The House

In the mid-west of Germany, near Cologne and Bonn, ‘Haus zum Pfaffenseifen’ (‘House at Pfaffenseifen’) is surrounded by forests and farmlands, with only a friendly farmer as a neighbour. It is divided into the main house for group accommodation and an independent apartment, which can easily be used together with the main house. The house has a panoramic view of the valley and Westerwald hills. Both the house and the garden have a huge amount of privacy thanks to their secluded location. This northern part of the Westerwald consists mostly of mixed forests, interspersed with small-scale farmland and panoramic views. It is an area with endless opportunities to walk and cycle.

The former farmhouse was built around 1900 and was converted into a lodge in 1956; it is still possible to find original postcards of the lodge. The current Dutch owners bought the property in 2012, mainly because of its ideal location, surrounded by nature, yet not far from civilization. The house has been substantially renovated, making beautiful features like the beams in the kitchen visible again. The overgrown orchard in the garden has been freed and is gradually starting to produce more fruit. The garden is now accessible once again, for sunbathing as well as for discovering surprising places, like the spring of the stream at the bottom of the slope.

Pfaffenseifen is the ideal place for contemplation, to unwind and find yourself again, to reconnect with nature and savour it.

In the forest

Haus zum Pfaffenseifen is an idyllic location, on a sunny south-westerly slope in the middle of the forest. The road to the house ends at the parking lot, where several walking trails through the forest begin.

Apart from the adjacent farm, which is no longer in use, no other house that can be seen from the house or the garden, giving the place a sense of serenity and seclusion. People are free to do their own thing here, without feeling any social pressure.

The group accommodation

The group accommodation has capacity for up to 14 people, and includes a large living room, kitchen-diner, professional kitchen for self catering, seven bedrooms, two bathrooms and one extra separate toilet. When rented together with the apartment, there is enough space for up to 16 people. In consultation with us, tents can be pitched in the garden, increasing the capacity in the summer even further. If you prefer not to cook for yourself, we can put you in touch with a good cook who can do this for you.

The apartment

The bright, south-facing apartment for two has a kitchenette and a private bathroom with a shower and a toilet. The apartment has its own private entrance in the garden, but can also be accessed from the main house (if so desired).

Nature

The front garden gets morning sun, and the back garden gets sun in the afternoon and evening. You can walk through the land behind the back garden, which is part of the property, and make your way deep into the valley. There is a huge amount of unspoiled nature here, where you can relax and enjoy the plant and animal life around you. This makes the house ideal for nature lovers who want to walk or cycle in natural areas, as well as for groups that would like to use the space and tranquility of this idyllic spot for a retreat, contemplative break or other mindfulness activities.

Ideal for pets

Located at the edge of the forest, the house is ideal for dogs, who are free to play in the garden and run in the fields. You can go straight from the front door into the forest and are not obliged to keep the dogs on a leash, this also goes for the large grass field and the neighbouring wild garden.
If there is enough water – or if someone has built a dam – the dogs can enjoy frolicking and swimming in the stream at the bottom of the property.

Photo gallery

The pictures below give a good impression of the house and were made in 2013 or 2014 (click one of the pictures to see them in a slideshow). Captions are in Dutch only, unfortunately.