A HOTEL-ICON. FOR 150 YEARS.
Brenners Park-Hotel & Spa in Baden-Baden is commemorating its eventful history. A magical blend of familiar warmth, luxurious charm, lasting fascination and eternal youth, the hotel traces its origins back to the acquisition by Anton Alois Brenner in 1872.
For fifteen decades the grand hotel has remained in the hands of just two owning families.
With the birthplace of the Oetker Collection, Baden-Baden has a globally known calling card.
It is the preservation of its unmistakable spirit. It is the way the hotel ‘smiles’ in reply to the smile of the hotel guests. It is the implementation of the hotel’s precious age in new ways.
What remains is a unique legacy of living culture in the World Heritage town of
Baden-Baden, a gem of a hotel in family hands.
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“Wherever you go, Brenner’s is the best.”
Frank Sinatra 1975
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1872
THE BIRTH OF THE BRENNERS <br> ANTON ALOIS BRENNER
The history has its beginning on 21 October 1872 with the purchase of the hotel „Stéphanie-les-Bains“ on Lichtentaler Allee 1 by the Court Tailor Anton Alois Brenner at auction. The bid of 171,200 guilders establishes the tradition of the Brenner family hotel operations.
1883
VISIONARY AND DEDICATED HOTELIER <br> CAMILLE BRENNER
In 1883 he was succeeded by his son Camille Brenner, a visionary and hotelier of passion. This exceptional hotelier laid the foundation for a hotel complex on a two-and-half-hectare plot that after only two decades was considered to be the leading hotel business in the entire Grand Duchy of Baden.
1895
SPLENDID GATHERING PLACE
With over 200 rooms of the most comfortable interiors, the Hotel Stephanie is the gathering centerpiece of the state Baden. The importance of the hotel can be seen from the guest list - in 1907, King Chulalongkorn of Siam and Laos holds court here with a large entourage.
1925
THE GOLDEN TWENTIES <br> KURT UND ALFRED BRENNER
It is not an easy legacy that the Brenner family is taking on. In the midst oft he period of inflation, in the summer of 1923, the Brenner faily converted thier business into a stock corporation. They cosntantly expand and modify the premises to bring the flair of the Roaring Twenties to Baden-Baden. In July 1924 they open the Kasino Stephanie, which turned into a social meeting place where visitors from the town were also welcome.
1935
CHALLENGING TIMES
Following the difficulties of the early Thirties and the world financial crisis, international guest numbers begin once again to rise. At the height of this short period of growth prior to the Second World War in 1939, Kurt and Alfred Brenner achieve the incredible feat of hosting 40,000 overnight guests in 1937.
1941
OETKER BECOMES MAJORITY SHAREHOLDER
Having become a silent partner in the year 1923, the grand hotel passed into the hands of
Rudolf-August Oetker in the 1940s becoming the first luxury hotel in today’s Oetker Collection. He also involved himself in numerous activities for the benefit of the town, yet like his character he always remained in the background, a trait he shared with Camille Brenner. He soon entrusted his daughter Countess Bergit Douglas with the interior design of his much-cherished Brenners.
1945
HEADQUARTERS
In June 1945, the French military authorities set up their headquarters in Baden-Baden. Supreme Commander, General Koenig, and his staff take up residence in the Parkhotel, while a part of the civil adminstration uses the unoccupied Hotel Stephanie. The military governor, Moutenet, responsable for the district of Baden-Baden is based in the former Kasino Stephanie. For five years, all decisions relevant to the local German population were made here in this villa on Schillerstraße.
1950
RESTART
With the restart of the city’s cure business after the end of the war, the hotel business opens with about 160 beds in new family hands. One counts about 17,000 guests, almost half of them from abroad. Prominent figures were quick to return to Brenner’s Park-Hotel. The house had lost none of its attractiveness.
1962
THE CRADLE OF EUROPE
In 1962, Brenner’s Park-Hotel hits the headlines mainly for being an arena for Franco-German talks. German Chancellor, Konrad Adenauer, meets with French President, Charles de Gaulle, on 15 February to discuss details of a Franco-German friendship treaty. Brenners thus became known as the ‘Cradle of Europe’.
1969
THE LAST CHAPTER
For almost exactly half a century, the brothers Kurt and Alfred Brenner devoted themselves succesfully to the hotel that they inherited. When Alfred Brenner finally in 1969 steps down from the executive board of the hotel company founded by his grandfather, a family tradition that has lasted over eight decades comes to an end.
