1958
The master certificate
In February 1958 Hans Altreuter passes his master confectioner's exam at the Chamber of Crafts in Konstanz. Four years later he opens his own café.
Our story
A house by the Danieland the people who built it
The Altreuter family has been baking in Nördlingen since 1962, and in their own house right by the Daniel since 1968. A look back in pictures.
Before our time · 1454 – 1539
The Daniel
The tower of St. Georg, called the “Wendelstein” until the 19th century, is the landmark of Nördlingen. Our house has stood right beside it since 1968.
1454
The first stone
The town begins the tower of its church, St. Georg. It rises storey by storey, each a little narrower than the one below.
Suevite
Stone from the crater
It is built of suevite from the Alte Bürg quarry, eight kilometres outside town, brought in by ox cart. The rock was formed by the asteroid impact that shaped the Ries.
Octagon
From square to octagon
Above the last square storey the tower turns into an octagon. Slender pinnacles stand at the corners.
1490
A temporary roof
In 1490 building stops. A temporary roof closes the tower for almost fifty years.
1537 – 1539
The crown
Lightning destroys the temporary roof. The tower gets the crown it has today, with its “Welsche Haube” cupola, one of the earliest in southern Germany.
Today
89.90 metres
350 steps lead up to the gallery above the watchman’s room. Down on the market square, our house has stood since 1968.
1958 – 1990
Hans and Ida
The first generation: from the master certificate to a house of their own by the Daniel.
1962
The first coffee
Hans and Ida Altreuter open their first café, in the rooms of today's Rathauscafé. Among other places, Hans had learned his trade at Confiserie Roggwiller in St. Gallen.
1968
A house of our own
The new building at Marktplatz 11 goes up, right below the Daniel. Café and pastry shop downstairs, guest rooms above. It has stayed that way ever since.
1970
A visit from Apollo 14
In August 1970 the Apollo 14 crew trained in the Ries crater around Nördlingen, learning what moon rock might look like. Alan Shepard, Edgar Mitchell, Eugene Cernan and Joe Engle also called in at our café.
“If they can fly to the Moon, they can climb the Daniel.”
Hans Altreuter
Hans was determined to show his guests the view from the Daniel. At the top of the tower they had a Weisswurst breakfast with Crimean sparkling wine.
1991 – 2026
Roland
The second generation carries the house on.
1991
The handover
Roland Altreuter takes over the house, a year after his master's exam in Stuttgart. His training and work took him to the Kurcafé in Reit im Winkl and the Southampton Princess in Bermuda. He also worked at Café Feldherrnhalle in Munich, Café am Markt in Schwäbisch Hall and the Waldhotel Degerloch.
Stuttgart, 1990 
The exam, 1990 1993
A new shop
The shop and entrance are redesigned. The arcades are closed in and turned into the bistro.
2012
Fifty years
For the anniversary the shop and counter are remodelled. In Nördlingen since 1962, on this spot since 1968.
2021
New rooms
The guest rooms on the upper floors are renovated. Wooden floors, light walls.
2025 – today
Max
The third generation.
2025
Max becomes a master
Max Altreuter passes his master confectioner's exam in Stuttgart, the third generation of the family to do so.
2026
Handover to the third generation
Roland hands the house over to Max.