Im Laufe der Zeit

The history of the Kettenbrücke is long, exciting, adventurous and an important part of the city of Aarau. For nearly 200 years, many people have come and gone through the Kettenbrücke. We would like to collect the historic stories here to share them with everyone.

Timeline

1830: Construction of the customs house remains unfinished due to lack of funds.
1838: Sold by the city to Captain Hagnauer to finance a new bridge. Thanks to the tavern rights, he establishes the inn “Zu den drei Sternen”
1840: With a more solid crossing over the Aare, the house is renamed “Zur neuen Brücke”.
1850: Construction of the chain bridge over the Aare; definitive name “Kettenbrücke” by Samuel Geissberger.
1860: Samuel Fricker builds a public bath. With cantonal rights for a "bathhouse with food service." After his death, his wife continues the business alone until 1863.
1863: Brewer Thomas Fischer acquires the property and runs a brewery in the 1860s, while also serving for years as a depot of the Actienbrauerei Basel.
1893: Sold to Georg Auer-Vetter. Several license changes follow. From 1917, widow Sophie Schilling-Döbeli manages the business.
1910: Conversion into a hotel: southern extension with hall and theater stage.
1916: Expansion of the north wing with base extension and terrace. Dance hall, laundry, hayloft with stable, wine and ice cellar, shipping service, and a dishwashing facility are added or converted.
1920: The Frey era begins, initially with butcher Emil Frey; after his death, his widow Sophie Frey-Zimmermann runs the inn.
From 1943 Second generation: son Emil and his wife Mina Frey-Zimmerli.
1960–1982: As a widow, Mina Frey runs the Kettenbrücke, which develops into Aarau’s social and hospitality hub. Everyone was welcome: hotel guests, pontoniers, seniors, military men, pastors, gentlemen with their families, and many more. The hall hosted concerts, film screenings, and theater evenings. There was always something happening.
1982: Leased by Peter Mondelli.
1984: Property sold to construction company Zubler AG and plasterer Rolf Wernli.
1990s: Plans to open a casino are abandoned.
2000: The disco “Kettenbrücke Aarau” (KBA) and “Opium Lounge” attract partygoers from across the Swiss midlands.
2009: Investor Werner Eglin from Baden and architect Stefan Wetzel purchase the Kettenbrücke and the adjoining Hammer site.
October 2013: Closure of KBA and Opium.
Autumn 2014: Construction begins on the 4-star Hotel Kettenbrücke.
March 29, 2016: Opening with 27 rooms, 4 seminar and banquet rooms, restaurant, conservatory, rooftop terrace, and the "Les Amis.Club" in the vaulted cellar.
November 2017: First fondue chalet in Aarau opens on the hotel’s rooftop terrace.
June 2020: Theresia Sokoll takes over as General Manager and leads the house back to great success.
June 2021: The restaurant Kettenbrücke becomes the "Restaurant Zollhuus", focusing on all kinds of meat specialties, while also catering to vegetarian and vegan food philosophies.
May 2024: Hotel Kettenbrücke is selected as one of only ten Aargau companies for the exclusive AKB sustainability program. In December, the crowning achievement: our house is chosen by the expert jury as one of three companies with an outstanding sustainability project.
June 2025: Matthias Amsler takes over management from Theresia Sokoll, who becomes CEO of the Cachet Hotel Collection, which includes, alongside Hotel Kettenbrücke with Restaurant Zollhuus, the Baden hotels Limmathof, Blue City, Trafo, and the Blu Mare Hotel in Croatia.

The story continues, and we are proud to be able to add another chapter every single day.