1977
BLACK FOREST CLINIC
The ambitious project Black Forest Clinic in Villa Stephanie was the responsability of the Oetker’s company architect, Professor Cäsar Pinnau. This private clinic offered a comprehensive range of modern diagnostics and therapies and a renowed diet kitchen. July 1997 sees the closure of the internal medicine clinic.
1981
THE OLYMPIC CONGRESS CONVENES
The 11th Olympic Congress, 84th session of the IOC, meets in September at the Oos. Baden-Baden, as the "City of Dialogue", thus continues one of its great traditions. Juan Antonio Samaranch, President of the International Olympic Committee, designates Baden-Baden as Olympic City on July 17, 1997.
1983
SALUS PER AQUAM
Always closely linked to the historical heritage of the city of Baden-Baden, an ambitious idea is given a name - Brenner's Park-Hotel & Spa. At that time a small sensation: The hotel swimming pool built in 1975. Its Roman-style architecture follows the idea of peace and equilibrium, and offers wonderful views of the park.
1990
VIS À VIS FROM BRENNERS
The completion of the Schillerstraße project with the construction of the underground car park, the Turgenev residence and the Viardot villa, sees the attractive 19th-century structures incorporate a harmonious blend of modern architecture. Located opposite the hotel, the development introduces fresh impetus to the urban surroundings and adds to the beauty of the town.
1995
EUROPE. POLITICS.
"Bonjour, Helmut!" - "Salut, Jacques!" A major highlight in the Brenners annals: the meeting between German Chancellor Helmut Kohl and French President Jacques Chirac at the 66th Franco-German summit. In a letter of gratitude, Jacques Chirac wrote "J'ai été très sensible à cette attention et je vous remercie pour le chaleureux accueil que vous m'avez réservé."
1997
HISTORICAL EVIDENCE
In April, as part of a state visit and because of the German Media Prize award ceremony, Baden-Baden is honoured to welcome Boris Yeltsin and German Chancellor, Helmut Kohl, together with their wives. The town leaves a lasting impression on the Russian presidential couple: "I must confess that my wife and I were fascinated by Baden-Baden."
2000
A GRAND HOTEL BECOMES YOUNGER
Richard Schmitz’s commitment as a passionate ambassador for both his town and Brenners, after his 32 years of service for the hotel, are still being recognised in the world today. The start into the 21st century with the new Managing Director Frank Marrenbach is guided by the leitmotif "A Grand Hotel becomes younger". The Brenners will continue to embody an excellence that finds its way from Baden-Baden to the world.
2002
IN NEW SPLENDOR
Die Brenners Gastronomie becomes younger and more modern. Subsequent to the redesign of the spa area, of the salons and the Orangerie, the new Park-Restaurant, the Wintergarten and the Kaminhalle with Oleanderbar are created. The guest are quick to embrace the new offers. All changes are integrated into the typical ambiance associated with Brenners.
2002
ON THE WAY TO BRENNERS MEDICAL CARE
The discontinuation of inpatient clinic operations takes place in favor of modern, contemporary medicine. This is the starting signal for the pioneering and preventive offer of the Medical Spa.
Today's Brenners Medical Care combines medical excellence under one roof, exclusive health programmes are implemented with the highest degree of privacy and discretion - and all this in the enchanting surroundings of the Brenners private park.
2004
RACECOURSE HOSPITALITY
A refined ambience and international flair. These aspects are combined in the exclusive Brenners Lounge at the Iffezheim racecourse. In a prime location with a fantastic view over the racecourse, you can also celebrate here exclusively outside the racing days.
2006
WAG‘S CIRCUS IN BADEN-BADEN
The wives and girlfriends of the football stars of the English national team descend on Brenners for a number of weeks. Britain's tabloid press camp out in front of the hotel: "The WAGs Circus in Baden-Baden" is the heading in the Daily Mail. A very special summer of football in Baden-Baden.
2008
BRENNERS DOMICILE
The newly designed Park Villa with its 600 square meters of luxurious living space opens up a new dimension in the history of the historic Palais. Its residential options open up the image of an absolutely luxurious domicile on the Brenners terrain. Here, too, one encounters the warm personal influences of the owner family through the design signature of Bergit Gräfin Douglas, which can today still be sensed throughout Brenners Park-Hotel & Spa.
2009
HISTORY REPEATING ITSELF
A touch of real global politics: During the NATO anniversary summit in Strasbourg/Kehl in April 2009, the newly elected US President Barack Obama visited Baden-Baden. Michelle Obama and the other first ladies were invited by the German Chancellor’s spouse, Professor Joachim Sauer, to an evening reception in the Brenners Orangerie. Since the summit, Baden-Baden’s sparkle has increased in intensity.
