Constructed originally on the banks of the Main River in the 14. century as feudal tenure, the building was extended to a corn mill 200 years later and also used as tannery. In 1785 Johann Jakob Willemer leased the Gerbermühle, to which he invited Goethe in the year 1814.
One year later the poet remained for one month over his 66. birthday in the society of the Willemers. Both Marianne, the daughter of Johann Jakobs, and the lovely landscape are said to have inspired Goethe to his West-östliche Divan.