Altedorfmühle

Altedorfmühle

Parents of small children are always on the look out for a location that offers, not only good food and drink, but a place where the little ones can be entertained, as well. The Altedorfmühle Pub and Wine bar easily fits that description. It not only offers an atmospheric beer garden where adults can relax when the weather is nice, but also has a large sandpit for the kids to play in.  If the weather doesn’t allow you sit outside in the garden, find a spot inside to enjoy the pub's cosy, rustic atmosphere where you can while away the time with a card game or perhaps by playing a tune on their old piano.

History

As its name "The Old Village Mill" suggests, the Altedorfmühle pub and wine bar, located at 71 Bachgasse in the heart of Bensheim-Auerbach,  was once a mill, the oldest and largest of its kind in Auerbach.  Though first mentioned in 1475, it is thought that a mill existed here for much longer, perhaps as far back as the 13th century, constructed to serve the needs of the nearby Auerbach Castle. Unfortunately, the building from 1475 was, like all mills in Auerbach, destroyed in the 30 Year’s War, which lasted from 1618 - 1648.

In 1650, a new mill was built on the site, though this structure was completely demolished in 1788 by

the owner at the time, Christian Männel.  He rebuilt a mill at the same location, and it is this building that you see today.  In 1984, Peter van Deun noticed the charm of the half-timbered edifice and decided to bring the old structure back to life.  At the present time, the building houses apartments, the ceramics workshop of artist Elisabeth Kaufmann, and, since 1987, the pub/wine bar, Altedorfmühle.

Gastronomy

Under the care and guidance of the multi-generational Como family as much attention is given to the food and drink on offer as is to the preservation of the unique location.  Many ingredients are made on site or carefully sourced from local producers.  For example, cakes, bread, ice cream and noodles are made either at the restaurant or at the mill’s very own wood-oven bakery (Holzofen-Bäckerei) located at 11 Gerbergasse in the pedestrian zone in Auerbach.  

The Altedorfmühle’s website lists the origin of many of the products they serve.  Those include juices from Kelterei Krämer, milk products come from the Hüttenthal dairy and meat from small local farmers. The quality of the ingredients is immediately evident when you taste the food on offer. The Odenwald platter sausages from the Mehl butcher shop in Fehlheim are delicious, as is the homemade potato salad.   The cooked cheese (Köchkase mit Musik), made onsite, gets good reviews, as does the schnitzel served with crisp potato hashbrowns.

Of course one of the main reasons for stopping at the Altedorfmühle would be its drinks menu and that also shows the care that the Como family put into supporting quality local businesses.  They have a delicious selection of wines from the Hanno Rothweiler winery of Auerbach and the Simon Bürkel winery located in Zwingenberg.  

On tap, you’ll find Benedictine beer (Helles and Weisbier) from the Ettal Abbey located in Ettal, Bavaria; however, if you prefer something a bit darker, the pub offers a black beer (schwarzbier) from Köstritzer Brewery, one of the oldest (1543) producers of black lager in Germany, and a favourite of both Goethe and Bismark.  Round off your evening with a shot or two of Odenwald fruit brandy, produced by the Gehrig family in Litzelbach or perhaps have a coffee sourced from Haus Wacker’s shop in Frankfurt’s Kornmarkt. No matter what you choose, it's hard to go wrong at the Altedorfmühle, where so much care and attention is put into what they produce and serve.

Address:	Alte Dorfmühle Auerbach Bachgasse 71 64625 Bensheim-Auerbach info@alte-dorfmuehle.info +49 (0)6251 / 7808457 or +49 (0) 6251/788496 http://www.alte-dorfmuehle.info/
Opening Times:	Wednesday to Monday from 12 noon. The kitchen normally closes at 9:30; however, if it’s a slow evening they may close earlier.  It is recommended you call in advance if you plan to arrive later.