Excelsior Hotel Ernst
Excelsior Hotel Ernst is a historic luxury hotel beside Cologne Cathedral, operating since 1863.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Excelsior Hotel Ernst is a historic luxury hotel in Innenstadt, Cologne, directly adjacent to Cologne Cathedral. Established by Carl Ernst, the hotel opened on 16 May 1863 and developed into one of Cologne's prominent upscale meeting places. Its location beside the cathedral positioned it to serve visitors, civic figures, business travelers, and members of Cologne's social elite. The property changed hands in 1871, when Carl Ernst sold it to Friedrich Kracht. After Kracht's death in 1875, his widow and son, Carl Kracht, took responsibility for the hotel. Carl Kracht became an important figure in Cologne's civic and social life; in 1884, the city appointed him Prince of the Cologne Carnival. His marriage in 1889 to Emma Pauline Baur connected the hotel family with the Swiss Baur hotel dynasty, associated with establishments including Hotel Baur au Lac in Zurich and Savoy Baur en Ville. Carl Kracht subsequently lived in Zurich and managed Hotel Baur au Lac, while a general manager handled the day-to-day operation of Hotel Ernst. A complete reconstruction between 1908 and 1910 produced a substantially more luxurious property. When it reopened as Excelsior Hotel Ernst, 60 of its 200 bedrooms had private bathrooms, an advanced amenity for the period. The hotel's history was then shaped by the political upheavals and military occupations surrounding the two world wars. Following World War I, the British Army used the hotel as its headquarters during the occupation of the Rhineland. After the British departure, the property celebrated a reopening on 31 December 1926. It also became part of Cologne's cultural history when scenes from the 1927 silent film The Beggar from Cologne Cathedral were filmed there. During World War II, air raids damaged the upper floors in 1943, although the lower four floors continued operating into 1944. In the final phase of the war, manager Max Mattheus left the property with the remaining staff on 2 May 1945 and placed a notice identifying it as Swiss property. The British Army requisitioned the hotel again after the war. It reopened following the currency reforms associated with the introduction of the Deutsche Mark in June 1948. The property expanded and modernized in the postwar period while retaining its historic luxury positioning. A new wing, known as the Neubau, was completed in 1986 with 29 rooms and suites. Renovation work was conducted under the supervision of interior designer Count Siegwart Pilati. In 2001, the hotel broadened its food-and-beverage offer by opening taku, an Asian restaurant, alongside the established French restaurant Hanse Stube. In 2007, 45 rooms in the Hanse Flügel were reorganized into 35 larger rooms, emphasizing space and comfort rather than room count. Excelsior Hotel Ernst remains a family-owned luxury hotel associated with the Kracht-Roulet family and is a member of The Leading Hotels of the World. Its offer centers on individually styled guest rooms and suites, formal hospitality, fine dining, and a landmark location near Cologne Cathedral. The property has hosted notable visitors including Kaiser Wilhelm I and Andy Warhol. Henning Matthiesen was identified as the hotel's general manager from November 2012 in the cited reference material.
History
Excelsior Hotel Ernst opened on 16 May 1863 in Cologne's Innenstadt district, immediately beside Cologne Cathedral. Its founder, Carl Ernst, established the property as a prominent city hotel serving visitors to Cologne and the local upper classes. In 1871, Ernst sold the hotel to Friedrich Kracht. When Kracht died in 1875, his wife and son Carl Kracht assumed its operation. Under Carl Kracht, the hotel became a favored gathering place for Cologne's elite, and the city honored him in 1884 by appointing him Prince of the Cologne Carnival. Carl Kracht's 1889 marriage to Emma Pauline Baur linked the hotel to the Swiss Baur family of hoteliers. The Baur family owned or operated renowned properties including Hotel Baur au Lac and Savoy Baur en Ville. Carl Kracht lived in Zurich and managed Hotel Baur au Lac after the marriage, while a general manager oversaw the Cologne property. Between 1908 and 1910, the original hotel was entirely rebuilt. The new property reopened under the name Excelsior Hotel Ernst and represented a leading standard of luxury for its time. Of its 200 bedrooms, 60 included private bathrooms. The hotel later experienced military requisition during the occupation of the Rhineland: in 1918, the British Army took over the property and used it as a headquarters. After the occupation ended, the hotel celebrated a reopening on 31 December 1926. Its cultural profile was reinforced when parts of the 1927 silent film The Beggar from Cologne Cathedral were shot at the hotel. World War II caused further disruption. Air raids damaged the upper levels in 1943, but the first four floors continued operating through 1944. On 2 May 1945, manager Max Mattheus left the hotel with the remaining staff and attached a note stating that the property was Swiss-owned. The British Army requisitioned the hotel again after the war. Operations resumed after the monetary reforms connected with the introduction of the Deutsche Mark in June 1948. The hotel pursued postwar expansion while maintaining its historic character. In 1986 it added the Neubau wing, containing 29 rooms and suites. Renovation work was carried out under the direction of interior designer Count Siegwart Pilati. The food-and-beverage portfolio expanded in 2001 with the opening of taku, a contemporary Asian restaurant, complementing the French restaurant Hanse Stube. In 2007, a renovation in the Hanse Flügel reorganized 45 rooms into 35 larger rooms. The property remains associated with the Kracht-Roulet family and is a member of The Leading Hotels of the World. Its identity combines a long Cologne history, proximity to the cathedral, luxury accommodation, and destination dining. The hotel has hosted figures including Kaiser Wilhelm I and Andy Warhol. The cited reference material identifies Henning Matthiesen as general manager from November 2012.
