Bavarian Bauernhof

Tuesday, March 16, 2004
Bavaria, Germany

 
When you get to Munich…keep going. A farmhouse stay in
the countryside costs less and is more fun.
 (Photo courtesy of Bayern Tourismus Marketing GmbH.)

Dear Reader,

Farm-fresh milk…just-baked bread…clean air; simple pleasures.

This is how we spent our time in Germany when, instead of a hotel in Munich, we chose to stay at a farmhouse--or bauernhof--and drive to the city when we wanted.

We stayed in two differently-run Bavarian farmhouses--the 111-year-old Schauer residence in Moosham (near the Austrian border) and a modern farmhouse in Murnau, southwest of Munich.

Every morning in Moosham, we were greeted by Grandmother Schauer, who prepared a breakfast of fresh baked goods, eggs and milk from the farm. Despite the fact that neither of them could understand the other, my 6-year-old son played happily all day with the Schauer's grandson, the pair communicating with an occasional nod, "ya", or laugh.

However, during our stay in Murnau we had virtually no interaction with the owners, and were able to occupy two entire wings of the farmhouse.

It wouldn't be fair to compare the two--they were so different and we enjoyed them both--but I did love the tiny six-pew church on the property in Murnau.

Some bauernhofs allow pets, some don't…breakfast may or may not be included…some can accommodate disabled visitors, some can't. Different bauernhofs have different amenities--check first.

If you have allergies, pack your medication--animal dander and pollen drift in the air. Most bauernhofs are family oriented, with barnyard animals available for petting.

The Urlaub auf dem Bauernhof is the network of farmhouses throughout Germany that takes guests. Although most charge by the room or apartment, some charge per person. Nightly rates run from 13 euro ($16) per person to about 80 euro ($98) per room.

Keri Kubokawa Vogtmann
For International Living