stands), is also sold off, the price here being 3,205.51 gulden.
01.10.1886 New owner Anton Gabler adds a third story and an extension to the hotel, selling it on 16.10.1890 to the brothers Eugen and August Küpfer of Glion (Switzerland).
01.04.1906 Herr Fritz Gabler buys the premises from Eugen Küpfer's widow for 1,100,000 marks - 850,000 for the property itself, 250,000 for inventory, furnishings and fixtures.
1906-1910 renovation of facades, redesign of grounds, installation of individual bathrooms, additional furnishings and fixtures
1912-1913 new restaurant extension (the Liselottenstube), new kitchen layout, alterations to drive entrance
1919-1920 new monolithic terrace construction (now restaurant)
1925-1928 On the garden side, the main bulding is placed on iron pillars so as to gain space for the foyer, replacing the original guest rooms. A new extension is added, comprising the main lounge and the main entry hall; the terrace is integrated into the building properly and made winterproof.
1928-1929 construction of a three-story side-wing with basement, comprising 20 new rooms, bar, conference room and central heating system
1965-1966 third story added to side-wing (14 new rooms); "dance bar" converted into a cocktail bar, thus gaining space for an additional conference room; restaurant enlarged
1975-1977 above- and below-ground conversions and extensions on hotel grounds facing onto the Friedrich-Ebert-Anlage and Sofienstrasse, comprising a new two-story underground garage, 33 additional rooms on the 3rd and 4th stories of the hotel, a shopping arcade (8 shops and boutiques), and numerous rent-out office units on the 1st and 2nd floors
1982 opening of the EUROP-TREFF cafeteria in the shopping arcade to supplement existing catering facilities
1985-1988 a new five-story garden extension, plus the new building No. 27 Sofienstrasse (following demolition of the "Park Villa") and addition of a fourth story to the side wing provide space for 42 new apartments and rooms, 3 new street-level shops and 4 new upper-story office units; with 80 new parking spaces the underground garage now has room for 200 vehicles
1993 new " à la carte" kitchen and air conditioning system for the Kurfürstenstube gourmet restaurant
2000 Opening of our PANORAMA SPA CLUB Fitness - und Wellness Area on the 4th and 5th floor of the hotel, with indoor pool, sauna, sanarium, steambath, solarium, fitness center and sun terrace, overlooking famous Heidelberg Castle
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13/ 3 aptm. Suites