Designed by architects for travel enthusiasts: Our curated collection of outstanding holiday accomodations – also via map. Do you already know our new entry?
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Creativity research says that most people can think freely in the shower, on the sofa and while walking in nature. Also we would like to mention that the spaces on our list offer all of these opportunities – and much more besides.
Designed by architects for travel enthusiasts: Our curated collection of outstanding holiday accomodations – also via map. Do you already know our new entry?
As the days grow shorter, many people long for fresh momentum and new ideas for the coming year – and plan a kind of retreat with their company or family. Creativity research says that most people can think freely in the shower, on the sofa and while walking in nature. Also we would like to mention that the spaces on our list offer all of these opportunities – and much more besides.
in October 2025
Dare to look ahead
It is well known among architects that innovation is in the air in the Bregenzerwald. And you can breathe it in deeply during a multi-day reflection session at the Fuchsegg Eco Lodge and transform it into good ideas for the new year.
Just as you would expect in Vorarlberg: the lodge in Fuchsegg, 45 minutes’ drive south-east of Bregenz, combines contemporary architectural language with elements from the regional building tradition. Overlooking the peaks of the Bregenzerwald, three houses with 24 units have been built which can be combined flexibly – for teams, families or friends, whether for workshops, retreats or a long-awaited reunion. Here, socialising and team time can be easily combined with retreats and creative breaks: three conference rooms and spacious communal areas are located next to apartments for solitude and quiet reflection. The ensemble is complemented by a versatile outdoor area with a terrace, sauna cabin, mountain pool and yoga platform – for tailor-made creative breaks.
Clear your head on the ski slopes – and make room for new ideas in your strategy meeting: Villa Rasilla in Serfaus offers the opportunity for such a charming approach. However, if you opt for this space, you need to plan well.
Note: Even in Serfaus, the day only has 24 hours, and the location and the villa offer plenty of distractions. In addition to ski slopes and hiking trails, there are also two saunas with mountain views, a heat cabin and a steam bath. Nevertheless, there is plenty of space for productive strategy workshops – for example, in the room that has both a fireplace and a view of the Tyrolean Alpine peaks. And when your gaze wanders over the rugged rocks, your mind opens up to completely different horizons. A total of up to 14 people can be accommodated here in double rooms. A team that needs less space can also book just part of the villa. The complex yet relaxing architecture is the work of the Noldin & Noldin office in Innsbruck and Gregor Loewit from Dornbirn.
Roots and wings – that is what good ideas need for a new financial year. The ideal place to develop such ideas can be found in the hilly landscape of Lower Bavaria, a good 45 minutes’ drive west of Passau, at the Hafnerleiten Estate.
Teams of up to 15 people can stay here in single rooms and find everything they need for concentrated thinking and targeted development in various conference rooms. In addition, the estate offers opportunities for a varied social programme that enables new experiences and gives the senses plenty of space – from beer tastings, Finnish saunas and forest bathing to sensory courses, cross golf and cooking classes, there is plenty to choose from. And the limited mobile phone reception in the region invites you to focus more on your own thoughts, new perspectives and the view of lush greenery than on business emails.
The Cantzheim guest house is located in the immediate vicinity of Lorraine and Luxembourg, on the vineyards above the Saar. Here you will find the perfect space to critically review the past and devise new strategies with larger or smaller teams.
At a historical winery in Cantzheim on the Saar, teams of all sizes will find ideal conditions for conferences and workshops away from everyday routine. Various rooms offer space for concentrated work, while the location and region offer a wide range of options for an inspiring social programme. A guided tour of the vineyards, wine tasting in the cellar or an excursion to Trier, Luxembourg or Metz open up new horizons and invite you to question the familiar. The carefully renovated buildings, combined with Max Dudler’s clear architectural additions, create an atmosphere that allows for a sense of space and unobstructed views. This creates an environment in which thought experiments and new perspectives for what is meaningful and feasible can succeed.
North of Solingen, a shining example of transformation rises from the hilly landscape: a former water tower, which today, with its glass dome and special rooms, shows what can be created when things are radically rethought.
Internationally renowned lighting designer Johannes Dinnebier acquired the tower around 30 years ago and had it converted based on the model of the glass dome at the Dresden Art Academy. His daughter Jule and her husband further developed the location and turned the light tower into an extraordinary setting for events. The imposing dome and the lounge below are available for workshops or team events, complemented by comprehensive lighting technology that characterises the building. It can accommodate up to 50 people, and the four levels – office, lounge, dome room and entrance area – offer flexible options for working in small groups or inspiring encounters in larger circles. Overnight stays are not provided on site, but the hosts are happy to arrange accommodation in the surrounding area so that guests can easily extend their stay. The Lichtturm is not only a symbol of bold ideas, but also a place where they take shape in an inspiring atmosphere.
The Kranich Hotel in the Bodden landscape of Vorpommern [Western Pomerania] shows that not everything has to be flawless and straight in order to achieve a goal. Named after the migratory birds that stop here every year, it reminds us of the joy of changing location while remaining constant.
