History of the Old School

Our beautiful building has been a part of Lindau’s history since the early 15th century. The name “Alte Schule” (Old School) is to be taken literally—the daughters of Lindau’s patrician families were once educated here.

Hotel Alte Schule - Then & Now

Through the Ages

What is now known as Alte Schulplatz was still called Karolinenplatz back in the 15th century, and the adjacent historic archway - the entrance to the heart of the island - was still a long way off. The historic building houses many treasures from past centuries: stone columns with intricate stonemasonry from the 16th century and the famous “Lindauer Decke,” a slightly vaulted wooden beam ceiling that has been preserved and recently restored in many rooms. These are just two examples of the preserved historical legacy. We have pieced together the history from old records and stories - to the best of our knowledge and belief. If any information is incorrect or incomplete, please feel free to correct us.

Sometimes, when the island is shrouded in autumn fog and everything grows still, you can almost hear the old walls speaking and imagine the stories they tell ...

1281
The walling-in of the island of Lindau grants Lindau market peace and castle peace

Mid-14th century
Construction of the building on what was then Karolinenplatz; Municipal School or Council School

1386
Owner: Mr. Schwarz

1389
Sale to Hans Arbon

1494
The square was renamed "Alter Schulplatz"

1528–1641
Municipal Latin School – First Principal: Casper Heldelin

1641
The Latin school moves to Barfüßerplatz, and a girls’ school is established
The girls’ school was an improvement over the Mägdeleinschule, divided into:

  • The Upper Girls’ School—arithmetic, basic instruction, dictation, music, and instruction in Christianity
  • The Lower Girls’ School—letters, spelling, rhyming prayers, and the Small Catechism

1817
Major flooding; the girls take the boat to school

1829
Sale of the building by the Lindau Protestant Church and School Fund to the highest bidder: Franz Xaver Neymann of Hergensweiler, a saddler and upholsterer by trade

1880
Sold to Friedrich Winter, also a saddler by trade

1913
Mr. Winter moved to Augsburg and sold the business to Josef Zeller in 1920

1936
Marie Zeller inherits the property, and the address is changed from “Karolinenplatz B 72” to “Alter Schulplatz 2”

around 1950
a bicycle shop called Biedermann and about 13 apartments

1969
"Zur Alten Schule" restaurant, operated by Adolf Thun, and 10 apartments

1973
only 8 apartments left

1978
Pizzeria Alte Schule, owned by the Parotta family, and 4 apartments

2012
Sale of the building by Marie Zeller’s three daughters to Marc Hübler

2014 to 2016
Renovation and conversion into a hotel

2016
Opening of the Hotel Alte Schule