Haxenhaus zum Rheingarten
Traditional brewhouse on Cologne's Frankenwerft with a documented history of over 780 years and hearty pork knuckles.
Right on the banks of the Rhine in Cologne's Old Town stands the Haxenhaus zum Rheingarten, one of the city's oldest documented residential and inn buildings. Behind its historic facade lies a house history spanning more than 780 years.
At a Glance
- Address
- Frankenwerft 19, Cologne Old Town on the Rhine
- Type
- Traditional tavern in the Cologne brewhouse style
- First mention
- 1231 as „Huus am Bootermaate" (House at the Butter Market)
- House history
- documented for over 780 years
- Heritage protection
- since October 1992 (number 6631)
- Speciality
- pork knuckles (Schweinshaxen)
- Notable
- survived both world wars undamaged
History
The house first appears in the records in 1231 under the name „Huus am Bootermaate", meaning House at the Butter Market. The building grew out of two neighbouring High Medieval houses: the former South House, recorded as „in Foro butyri" (at the butter market), and the then North House, the town inn „Haus Konyxsteyn". The building came through both world wars unscathed.
From Brewhouse to Guild Era
During the Renaissance the two houses merged into a single building that, under repeatedly changing names, housed a brewery for at least 282 years. When the French occupation government abolished Cologne's guilds, the 1798 brewery register listed the brewhouse „Zum Verlorenen Sohn" at Buttermarkt 32 at this spot – under the last guild brewer, Mathias Segschneider.
The Haxenhaus Today
Since the early 1990s the building has been home to the „Haxenhaus zum Rheingarten" tavern, fitted out in the traditional Cologne brewhouse style. Much of the original fabric was preserved: faithful ceilings, a vaulted cellar and historic staircases and doors. In October 1992 the city conservator placed the house under heritage protection with the number 6631.
Good to Know
The Haxenhaus zum Rheingarten is marketed as a stop on Cologne's Brewhouse Trail and the Rhenish Legends Trail. The medieval house also served as a setting for fiction: inspired by the brewhouse owner, Antonia Pauly wrote the crime novel „Der Büttel zu Cöln", which is set here.
Map
Blue dots: other places nearby — tap to explore.
Address
Frankenwerft 19
50667 Köln
Hours
Mo: 11:30–00:00
Di: 11:30–00:00
Mi: 11:30–00:00
Do: 11:30–00:00
Fr: 11:30–00:00
Sa: 11:30–00:00
So: 11:30–23:00
Contact
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Sources & links
- Official website
- Wikipedia (retrieved 2026-07-18, rev 241852031)
- Wikidata (retrieved 2026-07-18)
- Official website (retrieved 2026-07-18)
Auto-generated, last verified: 2026-07-18
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