Apartment Weinvilla 1901

Among wine lovers, the Saale and Unstrut wine-growing region is still considered an insider tip. Seriously: only those in the know are familiar with the Kerner grape variety. When it comes to cultural tourism, however, the region in the south of Saxony-Anhalt is no longer an unknown quantity, not least thanks to Naumburg Cathedral, which has been a World Heritage Site since 2018. And if you want to stay in style, the Weinvilla 1901 is a place where history and the present form an inviting combination. Six apartments combine lovingly preserved details with clear design; a small sauna in the basement offers peace and quiet after a day full of impressions.

But although it would be tempting to just stay inside, it’s worth taking a look outside. The villa is located in the heart of Naumburg’s Bürgergarten district – one of the most beautiful villa neighborhoods in the Burgenlandkreis district. At the end of the 18th century, a park was created here on the former Galgenberg hill; the Bürgergarten restaurant, which still exists today, was built to serve alcohol. Around a hundred years later, Naumburg’s legendary mayor Emil Kraatz opened the area up for magnificent villa construction. The result also enchants 21st-century strollers: walking through the listed district, one gets the feeling that lawyers and judges, commanders and officers once competed to see who could call the grandest house their own. The result was a district larger than Naumburg’s old town – and one that offers plenty of room for imagination. Who commissioned those late-classical statues? Who fulfilled their dream of owning a country house? Which children dreamed at night of castles with neo-baroque turrets like the one they were staying in?

And what about the Weinvilla? Not much is known about its history, except that it housed a kindergarten during the GDR era. That’s why the current owners have come up with a fictional story: that of the von Breitenbach family of wine merchants. And guests are welcome to spin this tale further – while relaxing in one of the apartments, enjoying a glass of fine wine from Germany’s northernmost quality wine-growing region.

What to do

Cycling, wine tasting, and experiencing a wealth of architecture—from the Middle Ages to very recent projects such as the Naumburg City Theater, the Luther memorials, and the Lützen 1632 Museum. At the Bad Sulza thermal spa (1 hour away), you can relax while floating in the saltwater pool.

Why we like this house

Because it exemplifies how historical architecture and modern vacation comforts can be elegantly combined. And because the owners want to motivate other hosts in the region to follow their example—so that, in addition to wine, design will soon be another reason to vacation on the Saale and Unstrut rivers.

This house is great for

For anyone who enjoys cultural vacations in nature and wants to explore a region that offers many pleasant surprises off the beaten track.

Sustainability

It is easy to get there by train, and once you arrive, public transportation is convenient and allows you to easily reach destinations such as Weimar, Halle, and Leipzig. The listed villa itself has been converted into a modern energy-efficient house thanks to features such as a heat pump, wall heating, and interior insulation plaster.

Owner

Bettina and Markus Kratz, she an interior designer, he a communications designer, owners of the kplus konzept design agency in Düsseldorf and passionate wine drinkers: "We spend most of our time traveling, in unfamiliar places, in unfamiliar hotels and beds. We always appreciate accommodations that manage to make us feel comfortable and elicit a smile with special details—beyond just gummy bears on the pillow. Our first project, Weingarten 1897, is a former winegrower's house with four vacation apartments in Zeltingen on the Moselle. In Naumburg, we fell in love with an old Art Nouveau villa, which now shines in new splendor."

Details

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