Villa Simson, Cultural heritage monument in Suhl, Germany
Villa Simson is a manor house in Suhl with a limestone base level, a terrace, and two recessed plastered upper floors topped by mansard and attic sections. The building sits on roughly 7,600 square meters of land with about 950 square meters of living space on the southern slope of Domberg mountain above the city center.
The house was built between 1911 and 1912 for Jeanette Simson, widow of businessman Gerson Simson, and served as the family's residence for two decades. The occupants fled to the United States in 1935 as conditions in Germany became increasingly dangerous.
The two-story entrance hall and the dining room on the first floor show how an affluent Jewish industrial family used the home to demonstrate their status and entertain guests. These spaces reveal the importance of hospitality and social gatherings in their daily life.
The building sits on a southern hillside and is visible from the city, making it easy to locate from below. The elevated location means visitors should prepare for some climbing or uneven terrain when approaching.
The long-abandoned building went to public auction in 2023 and is now planned for conversion into eleven residential units with underground parking. This redevelopment marks a turning point for a house that has stood empty for decades.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