Three event rooms for up to 30 people offer teams an environment where they can concentrate on their work and let their thoughts flow freely. The rooms are equipped with a projector, flipchart and whiteboard to ensure that workshops and conferences run smoothly. Accommodation is available in six double rooms or five apartments for up to six people. The hotel provides lunch and dinner during events. But even away from work, the ‘Kranich’ offers a wide range of possibilities: a small museum with artwork on migratory birds, a yoga room, massages and a Finnish sauna in the vaulted cellar invite you to relax. Outside there is only the expanse of unspoilt nature between Rostock and Stralsund – a place where the Baltic Sea wind rearranges your thoughts and inspires you to pause and reflect.
The multitude of conference rooms and options offered by Gut [Estate] Sonnenhausen, east of Munich, is almost impossible to list in its entirety. The fact that there is so much space here is not least due to an entrepreneur who invested his profits from snuff manufacturing in architecture 125 years ago.
This tradition of high-quality architecture has continued: the current operators had the historical buildings renovated and expanded by the MeierMohr office, based on Lake Ammersee. This resulted in rooms and apartments that stand out in terms of quality and atmosphere. But Gut Sonnenhausen is much more than just architecture. It is a place where workshops and closed-door meetings gain depth and vitality thanks to an unusual social programme. Teams can cook together in the old stables, learn new craftsmanship skills in a knife sharpening course or celebrate their successes together in curling. In cooperation with the Rosenheim Erlebniszentrale [Adventure Centre], additional opportunities are available, such as ice carving or a herbal garden walk. In this way, the estate combines the charm of its history with a surprisingly diverse range of activities that promote encounters and create new impulses for working together.
Nietzsche once said that our writing implements contribute to our thoughts – we would like to point out that our surroundings also play a part. With this in mind, the former church of Bernkastel-Wehlen on the Moselle invites you to discover it as a special place for a change of perspective.
The early Baroque building has already undergone many transformations: from a kindergarten to a clubhouse to a living space, it has been used for a variety of purposes since the beginning of the 20th century. At its heart is the eight-metre-high church interior with an open kitchen in industrial style, which can be used for communal meals as well as seminars. It is complemented by the simple, bright nave, which is ideal for workshops. Modern furnishings meet rough stone, wall niches and vaulted beams – an inspiring combination. A total of 32 beds are available on the premises, with a maximum of 13 single rooms. In combination with the neighbouring fire station, this creates an ensemble that offers teams not only space but also an atmosphere for working and experiencing things together.
Hardly anywhere else away from the coast does the sky seem as vast as in the Middle Elbe Biosphere Reserve. Here, it is easy to imagine new horizons because the familiar seems so far away. An ideal place to let your thoughts wander is the ‘Eisvogel’, a floating space in the harbour of Lenzen.
The ‘Eisvogel’ also offers a good dozen beds, which are available in the guesthouse on the Elbe dyke and in the well-known Mödlich rectory. Despite its location away from the big cities, there are plenty of options for an inspiring social programme: guided tours through nature in the biosphere reserve, excursions to historical architecture or themed herbal walks. Those looking for more exercise can go on canoe trips or book guided tours along the former inner-German border. All this not only offers variety, but also inspires new perspectives. In close consultation with the operator, Frîa Hagen, teams can create the right mix of work and experience – and almost imperceptibly train their creativity muscles in the process. Because in such a minimalist environment, clear ideas are often simply the result of the challenges you face.
Large teams need large spaces – and Schloss Prossen near Dresden offers these in abundance. Nestled in the landscape of Saxon Switzerland, the former manor house combines everything you need for a retreat lasting several days: flexible workshop rooms, hotel rooms, a restaurant and plenty of distance from everyday life.
The interior of the estate was designed by Henrike and Tom Schoper, who moved their office from Berlin to Dresden around twenty years ago and also designed individual pieces of furniture for Prossen. Their contemporary designs complement the carefully renovated historical rooms in an exciting way. The Kaminsaal [Fireplace Hall ] with its dignified atmosphere, and the bright, elegant Gartensaal [Garden Hall] are among the rooms available for events – each equipped with modern conference technology. The proximity to Dresden opens up a wide range of options for the social programme: classic architectural tours, an afternoon of climbing in the rocky landscape or even a Trabi rally[iconic East German cars] through Saxon Switzerland. This combines concentrated reflection on the estate with inspiring experiences in the surrounding area – an interplay that sets thoughts in motion.
Barbara Hallmann studied in Weimar and Lyon and completed a traineeship at ARD. Since 2009, she has dedicated herself to writing about architecture, urban planning and design. She also developed an upscale boutique guest concept and was jointly responsible for the successful identity campaign of a slow travel destination that was previously not very visible. She lives in Germany and France - and likes to be found by stories when travelling.
Professor Gernot Nalbach passed away peacefully on 7 November 2025, after a long and serious illness, surrounded by his family. The news of his death fills us with great sadness. An obituary.
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