The history of hotels can be a bit difficult to trace, as people have needed lodging for as long as humans have been traveling the world (basically since the beginning of human history). So we don’t know for sure when ancient civilizations started using houses specifically for travellers, but the earliest concrete record of a hospitality establishment dates back to 69 B.C. C. in Pompeii.
Top 10 Oldest Hotels in History: The Old Bell Hotel
The Old Bell Hotel has a name that is almost identical to another old hotel in England on this list. Like the other hotel, The Old Bell Hotel in Malmesbury claims to be the oldest extant hotel in England, although three other English hotels are much older. The Old Bell Hotel was originally opened as an inn in 1220 by Abbot Loring for visiting dignitaries from Malmesbury Abbey. The hotel has remained open ever since and although The Old Bell Hotel has been renovated, parts of the hotel date from 1220, including a hooded stone fireplace in the Brasserie.
The 10 oldest hotels in history: Orso Grigio
The Orso Grigio hotel dates back to the early 13th century, after King Albrecht granted the city of Innichen a charter to open a market. With the arrival of nobles and merchants in Innichen, the town installed the first inns and the Orso Grigio was one of them. The ownership of Orso Grigio is unknown until the mid-15th century. The first recorded owner of the Orso Grigio is Conrad Maus in 1462; the Maus family owned and operated the Orso Grigio until 1554. The hotel was owned by several different families before the Ladinsers took over in 1745. Today, the 9th generation of the Ladinser family runs the Orso Grigio
The 10 oldest hotels in history: The Olde Bell
There are many hotels that claim to be the oldest in the UK and The Olde Bell is one of them. Unlike some of these other hotels, The Olde Bell makes a strong case for being the oldest hotel in the UK, dating back to 1135. The oldest part of the hotel initially served as a guest house for the Priory Benedict of the city. The Olde Bell is named after the Sanctus Bell, which was used to alert monks that an important visitor had arrived at Hurley and required lodging. During its long history, The Olde Bell has hosted a number of notable guests, including Winston Churchill, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, and Cary Grant.
The 10 oldest hotels in history: Zum Roten Bären
Zum Roten Bären bills itself as the oldest hotel in Germany. The foundations of the building date from the beginning of the 12th century and the director of the Freiburg City History Museum believes that the building was used as an inn at this time. The oldest written records of Zum Roten Bären date back to 1311 and show that the owner/innkeeper at the time was a man named Johann Bienger. The museum director is also sure that part of Marie Antoinette’s entourage stayed at Zum Roten Bären when he spent the night in Freiburg on his way to Versailles in 1770.
Top 10 Oldest Hotels in History: Maids Head Hotel
The Maids Head Hotel claims to be the oldest hotel in the UK. According to the hotel, this is based on the fact that the site has been used continuously for hospitality since the mid-1090s. The current hotel is located where the original palace of the first Norman bishop of Norwich, Herbert de Losinga, had his original palace. While the site has been in use since the 11th century, the oldest parts of the Maids Head Hotel only date from the 15th century. The hotel’s wood-paneled oak room is believed to be from the same time period. The bar was added in the 16th century. Although the Maids Head Hotel has been renovated, its owners have maintained the historic integrity of the building.
Top 10 Oldest Hotels in History: Onsen Keiunkan
Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan, which has been in operation since 705, is considered the oldest hotel in the world. The hotel was founded as an inn by Fujiwara Mahito during the Keiun era, hence its name, Keiunkan. In 2011, Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan was recognized as the world’s oldest hotel by Guinness World Records.
The 10 oldest hotels in history: Pilgrimhaus
Pilgrimhaus was founded by the Soest City Council as a hospice and pilgrims’ house. The inn was mainly used by the followers of Santiago on their way to Santiago de Compostela (northern Spain). The hotel honors Santiago on July 25 with a special party. In 1613, the city sold the Pilgrimhaus to Thomas Merckelbach, who owned the hotel until 1766. After this, the Bödecker family took over the Pilgrimhaus and began brewing brandy and beer. Since 2008, the Pilmgrimhaus has been owned by the Beck family and the hotel was recently renovated in 2016.
The 10 oldest hotels in history: The Angel and Royal
The Angel and Royal Hotel is another historic English hotel that is one of the oldest in the country. The hotel was founded in 1203 by the Knights Templar and was originally called The Angel Inn. The Knights Templar ran the inn until 1308, when the Sheriff of Lincolnshire took over the inn on an order from Edward II. A few months earlier, King Philippe of France ordered the dissolution of the Knights Templar order. According to the Angel and Royal Hotel, the royal part was added to its name in 1866 after a visit by the Prince of Wales, later Edward VII.
Top 10 Oldest Hotels in History: Hoshi Ryokan
Before being toppled a few years ago, Hoshi Ryokan was the oldest hotel in the world according to Guinness World Records. Now Hoshi Ryokan has been downgraded to the second oldest hotel in the world. However, it has been around for 1,300 years and was founded in 718. Hoshi Ryokan has legendary beginnings that began with a dream message to the Buddhist monk Taicho Daishi from the mountain deity Hakusan Daigongen. The hot springs around which the hotel was built were a gift from Hakusan Daigongen to soothe and cure human injuries and illnesses. Taicho Daishi’s disciple, Garyo Hoshi, opened the inn where his master told him to do so. The Hoshi family has run the Hoshi Ryokan ever since.
The 10 oldest hotels in history: Interlaken
The Hotel Interlaken dates back to 1323 when it was used as a guest house for the cloister. There are no records of another hotel existing in Interlaken before 1323; The Hotel Interlaken is also one of the oldest hotels in Switzerland. For many years the Hotel Interlaken also served as the center of the administrative area in the Berner Oberland and one of the rooms on the first floor was used as a courthouse. In 1491, Louis Ross renovated the hotel and received his own coat of arms from him at that time. The coat of arms, which has two horses and two mountain goats, can still be seen on the southern façade of the building. Many famous musicians have stayed at the Hotel Interlaken, including Felix Mendelssohn.