Forsthaus Valepp: After water damage – renovation costs hundreds of thousands!

Forsthaus Valepp: After water damage – renovation costs hundreds of thousands!

The Forsthaus Valepp, an important architectural monument in the picturesque Alpine region of Tegernsee-Schliersee, is once again in the public eye. The reason for this is severe water damage that occurred in an unoccupied guest room in the attic. Loud Mercury the shower burst, leaving “many cubic meters of water” in the historic walls and ceilings. Builder Johannes Rabl estimates that this damage will cost several hundred thousand euros, which is significant considering the total investment of six million euros for the recent renovation.

The current repairs are scheduled for the end of September. However, Rabl emphasizes that the outdoor operations of the catering establishment are not affected by the work and that the necessary funding is guaranteed by the insurance. Despite the challenges that come with monument protection, Rabl's team is committed to carrying out the renovation in a historical context, using high-quality solid wood to minimize water damage. Architect Paul Schwarzenberger describes the renovation as a mammoth task in which compliance with monument protection and fire protection regulations has absolute priority.

A piece of history

The forester's house was originally used purely as a forester's house until 1880, before numerous expansions led to the "dilapidated" state of today. The subsequent renovation requires particularly complex work such as replacing the windows and doors made of mouth-blown glass, which quadrupled the costs again. A particularly sensitive point is the historic staircase and the 380 balcony balustrades, all of which have been individually documented and restored. Nature conservation and the protection of native animal species such as bats and salamanders are of central importance, which means that certain structural measures have been prohibited.

As already announced, a group of investors, consisting of a restaurateur and the well-known footballer Manuel Neuer, is planning to convert the forester's house. They took it over from the Bavarian State Forests as part of a 99-year leasehold. The plan is to expand the historic building into a modern restaurant and hotel with a seminar hall. In order to make access easier for guests, the closed forest road in Schliersee and the winter clearance of the toll road in Rottach-Egern should also be opened, as is the case Tegernsee Valley Protection Community reported.

Protection and requirements

Overall, the development of the Valepp forester's lodge shows the challenges of renovating historic buildings in Bavaria. As can be seen from the various reports, there are strict monument protection regulations that contribute to the preservation of the historical identity, but also represent high demands for investors. The Bavarian State Ministry has recorded over 120,000 listed objects, 18% of which date from the Wilhelminian era and are in great demand. These old buildings not only shape the cityscape, but also offer an attractive opportunity to increase value, as the analysis of Bavaria's monument protection options shows Betsa.

Currently, both the preservation management and the revitalization of historical buildings are made attractive through public funding. Funding programs such as the KfW Program 261 support interested builders, so that tax advantages and investment security are the focus. At the same time, innovative financing options and feasibility analyzes are emphasized in order to be able to implement renovations efficiently and economically.

The progress of the renovation in the Valepp forester's lodge and the successful meeting of the challenges in monument protection are being followed with great excitement. It remains to be seen how the project will develop under the new investors and what new impetus the historic location can receive.