Ratskeller Vetschau

Ratskeller Vetschau is a traditional German inn and restaurant (Gaststätte) located at Markt 5 on the market square of Vetschau/Spreewald, a small town in the Brandenburg region of eastern Germany. The building itself is a protected heritage monument (Denkmalschutz) and is one of the town's best-known historic addresses. Its name follows the widespread German tradition of the "Ratskeller" — a cellar or ground-floor restaurant housed in or beside a town hall — and the Vetschau establishment has been closely tied to the town's civic life for well over a century. The building was erected around 1890 by the Griebenow family as a plastered brick structure with a mansard roof and a wooden gallery in the courtyard. The family subsequently donated the house to the town of Vetschau, which used it as its town hall (Rathaus) from 1892. Major renovations between 1912 and 1918 gave the windows their distinctive round arches. When the municipal administration moved to Vetschau Castle (Schloss Vetschau) in 1920, the building's use as a restaurant continued. During the era of the German Democratic Republic (East Germany), the restaurant was operated by the state-run Handelsorganisation (HO). After German reunification the building fell into serious disrepair, and the restaurant ceased operation in 1991. A new owner restored the Ratskeller in 1994 and 1995 and added a modern annex on an adjacent plot, after which the site again served as a restaurant and lodging business. At the end of September 2011 the Ratskeller closed once more when its operator filed for insolvency, and the town of Vetschau considered acquiring the property. In 2013 the restaurant was purchased by its current owner and reopened. Today Ratskeller Vetschau presents itself as a hospitality venue "directly on the Spreewald" (direkt am Spreewald), the low-lying, canal-crossed region southeast of Berlin famous for its Sorbian cultural heritage, pickled cucumbers and boat tourism. As a small owner-operated establishment rather than a chain, it functions as a local restaurant and guesthouse whose appeal rests on its historic setting, its heritage-listed architecture and its location on the edge of the Spreewald biosphere. It is a private business with no publicly listed parent company.

The Ratskeller Vetschau was built around 1890 by the Griebenow family on the market square of Vetschau/Spreewald at Markt 5. It was constructed as a plastered brick building with a mansard roof, and a wooden gallery was created in the courtyard of the property. The Griebenow family then donated the house to the town of Vetschau, which used it as its town hall (Rathaus) from 1892. Between 1912 and 1918 the building underwent major alterations, including the addition of round-arched windows. In 1920 the municipal administration, which had until then also been housed in other buildings, moved into Schloss Vetschau (Vetschau Castle), but the building's use as a restaurant continued. During the period of the German Democratic Republic (East Germany), the restaurant was run by the state-run Handelsorganisation (HO). After German reunification, the building deteriorated to such an extent that operations were discontinued in 1991. In 1994 and 1995 a new owner restored the Ratskeller and built a modern annex on a neighbouring plot; the building was then used again as a restaurant and lodging business. At the end of September 2011 the Ratskeller was closed when its operator filed for insolvency. The town of Vetschau considered acquiring the property, and in 2013 the restaurant was bought by its current owner and reopened. The building is listed as a heritage monument (Denkmalschutz) and appears in the Brandenburg monument database under object number 09120356. The establishment markets itself as being "directly on the Spreewald" (direkt am Spreewald), reflecting its location in the Spreewald region of Brandenburg.

• 2013

  Purchased by its current owner and reopened as a restaurant.

• 2011

  Ratskeller closed at the end of September when the operator files for insolvency; the town considers acquiring the property.

• 1994

  Restoration by a new owner begins (through 1995), with a modern annex built on a neighbouring plot.

• 1991

  Restaurant operations discontinued after the building falls into serious disrepair following German reunification.

• 1920

  Municipal administration moves to Schloss Vetschau; the building's use as a restaurant continues.

• 1912

  Start of major renovations (completed 1918), including the addition of round-arched windows.

• 1892

  Donated by the Griebenow family to the town of Vetschau and used as the town hall (Rathaus).

• 1890

  Built by the Griebenow family as a plastered brick building with a mansard roof on the market square of Vetschau (Markt 5).

A small, owner-operated historic inn and restaurant directly on the Spreewald, valued for its heritage-listed architecture and traditional German hospitality.

• German regional cuisine

• Spreewald-style dishes

• Beer and beverages

• Guesthouse accommodation

1. 1Ratskeller Vetschau – official websiteratskeller-vetschau.de
2. 2Ratskeller Vetschau – Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org
3. 3Ratskeller Vetschau – Wikidatawikidata.org