Mercator-Hotel

“Some gems are hard to find but well worth the effort...”

Indeed, some gems are a bit hard to find... Gangelt, the home of the Mercator Hotel Restaurant is a little out-of-the-way German border town, smack on the border with the Netherlands. The region has also become home to major NATO military installations. However, Gangelt, better yet, provides a glim… lisää

Indeed, some gems are a bit hard to find... Gangelt, the home of the Mercator Hotel Restaurant is a little out-of-the-way German border town, smack on the border with the Netherlands. The region has also become home to major NATO military installations. However, Gangelt, better yet, provides a glimpse into times past, what medieval towns used to look like. The town goes back to beginnings in the 9th century and remnants of an ancient city wall, defense tower and gate testify to the same. However, an even greater claim to fame of Gangelt comes from a former illustrious citizen, a personality of truly word-wide fame. Back in the 16th century, the town was home to the young man Geert de Kremer, in later life becoming known under his Latinized name of Gerardus Mercator, one of the West’s early Renaissance intellectuals of geographer fame. Gerardus Mercator became one of the great innovators in modern global map accuracy whose Mercator projection maps helped open the way for the West’s Age of Discovery and Mercator maps which continue in use until the present. The above is a must introduction to the Mercator Hotel Restaurant whose choice of name was meant to deliberately remind visitors of the town’s most famous son and proving that other important point to young and old alike that great minds can flourish anywhere… In terms of the Mercator Hotel Restaurant proper, it is a 4-star establishment and, hence, its management must try to reach in the direction of high quality aspirations, too. Interestingly, the founders of this establishment started the right way. Location, location! The hotel restaurant’s choice of location has history baked into its bones. First, there is the town’s history, its unique claim to celebrity fame. Second, the hotel structure immediately backs up not only to an ancient town but also to an ancient church, surrounded by hallowed grounds of those families who long helped shape the ups and downs of the town. What better way to tell a story, among others, capture the character of the best of the hospitality industry in Europe? I can’t say much about the hotel rooms proper because I haven’t used them. However, if in a modest small town, reception area and restaurant surroundings everywhere reflect an unexpected touch of elegance, why not expect the same for hotel guest quarters? In turn, what we did experience was the professionalism, service-with-a-smile by polite and pleasant staff. Everywhere the eye wanders impeccable care and cleanliness greet the passing guest. The spacious restaurant is wide open and offers outside views by way of floor-to-ceiling windows. A parasol decked outside terrace provides a restaurant extension. On the flip side, a small bar flanks the main restaurant, the latter, incidentally, also offering the daily presence of Germany’s better-known newspapers. The inside of the restaurant is roomy, offering easy access also to the elderly or physically handicapped. Comfort and class go all the way, generous tables, wide chairs, and all tables dressed up as expected in fine eateries – linen, napkins, flowers, etc... In turn, as far as the main claim to fame for any restaurant, Mercator’s chef knows his business. The chef’s refined culinary taste, in most menu and à la carte options, appears oriented to the German-speaking parts of Europe. On multiple visits, we tried items all over the carte, from “Zürcher Geschnetzeltes”, sliced veal strips Zurich style", next to a traditional “Wiener Schnitzel”. to a perfectly dressed rump steak, to fish specialties ranging from trout to salmon to cod. We tried carpaccio and mixed plate hors d'oeuvres, all refined in taste and presentation. We never managed to get to the tempting desserts because of generous main course servings. Prices turned out surprisingly reasonable and especially when compared to similar quality establishments in neighboring Netherlands. The wine list is generous, too. I got to know the place by chance because spending time with family and friends in neighboring Brunssum – on the Dutch side of the border. If in the whereabouts of this Dutch-German border region, be sure to check out this little hidden gem… In fact, my surprise, how come – with all its quality assets – Hotel Restaurant Mercator still appears to come up short in attracting a larger clientele? In turn, in present opinion, if in these whereabouts and if in search of a bit of history, medieval and modern, feast the body but also the mind, wanting to take special people to a special place, be sure to try Gangelt’s Hotel Restaurant Mercator – a hospitality gem unlikely to disappoint, nor to inflict too much damage in related expense.

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