From Bavaria to the Baltic Sea: Four Secluded Getaways for Relaxation in the Countryside

If you’re the kind of person who revels in simplicity, Bauernkate Klein Thurow is made for you. This half-timbered, listed cottage is located at the heart of Schaalsee Biosphere Reserve in northwestern Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Holiday-goers are invited to choose from three cosy flats, all three of which are artfully decorated with vintage farmhouse furniture.

The old barn features two further accommodations: a bed & breakfast and the so-called HeuHostel — a unique haybale campsite, ideal for anyone eager to experience a romantic, comfortable, fragrant and affordable farmstay. Several secluded bathing lakes, including Goldensee and Röggeliner See, are located nearby. Rent a Dutch bike and explore your natural surroundings, pack a picnic filled with delicacies at Gläserne Molkerei in Dechtow, or simply let the days run their course at Bauernkate’s duck pond.

Our second recommendation is also located in the vast landscapes that extend from Hamburg to Berlin in West Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. It was here that Katharina Floder discovered the remnants of a dilapidated stone barn while strolling through the biosphere reserve. Inspired by its unique character, she converted the crumbling construct into a tasteful holiday home for her family. Fortunately, since 2016, Katharina has also welcomed guests to trade their concrete jungles for her countryside retreat’s soothing natural environment.

Nest 13 features four double rooms with ensuite bathrooms. The interiors are lovingly furnished with a tasteful mix of antique furniture, designer pieces and travel souvenirs. The hostess happily prepares a seasonal 6-course menu made from regional ingredients for her guests upon request. For her unique dinner concept, Katharina’s lucky customers gather around a large table and enjoy a memorable evening together. In the country house, casual charm meets a tasteful atmosphere — the perfect combination to leave everyday life far behind.

Focusing on the essentials: what initially opened in 1999 as Niederbayern’s first cooking school is now an idyllic hotel village. Winding down is at the top of everyone’s agenda here. Twelve individually decorated guesthouses invite visitors at Hofgut Hafnerleiten to retreat to this impeccably designed premises. Regardless of whether you opt for the boathouse with its own swimming pond or treehouse with its private balcony, all the accommodations are devoid of mobile phone reception and televisions, leaving plenty of room for tuning out.

The spacious spa and sauna area reveals itself to guests amidst an idyllic landscape of trees and ponds, leaving everyone plenty of space to find a quiet corner or take a walk. Numerous hiking and cycling trails also await you in the surrounding area. The nearest bathing lake, Bad Birnbach, is easily accessible by car. After a long day in nature, aperitifs and Mediterranean cuisine conjured by none other than the host himself await your return to Hofgut Hafnerleiten!

In search of solitude… — Haus Romy in Madsow, Mecklenburg, transforms this lonesome fantasy into a reality. The house is perched right in the middle of a scenic hilly landscape at the end of a quaint village. More animals than people inhabit this neck of the woods. The timber build’s large window fronts invite nature into its four walls; the loft-like layout infuses the space with a sense of lightness; the nearby Neuklostersee‘s waters tempt you to go for a swim. To round everything off, both Salzhaff and the Baltic Sea, with their beachfront baths, are within reach.

You don’t need to worry about sticking to an agenda because the best way to live out here is to live every day to its fullest. Mornings are spent sipping coffee, flipping through the newspaper in a hammock. The midday sun calls for naps under the shade of old fruit trees. And evenings present themselves as the perfect time to enjoy picnics on the terrace. For this, we especially recommend delving into some real regional delicacies from SaBö Hofladen, the farm shop in Nantrow.