Graues Haus, Manor house in Oestrich-Winkel, Germany.
Graues Haus is a Romanesque stone house at Graugasse in Winkel, south of Oestrich-Winkel, surrounded by vineyards. Its thick stone walls and small windows survive largely unchanged, with a 17th-century annex on the south side. Dendrochronology of window posts suggests timber felled around 1075, and spolia from the 9th to 11th centuries, possibly from the Ingelheim imperial palace, are built into the walls.
This manor began its construction in the late 10th century, with timber analysis showing that roof beams were cut around 1075. Dendrochronological dating allows researchers to pinpoint when the building's main structure took its current form.
The name Graues Haus refers to the grey colour of its masonry. From 1330 the building no longer housed the Greiffenclau family but served as accommodation for staff of Schloss Vollrads, which the family also owned. Since late 2021 it has been used for gastronomy again, after a foundation bought and restored it in 2013.
The house stands at Graugasse 10 in Winkel, south of the village and surrounded by vineyards; since the 1950s the Bundesstraße 42 has separated it from the Rhine bank. It has been used for gastronomy again since late autumn 2021, so the interior is seen while dining. The exterior can be viewed from the street at any time.
The structure incorporates reused building materials from the 9th through 11th centuries, likely salvaged from the imperial palace at Ingelheim am Rhein. This practice of recycling valuable stone and timber was common among medieval builders seeking quality materials.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 94,068 contributors worldwide.