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(#2) The Nishiyama Hot Spring Hotel Is The Oldest Hotel In The World
Since 705, the Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan Hot Spring Hotel has hosted guests at its location near Mount Fuji. It was first opened by Fujiwara Mahito, whose father was in the court of Emperor Tenji Tenno. The hotel frequently hosted members of the royal family and powerful samurai.
The hotel's success is rooted in its traditionalism. While the building is frequently renovated, it doesn't offer Internet access, and the decor is kept simple. Instead, guests are invited to focus on the hot springs and relax.
According to the Guinness Book of World Records, Nishiyama is the oldest hotel still operating and remains the only business of its age to continually be owned by the same family.
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(#11) Gallet & Co. Might Be The World's First Clockmakers
You have Gallet & Company to thank for that wristwatch. In 1466, the clock maker Humbertus Gallet became a citizen of Geneva, laying the groundwork for what would become the longest-running clock and timepiece company ever.
Gallet and his family made their name as watchmakers and goldsmiths, and their talents were in high demand for the next few centuries. The company even introduced the first wristwatch in 1895, though they didn't catch on until World War I.
Today, watchmakers continue Humbertus Gallet’s craft of producing high quality clocks, wristwatches, and pocket watches.
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(#1) Kongo Gumi Construction Company Operated For More Than 1,400 Years
The beautiful ancient architecture of Japan has lasted for centuries. Kongo Gumi Construction Company of Osaka is partially to thank for that. The corporation has left its name on cities and temples throughout Japan, and was the oldest construction company in the world.
The company was founded around 578 by Shigemitsu Kongo. He had moved to Osaka from the Korean peninsula after being commissioned by the Japanese Imperial family to build a temple. Buddhism was taking hold in Japan, and the demand for shrines and temples was growing. That presented a great opportunity for Shigemitsu, who had already made a name for himself in Korea as a temple builder.
Kongo Gumi Construction Company continued to operate as a business for an astounding 1,428 years, through centuries of turmoil, the Meiji Restoration period, two World Wars, and a recession. Then, 2006 arrived, and the company floundered with debt. Eventually, the ancient construction company merged with Takamatsu.
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(#8) Barovier & Toso Glassmakers Draw On Hundreds Of Years Of Craftsmanship
For centuries, glassmaking has flourished on the Italian islands of Murano. Barovier & Toso has been a part of that tradition since at least the 13th century. Barovier, as it was then known, rose to prominence in 1450 when a craftsman named Angelo created the Barovier Wedding Cup. The goblet, which depicts a scene of a wedding party on horseback, is a valuable Renaissance artifact, and is housed in the Murano Museum.
The company survived the turmoil of the 1848 Revolutions, the unification of Italy, and both World Wars. In 1939, Barovier merged with another well-known glass blowing company, Toso. Today, Barovier & Toso continues to manufacture glass on Murano as it always has.
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(#3) St. Peter Stiftskeller Restaurant Has Served Patrons Since 803
Dining at the St. Peter Stiftskeller restaurant is an experience steeped in history - the Austrian restaurant and beer cellar has served patrons since 803. For some perspective, consider this: Emperor Charlemagne I was 60 years old when the restaurant first opened its doors.
The establishment was first mentioned by Alcuin, who was a royal assistant and scholar to Charlemagne. The restaurant has seen its fair share of history over the decades; the building hosted the composer Michael Haydn, housed troops during the Napoleonic Wars, and was looted during World War I.
Today, St. Peter Stiftskeller is still recommended as a stop for any tourist hungry for a good meal and a touch of local lore.
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(#14) Zildjian Cymbals Were A Byproduct Of 17th-Century Alchemy
Avedis Zildjian lived in Constantinople during the 17th century and practiced alchemy, the study of transforming metals into gold. In a stroke of luck in 1618, he accidentally discovered a unique metal alloy made from tin, silver, and copper. Avedis used this new alloy to make cymbals, and was amazed at the powerful sound that was created as a result. Word of his marvelous new cymbals spread, and the sultan requested that he make more for his elite band. As he perfected his craft, Avedis was given the honorary title of "Zildjian," which means "son of a cymbal maker."
For the next four centuries, Avedis’s cymbal making process remained a family secret and the Zildjian business grew. Eventually, the company moved to the United States, and today, Zildjian cymbals remain popular with musicians.
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The explosive growth of startups in recent years has made people suspicious: how long can these companies exist? Most people think that a century-old company already has a great reputation in the business world, but they do not know that the oldest company in the world has a history of more than 1,300 years.
The random tool lists the 14 oldest companies in the world that have experienced a hundred years of rise and fall, they not only have not gone bankrupt but also worldwide well-known today. Among them, the Kongo Gumi Construction Company has operated for more than 1440 years.
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