Welcome to the historic House Am Hirtenturm, a former fief house of the Counts of Manderscheid-Blankenheim. This impressive building was constructed in the 17th century in a representative, massive stone construction style, likely serving as a town hall and/or parsonage next to the church. Over the years, it has been used in various ways, including as a school, residence, and seat of local judicial administration. In the 1950s, it became the district's local history museum. Between 1989 and 1991, the building was restored and modernized. In 1994, the current owners acquired the property and stylishly transformed it into what it is today: a charming, unique townhouse jewel for living, working, exhibiting, and presenting.
From every level, you can enjoy unobstructed views of the picturesque historic town of Blankenheim. Right outside your door, you can access the Ahr spring and the Jakobsweg Köln-Trier.
In 1991, in coordination with the lower monument protection authority and the Rhineland Office for Monument Preservation, the building's use was changed from a local history museum to a gallery house or so-called free art academy. The previous owners used the upper floors as a residence. The current owners have continued this mixed use as their own home, holiday residence, and gallery. From 1994 to 2019, more than 50 exhibitions and numerous concerts were organized, as documented by the (no longer updated) website //hirtenturm.de and other records. This usage concept can be continued without restrictions, as the installed lighting system, picture rails, and necessary seating remain in the property.
Other usage possibilities include:
- Multifunctional spaces for creative/consulting companies or law firms with living floors
- Holiday home for two families or apartment building with ample space for communal living
- Representative residential building with commercial space in the basement
The property offers a total of 12 rooms, 2 shower bathrooms, and 1 guest WC over 5 levels:
- Basement: Main entrance, exhibition rooms, reception, storage room, guest WC
- 1st Floor: Gallery and/or representative living and event area
- 2nd Floor: Side entrance, apartment (two rooms) with bathroom
- 3rd Floor: Apartment with bathroom and kitchen
- Attic: Guest area or storage room
A kitchen is installed on the 3rd floor, and provisions for additional kitchenettes are available on each level. Wooden floors, original mullioned windows, lime plasters, and Italian floor tiles create a special ambiance and offer a healthy living environment. Old doors and some lovingly detailed features complete the interior design.
Property Features
The house features a condensing gas boiler that heats the property through convectors. Two classic open fireplaces with their own flues create the characteristic atmosphere of this property. Hot water is supplied by instant water heaters. In the basement, there is a large meter cabinet, with sub-distribution units installed on each floor. The historic windows have been professionally restored by skilled craftsmen and upgraded with patented double glazing and milled seals for improved energy efficiency. Additionally, most of the windows are painted inside and out with linseed oil paint, a centuries-old, proven technique that protects wood from rot with minimal maintenance. Thoughtful technical measures ensure a healthy indoor climate even in the basement. The house can easily be connected to the high-speed internet available in Blankenheim. A record of investments and improvements made from 1994 to the present is available. There is no renovation backlog; the house can be taken over and occupied from February 2024.
Property Location in Germany
In the heart of the Eifel, directly on the Ahr and Eifelsteig trails, lies the picturesque castle town of Blankenheim. Since 1969, it has been the central hub of a municipality with 17 villages and a total population of around 8,600. Blankenheim is easily accessible by car due to its close proximity to the A1 motorway. The Eifel railways (RE12, RE22, and RB24) connect Blankenheim (Wald) station to the Cologne/Bonn region as well as to Trier and Luxembourg. The townscape of Blankenheim has positively transformed due to numerous renovation and restoration projects on key buildings and continues to improve. Urban development funding from federal and state sources, along with private investment by many property owners, is making Blankenheim an increasingly attractive community. Current renovation projects (Town Hall/Ahrstraße, Rentei of Blankenheim Castle) will further enhance the town's appeal.
The town offers all necessary daily facilities and services:
- VR-Bank, Sparkasse, and post office
- Kindergarten, primary school, and a comprehensive school with secondary levels I and II
- General practitioners, dentists, and a pharmacy (hospitals in Schleiden, Mechernich, Euskirchen, etc.)
- Various discount stores, a drugstore, clothing stores, a bookstore, a hardware store, and auto repair shops
- According to Telekom, MagentaZuhause with download speeds up to 250 MBit/s and upload speeds up to 50 MBit/s is available.
- Vodafone has a 5G mobile station in operation in Blankenheim.
Distances from Blankenheim to: Bad Münstereifel approx. 20 km / Schleiden approx. 19 km / Kall approx. 21 km / Euskirchen approx. 32 km / Cologne approx. 71 km / Bonn approx. 76 km / Aachen approx. 113 km.
Further information
If you are interested in this property, please send us your complete contact details. We will get in touch with you shortly and would be happy to present this exceptional Blankenheim gem. Our small team is available by phone from Monday to Friday during office hours. As we handle each inquiry and call individually, responses may not occur on the same day. Please give us some time; we will take care of it—promise!
