« The Rothschilds became aware of this idyllic spot around 1880. With undistorted vision, they pinpointed perhaps the finest plot in the community, right in front of the former town gates. […] To the rear, the land sloped away towards Königstein, but to the front a clear view was provided of Kronberg and, in the distance, of the city of Frankfurt, renowned at the time for its bustling narrow streets. The city was often shrouded in cloud from the many hundreds of chimneys while up here there was clear visibility and clean air. »
