Then and now: the Linde has been run by the Armbruster/Ludwig family for four generations. Karl Ludwig, the great-grandfather of the current owner, Jörg Armbruster, took over a simple pub almost 90 years ago. Over the years, the pub has grown into a restaurant and hotel. … and we are constantly developing for you!
is what the Franconian Karl Ludwig is said to have said in his own blunt manner when he came to Rot an der Rot as a young truck driver in the early 1920s and took over the long timber truck of the count’s forestry office. In 1925, Karl Ludwig married Magdalena Kiefer, a local woman, and in October 1927 he leased the “Zur Linde” inn. The village became his home and his name was known to many in the Oberland: “Dr. Lendawirt vo Rot”.
Today, a great-grandson of Karl Ludwig runs the inn and guesthouse. But the Lindenwirt, whose portrait still hangs in a prominent position above the regulars’ table, lives on, at least in a story that the Count’s forestry director Hermann Koch told his employer, Count Franz zu Erbach-Erbach and von Wartenberg-Rot, on his 50th birthday.
Koch remembers: “Karl Ludwig’s car with solid rubber tires, chain drive and a top speed of 27 km/h naturally had to overcome countless breakdowns and difficult situations. The inexhaustible supply of curses, which was always at the Lindenwirt’s service, also came from this time. At times, he had a “refreshing and delightful sullenness” towards his guests, which did not shy away from anything or anyone and caused some of them to leave the suddenly confusing area of the regulars’ table in deep offense (and of course return the next day).
Karl Ludwig was a real fanatic for the truth, but also had an exemplary willingness to help: he helped many a poor wretch without making a fuss, although he himself was by no means blessed with good fortune. Fate had been hard on the Lindenwirt. When he returned home in 1948 after years as a Russian prisoner of war, he found out that his wife had died and his only son had been killed. His three daughters faithfully took care of the household and he was able to enjoy a growing number of grandchildren until he died in his sleep in 1968.
The good-natured and grim nature of the Lindenwirt has also been passed on to his grandson Hermann Armbruster, who bought the inn as a young man in 1971 and has fundamentally changed its appearance over the years. Hermann Armbruster, a Swabian bruiser and hard worker, has turned the small inn with the round table into a spacious guesthouse with a guesthouse and beer garden. Those who stay at the Linde as strangers often later become friends.
With Jörg and Andrea Armbruster, he a chef and she a hotel manager, who took over the inn in 2006, a new chapter has been opened in the history of the “Linde”. The Gockelwirtschaft becomes a restaurant serving Swabian and international dishes. Jörg Armbruster trained as a chef at the Kurhaus am Kurpark in Bad Wurzach, where he was deputy head chef from 2001-2002, before moving to the Kurhotel am Reischberg, where he was head chef from 2004 until he took over the Linde. With David, Lars, Lukas and Leon, the fifth generation of “Armbrusters” is now in the Linde, bringing a lot of life to the restaurant!
Extensive renovation work has given the traditional inn with guesthouse a modern feel-good ambience. All rooms have now been renovated and a bright conservatory provides a flexible extension to the existing rooms. The terrace has been extended and invites you to linger in summer. In 2019, the beer garden is now also seated and the children’s playground is waiting for the little climbing pros. Let us spoil you – we look forward to seeing you!
Our seminar house, the “Lindenblüte”, has also been available to us since spring 2024. We were able to buy our neighboring building from 1700 in 2020 and have lovingly renovated it since then. There is now space for more spacious double and family rooms. A bright seminar room, a lounge with kitchenette and further practice rooms now complete our offer. A spacious garden invites you to linger.
Gasthaus zur Linde – Guesthouse & Pension
Lindenplatz 5
88430 Rot an der Rot
Phone: +49 (0) 8395/ 1493
E-Mail: info@linde-rot.de
