The Thurm Family Fairytale
Oh, the things you come across when you take two hours to remember! The anecdotes of the past, the small and big stories. For instance that hotelier Erhard Thurm was born in room 4 and is thus truly a child of the Rübezahl: splendid! Or his wife Giselle's Cinderella story, who trained as a Brazilian figure skater in Füssen, was looking for a job at the Rübezahl and found the love of her life here ...
HUMBLE BEGINNING
On the other hand: the world wasn't all sunshine and roses. The year 1959, for example, when Hildegard and Herbert Thurm opened their small restaurant and inn. The family came from the Giant Mountains in Silesia. As displaced persons, the Thurms never really felt at home in the Ruhr area, and in the Allgäu they were received with skepticism. "My parents were given three months", says Erhard Thurm. "There was an endless stream of leaseholders for this house back in those days because the tourist season was only eight weeks long – and you couldn't live on the regulars alone."
And then there was that: What do the refugees possess? An iron will? Yes. And the ambition to make a new life for themselves. So the Thurms struggled through. In memory of their old homeland, the small inn is named Das Rübezahl – otherwise, the focus is on progress and comfort.
Over the years, Das Rübezahl turns into the first house with hot water in the rooms. The first showers, the most modern toilets in town, the first television – sensational in the early 1960s. The whole family contributes to make this happen. The sisters Erika and Brigitte have to be pardoned from school a couple of times because they are needed in the service. Only the son Erhard Thurm attends secondary school, completes an apprenticeship in cooking and graduates from hotel management school.
"In the end, I wanted to prove to my parents that they bet on the right horse", says Erhard Thurm. "Sometimes it is true: the less you have, the more effort you put in."
THE PRINCESS FROM RIO DE JANEIRO
Ambition and diligence – these are also the virtues with which Giselle Gorian Teixeira comes to the Allgäu. The Brazilian figure skating champion from 1984/85 moved to Füssen for the sport. The best trainers, the best training conditions – the way to the Olympics is via the Allgäu. Ice and accommodation are provided by the German Skating Federation, but for training you have to earn some extra money. During the day she is selling souvenirs, in the evenings she is working as a waitress at the Rübezahl. With tanned from Rio and well-trained Giselle meets the young chef, who is immediately smitten. "I thought: the lord sent this woman", Erhard says and laughs. After "months of peeling potatoes" (Giselle) and "weeks of wooing" (Erhard) the two become a couple. And what a pair they make!
In 1990 they marry, five years later Alexander is born and spends his first years as budding hotelier in the playpen behind the reception. Later, Alexander will study hotel management, work in some of the best hotels in Europe and thus prepare to carry on the family's history.
… AND SUDDENLY IT'S ALL HAPPENING!
"Already as a three-year-old he was greeting the guests", Giselle says with a laugh and shows the photo with the playpen behind the reception. Just great! Sister Franziska pursues a career as a cross-country skier, makes it into the top ten in Germany and then also studies hotel management. Only the other brother Stefan is not involved in the hotel business, he leads a happy life as a gardener.
Under Erhard and Giselle Thurm, Das Rübezahl is growing from 35 to 115 beds in the 1990s. The country house is built and even the State of Bavaria believes in the Thurms and becomes involved with a silent partnership. The inn is turned into a restaurant, the sauna with solarium is converted into a small spa, and in the 2000s the Thurms expand this even further by adding the Therme Romana. In 2004, the residence with the Junior Suites is finished and in 2010 the main building is completely renovated at a cost of 4.5 million euros and the Orangery is added. In the following year a culinary initial spark follows – in the form of hiring chef Michael Bernhard, who soon after reaches for the stars with his gourmet restaurant Gams & Gloria (since October 2017). In 2014 six million euros are being invested to build 19 new double rooms and suites, the conference room, the new lobby, the panoramic sauna and a completely new beauty parlour. And if there was a star for bars – Christian Wellisch would be the man to get it with.
WHAT THE REGULARS SAY
Jutta and Ernst Gill from Moers have experienced all of this. They have been going to Rübezahl for 40 years, and in early summer 2018 they enjoyed their 39th stay there. "We always enjoy coming back", says Ernst Gill. "The Allgäu is beautiful, then there are the royal castles, the location of Das Rübezahl hotel, the excellent food and above all the friendly staff. We are very happy here." But there is one question not even the Gills can answer – the one about the best time to be there. "You know what?" Jutta Gill says. "Every season has its own charms. Just go more than once!"