Titisee The inn at the end of the lake

There are family stories that make you dream. That of the Drubba is one of them. It was in 1956 that Klaus and Ursula Drubba moved to the shores of a lake in the Black Forest to run a small kiosk. Enchanted by the bucolic setting, they quickly want to stay there and build "something" there. Except that, at that time, no one knew this small lake and it was not easy to support a family by selling drinks and some trinkets to tourists.

But sometimes chance does things well. The Drubba meet group tourism managers who open up new perspectives: “You are in a beautiful natural setting, so create quality businesses and we will bring in groups of tourists. "Starting from nothing, over the years, Ursula and Klaus Drubba have created a small universe: restaurant, an eclectic store of" cuckoo "clocks specially made for them, a counter of luxury items prized by an international clientele. Because the tour operators have kept their word by including the Titisee in their program of visits. Americans, Asians and Indians come in full buses.

But it was not enough to sell quality clocks: in each of these great countries, the Drubba had to find partners who would provide after-sales service. Fortunately, Klaus and Ursula Drubba have founded a large family: their four sons are all invested in the family business, each according to his affinities.

A small charming hotel

Thomas Drubba, the youngest, manages the catering and hotel sector.
The Alemannenhof at the end of the lake, away from the tourist influx in summer, is part of “his” domain. “This is my jewelry box,” he says, telling the story of this beautiful building in the traditional architecture of the beautiful farms typical of the region.

“Thirty years ago, my parents wanted to build their house here. The location is idyllic, at the end of the lake, quiet, and only a few minutes from the village. The site is so beautiful that my mother wanted to make it accessible to as many people as possible. My parents therefore built their house a little further back, on the other side of the road, and had a small charming hotel built on the banks of the Titisee. "

Like a beautiful traditional farm

But not just any hotel. Klaus Drubba is a passionate lover of traditional Black Forest architecture and he insisted on building a hotel that looked like a beautiful farmhouse. A tireless worker, he hand-impregnated each of the 32,000 wooden shingles that cover the facades. Inside, it multiplies the nods to traditional housing: reproduction of arch support systems in old farms; between two dining rooms, sliding shutters like those found at the time; woodwork around the tiled stove for drying clothes; in a corner a crucifix; tables with pear or maple wood trays; beautiful woodwork throughout. Far from clichés to “bring local color”, the development reflects Klaus Drubba's respect for his adopted region.

In 30 years, the Hotel Alemannenhof has acquired a patina, is part of the landscape by the lake. When it came to renovating the rooms, Thomas took the gamble of adding a contemporary touch: not to the exterior aspect (“especially not, for me it is as if the house was protected as heritage”) but in the rooms. The bet was successful, the interior is uncluttered, emphasizing the lake and the forest on the other side.

Tasty cuisine

The restaurant's cuisine is also far from clichés. Chef Mathias Hering has imagined a “cross over” cuisine, old dishes with a new definition. “Food that goes beyond the edge of the traditional plate,” smiles Thomas Drubba. The only nods to tradition: Sunday roast and, in winter, cooking by the fire. The evening “cook as in the days of our grandmothers”, allows you to enjoy a dinner simmered on a venerable wood stove by candlelight.

But hey, the chef still cheats a little and pre-cooks the dishes on his modern piano ...
The restaurant's menu includes a simple trout fillet with cranberry cream and ikarimi salmon marinated in argan oil and lime jelly. A saddle of deer from the nearby local hunt with a steak from the Kobe-Wagyu beef. “If we can't find the quality demanded in the region with certified Black Forest-raised beef, we look further. Good that the best is our motto! "

Warm rooms with urban chic

To meet the growing demand, the Drubba have built houses with holiday apartments on the other side of the road, ideal for families or small groups of friends. For the past year, large chalets have been welcoming charming, comfortable and designer suites.

The great advantage of the Alemannenhof: once you arrive, you no longer need the car. From 2 nights on site, customers benefit from all the advantages of the “Hochschwarzwald” card (see opposite). And to get to the small village of Titisee, all you have to do is board the boat that circles the lake!