Hostelry Kriechbaum
The story of this historic family house.

The fascinating history of the Bräugasthof Kriechbaum can be traced back almost 500 years.

In 1527 the “Obere Tafern zu Laochen” was property under the jurisdiction of the Mattsee Law Court.

In 1603, the bavarian Duke Maximilian the First objected strongly to the founding of a brewery in Lochen. However, the Archbishop of Salzburg, Wolf Dietrich von Raitenau , gave approval and laid the foundation for a brewing tradition for over the next 300 years. Even today, the name “Bräugasthof” reflects on this period.

In 1740 a brewer named Joseph Tuschl was prohibited from buying barley from Bavaria. During the Austrian Wars of Succession all houses were placarded as “Salzburgisch”, to protect them from attack from austrian or foreign soldiers.

In 1750 Bavarian serfs were forbidden from drinking beer in Salzburg inns.

New ordinances were passed in 1754 that effected all brewers and malters. Also at this time rules were formed about holding weddings in inns.

On 15 th December 1756 a fire burnt down the barn and cowsheds at the farm but fortunately the newly-built inn and stables were saved.

In 1760 the Bavarian bailiff for Lochen and Berndorf announced that Bavarian serfs were not permitted to bet or run up debts in Salzburg inns,with a penalty of ten or twenty lashes if they disobeyed the rules.

The Parish of Lochen was transferred from the ownership of the Monastery in Mattsee to the Diocese of Linz 1789.

Between 1810 and 1816 a large part of the Archbishopric of Salzburg, the River Inn and Hausruck areas was taken by Bavaria. In 1816 these areas eventually became a permanent part of Austria.

Felix Feichtner was recorded as the owner of the brewery in 1868 and later, in 1910, Franz Wenzl.

The 300 year brewing tradition of this house came to an end in 1816, when the Salzburger Stiegl-Braurei commenced supplying beer to the Inn.

In the same year “Bräuin” Rosa Wenzl died. Her daughter Rosa married Joseph Kreichbaum, who passed away in 1972.

Their son, Johann Kriechbaum, took over the business in 1964, made renovations and added accommodation.

His son,Johann jun., has been running the business since 1997.

The present owner, “Bräu Hans”, still brews his own special beer at Lent in the Stiegl brewery, as a reminder of the original Lochen beer.