2015
VILLA STÉPHANIE
The new ultra deluxe spa, housed in the historic Villa Stéphanie adjacent to the existing hotel, offers an integrated approach to health that reflects the hotel’s decades of experience and expertise in the spa and medical realm. With the Villa Stéphanie Spa & Wellbeing and the Brenners Medical Care, the Brenners Park-Hotel & Spa today disposes of a real health jewel with a holistic offer for body, mind and soul.
2016
TIME TRAVEL
Probably the first hotelier in Germany, already at the beginning of this century, Camille Brenner was to have a garage built for motor vehicles. The installation of a vehicle turning plate in front of the main entrance of Hotel Stephanie at that time is a much-admired mechanism. After a careful restoration, the two oldtimers of the hotel today embody a true spirit of adventure. With a wide choice of routes, they invite you to a city and country trip and a gourmet picnic in the greens.
2017
VELVET PAW KLÉOPATRE
For Kleópatre, the royal Burmese cat, the Grand Hotel is the perfect habitat. The mistress of the house loves the historic elegance and the soothing sound of the Oos River. She strolls silently through the corridors with her characteristic dignity. She is not allowed to enter the restaurants, however - even the most beautiful kingdom has its limits.
2018
FRITZ & FELIX
Two characters were devised to tell the story of the newest indulgence location at Brenners Park-Hotel & Spa in the form of a delightfully illustrated fable: Fritz & Felix, a combination of restaurant, bar and show kitchen, hip and contemporary. And the excited buzzing of the bees in the private park also reveals that a visit to the "Fritz & Felix" is a must.
2020
CONTINUITY IN FURTHER DEVELOPMENT
Like his two predecessors, Matthiesen stands for continuity in further development, but also for setting out a new course. And he wants to ensure that Brenners Park-Hotel & Spa continues to occupy its long-established place at the top of the European luxury hotel industry - while maintaining the well-known Brenners values.
2021
RESUMING ITS ROLE AS HOST
The emblematic hotel of the Oetker Collection could once again assume its role as hots and offer its guests a luxurious and familiar home environment. In the two years prior to the jubilee, the hotel doors close twice. But behind the scenes there is a lot of activity.
2021
A PLACE FOR SPECIAL MOMENTS
The hotel’s summer terraces were ready to entertain visitors in June 2021. The gorgeous lounge area of the Minerva Terrace was created at the perfect spot for all outdoor needs and as a place for very special moments. Simply and classically Brenners.
2021
WORLD HERITAGE
On 24 July 2021, the town of Baden-Baden was awarded UNESCO World Heritage status.
Effortless charm, with more than just a pinch of sophistication – that is the fascinating combination that makes the World Heritage town of Baden-Baden different. Here, historical and modern elements are presented seamlessly side-by-side. This interplay lends its enchanting, natural richness to the town.
2022
A GRAND HOTEL FOR THE WORLD
When thinking of Baden-Baden, it’s often Brenners-Park Hotel & Spa that comes to mind and the special, historical spirit associated with it. Even around the turn of the twentieth century, visitors to the town sought not only relaxation here but also sophisticated entertainment and enjoyment. This Grand Hotel of distinction enchants guests with its sheer expanse of its layout and unrivalled location on Baden-Baden’s legendary Lichtentaler Allee.
2022
FROM NOBLES TO POLITICIANS
Brenners has always been a place where special social occasions have been celebrated.
In its 150-year history, the grand hotel has been the setting for concert series, art exhibitions, culinary weeks, spa awards, dinner talks and international summits - such as the Franco-German consultations, two Olympic congresses, the festivities celebrating NATO’s 60th anniversary summit and the meeting of the G20 finance ministers in March 2017.
2022
150 YEARS - 2 FAMILIES
For fifteen decades the grand hotel has remained in the hands of just two owning families. Around the turn of the twentieth century, Camille Brenner created his vision of a luxury hotel. Kurt and Alfred Brenner ran the hotel during the Roaring Twenties and the challenging years that followed. Having become a silent partner in the year 1923, the grand hotel passed into the hands of Rudolf-August Oetker in the 1940s becoming the first luxury hotel in today’s Oetker Collection. For more than 70 years, the industrial family have stood behind the grand hotel on the banks of the River Oos .
“Brenner’s is the Top.”
Paul Getty 1958
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“Baden-Baden – so good they named it twice.”
James Rizzi 2002