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Henslerhof in the Black Forest OUR HISTORY IN DETAIL

Since 2011, Henslerhof has been owned by the Alborna von Laufenberg family and serves as an event venue for private individuals and companies. The over 500-year-old farmhouse in the heart of the Black Forest has an eventful past.

Located in the center of Bruderhalde, Henslerhof is one of the original Hinterzarten farmsteads recorded in the Red Book since 1446. The exact age of the farmhouse was not documented; even 200 years ago, the then parish priest and administrator Vicenz Zahn emphasized: “The exact year of construction cannot be found.”

Dendrochronological studies concluded that the current Henslerhof was built in 1562. This finding makes the farmhouse, as a typical “older-style highland house,” likely the oldest farmstead in the Hinterzarten area.

The unique arrangement and completeness of all buildings—including the main house, stables, barn, chapel, residential mill, granary, and bakehouse—have always attracted the attention of local heritage enthusiasts, artists, photographers, and scholars.

The closely grouped ensemble, visible from all sides, is a characteristic example of the typical Black Forest farmstead. Henslerhof is a unique piece of history.

This fact was one of the main reasons why in 1990, in collaboration with the Monument Protection Office and the then owner Franz Thoma, a comprehensive restoration of the entire complex was carried out.

Henslerhof Geschichte

1

The outdoor grounds cover a total area of 12 hectares, providing ample space for almost any event. Surrounded by beautiful rolling hills, they give Henslerhof an infinitely peaceful and idyllic Black Forest atmosphere.

2

Of the original 49 hectares of land, only 15 hectares remain today due to road construction and water supply infrastructure.

3

The Hensler family ceased farming operations at Henslerhof in 1981 and sold it to the then Parkhotel Adler

4

The actual Henslerhof was not built until around 1560. However, the land ownership for the site and the other buildings can be traced back to 1446.

5

Since the early 1990s, Henslerhof and the entire outdoor area have been used as an event and function venue.

YOUR FAIRYTALE WEDDING AT HENSLERHOF IN THE BLACK FOREST

The History of Henslerhof WHY IS HENSLERHOF CALLED HENSLERHOF?

The farmhouse now known as Henslerhof can be traced back to 1446. Over time, the Black Forest farmstead has borne many names. The history of Henslerhof can be roughly divided into three periods:

  • From 1446 to 1616, several feudal lords and owners can be attributed to the estate through various historical documents.
  • In 1446, according to the Red Book, the property was attributed to Heiny Schumacher.
  • Around 1500, an entry in the then Berain indicates that Hanns Hösslin was the leaseholder of Henslerhof.
  • In 1590, ownership passed to Matthias Steinhardt, who sold the farmstead to Christian Gaisser in 1616 for 1,000 florins.
For the next four generations, Henslerhof remained in the possession of the Gaisser family and was always passed on to the eldest son.

When in 1672, for unknown reasons, Hans Gaisser, grandson of Christian Gaisser, waived the purchase in favor of his sister Verena, Hans Hensler, Verena Gaisser’s husband at the time, entered into the purchase on her behalf. Thus, in 1672 ownership passed to the Hensler family, the farmstead received the name Henslerhof, and remained in their possession for over 300 years.

Toward the end of the 18th century, trade abroad became more financially attractive than work at home. Increasingly, members of the Hensler family earned their living outside Hinterzarten. The declining number of heirs had the effect that for the first time women came into possession of Henslerhof.

Due to the shift in assets in the 19th and 20th centuries, financial difficulties arose more frequently, and many Black Forest farmsteads had to take on debt to maintain daily operations. Henslerhof was also affected by this situation, which led to the end of the Hensler family era at Henslerhof in the 1980s.

The History of Henslerhof THE "HENSLERHÄUSLE"

The Foserhäusle, built around 1784, is the only building belonging to Henslerhof that is geographically separated. Due to the spatial separation, it was called Henslerhäusle.

Later also Danielenhäusle, as it was inhabited by the clockmaker Daniel Caspar. In 1828, the outbuilding was purchased by Mathias Klingele, including 1.28 hectares of land. It received its final name Foserhäusle only in 1899 through the sawyer Josef Foser.

HENSLERHOF IN MODERN TIMES

The now over 500-year-old building required costly renovation toward the end of the 20th century, which could not be financed by the Hensler family due to their financial situation. Thus, in 1981, the Hensler family ceased farming operations and sold Henslerhof to a non-local buyer.

It was not until 1990 that the Monument Protection Office decided to renovate Henslerhof and bring it up to the latest technical standards. The more recent history of Henslerhof is as follows:

After the renovation in the 1990s, Henslerhof was used for the first time as a venue for events, conferences, and celebrations. The ambitious plans of the then owner to further develop the property to create a chalet village could unfortunately not be realized, and so in 2009 Henslerhof changed ownership once again.

For more than fourteen years, the Alborna von Laufenberg family has successfully rented and organized events, celebrations, and functions for private individuals and companies. This is also how the name “Henslerhof von Laufenberg” came about. It is very gratifying that through the care of the State Monument Office, all the old buildings have been preserved.