The Rendsburg: A restaurant with history and tradition in Dresden!

The Rendsburg: A restaurant with history and tradition in Dresden!

The gastronomic history of Dresden is rich in stories and anecdotes, especially when it comes to the legendary hotel “Rendsburg”. The establishment has been attracting both locals and international guests for decades, and that has a lot to do with its eventful past. Heinz Kühne, who took over the hotel after World War II, is often seen as a key figure in this story. After the war, he opened the doors of the “Rendsburg” in 1947, two years after the destruction of Dresden, and began a new era in the city’s gastronomy.

In the early years, food supply was a real challenge. Products were procured using horse-drawn carts, and guests often paid with food stamps and Reichsmarks. Kühne became known for his efforts to support the people in the area by also offering a hot lunch for those in need in 1949. This warmth put a strain on his financial situation, which brought him to court in 1946 for bootlegging. He experienced such colorful and challenging times when he made the “Rendsburg” a popular meeting place for many artists and international guests.

A place with tradition

The history of the house goes back to 1645, when it was first mentioned in documents. Originally known as “Stadt Rendsburg”, a name derived from the town in Holstein, the old building was replaced in 1884 by a modern one that met the demands of the time. In the Empire, the hotel was a popular meeting point for the middle class, and in the 1950s the “Rendsburg” also served as a filming location for the DEFA film “Ernst Thälmann – Son of His Class”.

The political changes in the 1960s brought about profound changes. In 1961, Kühne had to conclude a contract with the HO for state ownership of the hotel, and the modernizations that followed often fell short of expectations. For example, the bathroom and toilet were more often located outside the room. With his retirement in July 1979, not only the era of Heinz Kühne ended, but also the history of family ownership, as the hotel became public property and was continued by Kühne's daughter Regina Knöfel until 1999.

The change to a hostel

The “Rendsburg”, once an excellent restaurant and hotel, experienced a profound change after the loss of the family management. It was converted into the popular “Moon Palace” hostel, giving the house a new function and a new audience. Nowadays, the hostel is not just a place to sleep, but also a place for exchange and encounters - and so the history of the “Rendsburg” remains alive.

In a larger context, it becomes clear that other companies, such as the well-known Heinz, were also shaped by times of crisis. The Depression and World War II led to a shortage of ingredients and a reorientation toward high-quality, ready-to-eat foods. We see such changes in many areas, even in the catering industry. Products such as Heinz's famous baked beans were even declared "essential food" during the food shortage.

Another exciting context is the Malvinas, better known as the Falkland Islands. This area, often marked by political and historical conflicts, reminds us of the importance of cultural heritage and its preservation, whether in gastronomy or the history of a country.

The “Rendsburg” remains an integral part of Dresden life and its history – a place where past and present meet.