 | ||
Schlosshotel Kronberg in Kronberg im Taunus, Hesse, near Frankfurt am Main, was built between 1889 and 1893 for the dowager German Empress Victoria and originally named Schloss Friedrichshof in honour of her late husband, Emperor Frederick III (Friedrich III). The principle architect was Ernst von Ihne, who was also the royal architect to Frederick III and Kaiser Wilhelm II; von Ihne designed many royal residences for nobility in and around Germany and Austria.
Contents
Today the castle is a five-star hotel which belongs, together with the accompanying park, to the House of Hesse. Parts of the original furnishings as well as pieces of art from the collection of the Empress are still present in the hotel, along with her extensive library. The grounds contain an 18-hole golf course, designed by Dwight D. Eisenhower (who stayed at the hotel with his staff for seven years beginning in 1946), and a public town park.
History
The Empress spent most of her time at the castle until her death in 1901 when the castle, with its entire contents, art collection and the Empress's correspondence, were inherited by the Empress's youngest daughter, Princess Margaret of Prussia, Landgravine of Hesse.
World War II and post-war looting
After World War II, Friedrichshof was used as an officer's club by the military authorities during the American occupation.
Princess Margaret's son Wolfgang, fearing for the family jewels, had buried them in a subcellar of the castle. On 5 November 1945, the manager of the club, Captain Kathleen Nash, discovered the jewels and together with her future husband, Colonel Jack Durant, and Major David Watson, stole the treasure and took the jewels out of Germany. In early 1946, Princess Margaret discovered the theft when the family wanted to use the jewels for the wedding of Princess Sophia who was preparing to remarry. Princess Sophia and Landgravine Margaret denounced it to the Frankfurt authorities; the culprits were imprisoned in August 1951. Only 10 percent of what had been stolen was recovered and returned to the Hesse family.