Schwarzenberger Estate

The present building, Frankfurter Straße 26/28, hosting the pharmacy, was built in the first part of the 18th century, replacing an earlier complex. This is said to be the oldest aristocratic estate in Unkel. In the 16th century it was in the possession of the Lords of Breitbach and then went to Adolf Freiherr von Schwarzenberg around 1590. The mercenary soldier, originating from Gimborn castle near Gummersbach, fought on the side of the Spaniards for the catholic cause. He became Privy Councilor of Cologne’s Elector and Marshall of the Prince-Bishop of Liège. He gained military merits in the campaigns against the Turks in Hungary. Nominated as count in 1599 he died a soldier’s death in July 1600.

A number of noble proprietors followed such as the von Wymar and von Wolfskehl families, who are responsible for the present appearance.

Their coat of arms can be seen in the archway keystone. Further proprietors were the Lords von Hoesch and then the Count of Halberg, who sold it around 1870 to the district physician Kirchartz, Unkel‘s wealthiest landowner and the hauliers Ignaz Hartmann and Aegidius Richarz. After World War I shops were set up on the ground floor and then after World War II Unkel’s first pharmacy opened here.