- 2007
Hanse Flügel renovation
[1]Forty-five rooms are redesigned as 35 larger rooms.
- 2001
taku restaurant launches
[1]The hotel opens its contemporary Asian restaurant, complementing Hanse Stube.
- 1986
Neubau wing completed
[1]A new wing adds 29 rooms and suites.
- 1948
Postwar operations resume
[1]The hotel reopens after the currency reforms introducing the Deutsche Mark.
- 1943
Upper floors damaged in air raids
[1]World War II bombing damages the upper levels while lower floors remain operational for a further period.
- 1927
Film location
[1]Parts of The Beggar from Cologne Cathedral are filmed at the hotel.
- 1926
Post-occupation reopening
[1]The hotel celebrates its reopening on 31 December after the British departure.
- 1918
British Army requisitions the hotel
[1]The property becomes a British Army headquarters during the Rhineland occupation.
- 1910
Reconstruction produces the Excelsior Hotel Ernst
[1]The completely rebuilt hotel reopens with a notably advanced luxury specification.
- 1884
Carl Kracht becomes Prince of the Cologne Carnival
[1]The city appoints hotel operator Carl Kracht to the ceremonial carnival office.
Products and positioning
Independent, family-owned historic luxury hotel focused on heritage, personalized hospitality, fine dining, and a landmark Cologne location.
Luxury accommodation · 1863
Guest rooms
The hotel offers individually configured luxury rooms in a historic property beside Cologne Cathedral. Its accommodation has been expanded and reconfigured over time, including the Neubau wing and the enlarged Hanse Flügel rooms. The emphasis is on traditional high-end hotel service, architectural character, and a central landmark location.
Luxury accommodation · 1986
Suites
Excelsior Hotel Ernst provides luxury suites across its historic and newer accommodation areas. The Neubau wing added 29 rooms and suites in 1986, extending the property's capacity while preserving its upscale positioning. Suites serve guests seeking additional space and a more distinctive residential experience in central Cologne.
French restaurant
Hanse Stube
Hanse Stube is the hotel's established French cuisine restaurant. It forms part of the property's formal fine-dining offer and supports the hotel's positioning as a destination for classic luxury hospitality rather than accommodation alone.
Asian restaurant · 2001
taku
Opened in 2001, taku added a contemporary Asian dining concept to the hotel's existing French culinary offer. Its launch broadened the property's restaurant portfolio and introduced a more modern, internationally oriented dining option within the historic hotel.
Brand decisions
2007
Reconfigure Hanse Flügel accommodationGeneration changeBackground
The hotel prioritized larger rooms and greater guest space in part of its accommodation inventory.
Action taken
Forty-five rooms in the Hanse Flügel were converted into 35 more spacious rooms.
Aftermath
The renovation reduced the number of rooms in that area while increasing their average size.
2001
Open taku restaurantProduct launchBackground
The hotel sought to complement its established French restaurant with a second, more contemporary culinary concept.
Action taken
Excelsior Hotel Ernst opened taku as an Asian restaurant in a contemporary setting.
Aftermath
The hotel broadened its dining proposition beyond Hanse Stube and strengthened its food-and-beverage offer.
1986
Expand with the Neubau wingStrategyBackground
The historic hotel needed additional contemporary accommodation capacity while maintaining its luxury positioning.
Action taken
The hotel constructed the Neubau wing with 29 rooms and suites, with renovation and interior work supervised by Count Siegwart Pilati.
Aftermath
The expansion added accommodation while allowing the property to continue developing as a historic luxury hotel.
Sources2 sources
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