Jacob 1808

Between Lake Constance, St. Gallen and the Alpstein mountains lies the baroque town of Bischofszell. Once upon a time, fabric merchants, craftsmen, innkeepers and Thurgau noblemen lived here behind the picturesque façades on the Grubplatz, until the four buildings became the property of Jacob Christoph Wehrlin’s family in 1808. He is also the namesake of today’s accommodation, which has reunited two of the houses and was completely renovated.

In a complex reconstruction project, separating walls were removed, transitions were created and the two buildings were reconnected. Always taking into account the original building fabric, which was uncovered and restored with historical materials from the Thurgau monument preservation storehouse. The magnificent décor such as the impressive stucco ceilings, wood panelling and half-timbered walls has been preserved.

The five appartments offer space for two and up to four people. From the name to the décor to the furniture, each one tells its own story and gives an insight into a bygone era. The grey-panelled “Wirtshaus”, for example, shines with its large, light 17th-century blind arch, while the two-storey, particularly luminous “Sattlerei” enjoys a balcony as wide as the building. The bourgeois “Tuchhändler” impresses with its Régence stucco ceiling, solid wood doors with fine inlays and a cosy tiled stove. The “Herrenzimmer”, painted midnight blue, is plain and clear. And the magnificent “Gemeindeammann” gives an idea of the venerable gatherings that might have taken place here in the grand parlour with its creaking parquet flooring. Each appartment of Jacob is an atmospherically curated unique space and an authentic starting point for exploring the city and the surroundings.

What to do

Stroll through the baroque town and visit its nine gardens, Bischofszell Rose Week in summer or Advent market in winter, hiking in the surrounding area, in the Alpstein mountains and the Appenzell mountains, cycling and skating, swimming in the Sitter, Thur and Hauptwil ponds, raft trips, wine tasting, a visit to the UNESCO World Heritage city of St. Gallen or a trip to Lake Constance with its numerous attractions (approx. 20 minutes away), golfing, parachuting or a trip to Zurich, Bregenz, the Rhine Falls Schaffhausen or Lake Walen and the Churfirsten (all approx. one hour away).

Why we like this house

A picture-book monument with impressive historical décor that tells the stories of its former inhabitants in a fresh and stylish interpretation.

This house is great for

Couples, friends and families who want to discover the Eastern part of Switzerland.

Sustainability

Public transport: by train from St. Gallen (30 minutes) or from Zurich (approx. 1.5 hours).

Owner

Michael and Natalie Hofmann are passionate hosts with a great love of design, architecture and fashion. Natalie, a historian, grew up in one of the two houses and now runs the fashion boutique on the ground floor. From wild slides over the warped staircases to imaginative stories, there are plenty of memories for her within the historic walls, which she has brought back to life together with her husband Michael, an architect. When the adjoining house was up for sale, the idea was born to re-create a unified whole and a place with original soul and personality.

Details

Availability calendar

The calendar shows the current availability of the accommodation. On days with a white background, the accommodation is still fully available. If an accommodation has more than one rentable unit, days with free capacities are shown with a light grey background. On days with a dark grey background, the accommodation is not available.

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