When you look out of the window at Gut Neuwerk in the Eifel, you see one thing above all: lush greenery. The accommodation is located in the middle of the Rosenthal nature reserve, surrounded by forest and hay meadows, in complete peace and quiet - the nearest neighbor is one kilometer away. Sara and Michael Niedrig live with their three children and grandparents in this wild, romantic idyll and run three cute holiday homes there.
They wanted “a life in harmony with nature” for their children and in spring 2019 they swapped Cologne’s big city life for the Eifel country air. And they haven’t regretted the move since. “We have bees, butterflies, newts, kingfishers, cormorants... and discover new things every day. We live in a real biotope! Being able to show the children all of this is great!” Sara works as a sports journalist and is currently doing further training as a naturopath, her husband Michael works in sports management. On the estate they are also working on the “self-sufficiency” project. “The vision is that we will go to work at some point because we can and not because we have to,” says Michael. Holiday home rental plays a central role in this. Little by little they have renovated the accommodation and now rent out three houses in the historic building complex. The furnishings of the holiday apartments are individually designed. A mixture of old and new, a bit of vintage, a bit of industrial style, in the end everything comes together to form a pleasantly puristic unit.
The first finds that indicate that the 6-hectare site was cultivated are over 2,000 years old and date back to Roman times. The ancient Roman aqueduct, which brought water from the Eifel 116 km to Cologne, runs right across the site and even forms the back wall of the living room in the former manager's house. Real history you can touch! The first records date back to the 18th century. The "Neuwerk" iron forge was built as an addition to the existing old works, and to this day the estate is named after it. The current floor plan of the estate was created around 1778, but has been changed again and again due to renovations.
If you want, you can take a look behind the scenes at Gut Neuwerk on our blog.
Rooms + Rates
| Cottage | from150 € |
Sustainable
ArchitectureDuring the renovation, attention was paid to the use of sustainable, natural materials and also to preserving old buildings. In the manager's house, for example, the old glass wool was removed and then insulated with the sustainable alternative hemp. Two villagers regularly help with the renovation; the Eifeler is a smart choice, as Sara and Michael have already found out. A local company was also commissioned to install the new combi heating system made of logs and pellets, because personal contact with regional suppliers is important to the hosts. The interior furnishings consist largely of second-hand furniture, much of it from friends and family.
FoodSara cultivates a 2000 square meter fruit and vegetable garden according to the principles of permaculture. Everything works in a closed cycle and makes use of nature's good ideas. Another pillar on the way to self-sufficiency. Harvest surpluses, especially in summer and autumn, are generously shared with guests. The latest experiment includes 82 truffle trees that were planted on two large meadows at the estate entrance. The eggs from the chickens living in the garden are also available to guests for delicious breakfast egg variations. Otherwise, guests cater for themselves in the kitchens of the holiday apartments at Gut Neuwerk.
In the low season, the host family offers alternative holiday concepts: with “holidays in exchange for help”, for example, guests can lend a hand and stay overnight for free.
EnvironmentSustainability and a close connection to nature are lived at Gut Neuwerk. Energy self-sufficiency is also a declared goal. The old oil heating system was replaced by a modern combination heating system made of logs and pellets, which is fired with wood from the farm's own forest. A compost heating system (bio-pile), which generates hot water by rotting wood chips from wood waste, feeds it into the new heating system and ultimately provides valuable compost for the garden, is being planned. A photovoltaic system has been installed on the roof of the pump house, which houses the farm's own well. The revival of the former iron forge hydroelectric plant with a modern turbine is also being planned. Plastic is avoided as much as possible in the holiday apartments. In addition, dishwashing liquid made from curd soap and generally alternative soaps and cleaning utensils are used. Waste is always separated and organic waste goes to the animals living on the farm or is composted.
Well-BeingYoga retreats are offered by external partners. A sauna near the river is also being planned.
Characteristics
- Spacious estate with three individually designed holiday homes
- Secluded location in the middle of the nature reserve
- 6ha large property with a lake and many green areas
- Fruit and vegetables from our own permaculture garden (depending on the season and harvest)
- Fresh eggs from the chickens living on site
- Chickens, sheep and cats live on the property, there are two donkeys on the neighboring property
- Lake for swimming and canoeing
- Perfect for stargazing due to low light pollution
- Many excursion options in the area: Hochwildpark Rheinland, summer toboggan run, open-air museum in Kommern, swimming pool, several lakes, Third Reich memorial in Vogelsang (NS-Ordensburg), nature museum for children, as well as many castles and monasteries
Features
- An old stable, the former manager's house and the former studio of an artist now house 3 holiday homes
- All three holiday homes have their own kitchen and outdoor area
- Studio with open fireplace for 2 people
- Manager's house with 3 bedrooms for up to 6 people (4 adults + 2 children)
- Guest house in the former stable for up to 4 people
- Large garden with fire pit, tree house and hammock
- Banquet hall, which is ideal for weddings or celebrations (up to 70 people)
Testimonials
Das Areal ist sechs Hektar groß, es gibt einen See, einen Bachlauf, zwei Esel, neun Katzen, sieben Schafe, zwei Gänse »und hoffentlich auch bald einige Hühner«, schmunzelt Sara Niedrig. Sie ist mit ihrem Mann Michael sowie den beiden Kindern Max und Romy auf Gut Neuwerk heimisch geworden. Seit Mai bewohnt die Familie einen großen Teil des über 250 Jahre alten Anwesens, auf dem der Römerkanal unter anderem Teil einer Hauswand ist.
Fotos: Martin Miseré
Rooms + Rates
| Cottage | from150 € |
Location + Directions
By car
Gut Neuwerk is just under an hour away from Cologne (68 km). From Düsseldorf it takes a good hour (103 km), from Koblenz it takes just under 1.5 hours (126 km) and from Frankfurt it takes around 2.5 hours (241 km). The exact address can be found on the website.
By public transport
The train station in Urft with direct connections to Cologne is only a 12-minute walk from the estate entrance.
Meet the family
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