House

Taunerhaus

Vinelz, Bern, Switzerland

The "Taunerhaus" was built in 1850 as a small farmer's house. The name "Taunerhaus" is derived from the former residents. Up until the nineteenth century, small farmers in Switzerland were called “Tauners”, derived from day labourers, who, in contrast to the rich large farmers, belonged to the poor lower class. Their farms were so small that the income was not sufficient for their own families. For this reason, they also worked as day laborers for large farmers or the church. Since the house is in close proximity to the medieval church, it is assumed that it was leased from the church.

Two large families used to live in the “Taunerhaus” in a very small space. In 2015, the monument was handed over to the foundation by the former owners with the request that the house be preserved in a meaningful way. The Taunerhaus has four bedrooms, a bathroom with a bathtub, a separate toilet and enough space for six holiday guests. All living and sleeping areas are wood paneled or painted in light colors. Natural shades of gray and green were used for the textiles and couch furniture. This makes the rooms look inviting and friendly. In winter you can use underfloor heating and two historic tiled stoves for heating.

The central part of the house is the fully equipped eat-in kitchen in the former tenn. Here there is a stainless steel worktop, a modern kitchen block and designer Eames chairs around the large dining table. The old wooden barn doors have been preserved and have been supplemented with huge glass gates. Through these floor-to-ceiling glass doors you can watch the hustle and bustle on the village street from inside. In front of the house there is a small terrace overlooking the historic church.

If you like, you can take a look backstage on our blog.


Rooms + Rates

per night
entire housefrom175 €

Sustainable

ArchitectureThe aim was to gently restore the historic farmhouse. The monument is an important part of the village structure and its identity. In addition, the preservation of these buildings is sustainable. The renovation work on this house was very complex due to the long period of vacancy. Parts were also dismantled that did not correspond to the original construction. Almost all of the furniture had to be replaced, as hardly anything was left inside after being vacant for a long time. Most of the new furniture comes from Swiss furniture manufacturers and Swiss designers.

The caretakers commissioned by the foundation are part of the local population. In addition to saving the historic buildings, the idea behind the foundation is to bring career prospects and added value to regions that are often affected by emigration through jobs and tourism. At the beginning of their work, the caretakers are trained in the topics of building culture and introduced to the building culture history of the house. Upon arrival, guests receive a tour of the house with explanations of the construction and architecture. The "Foundation for Holidays in a Monument" was founded in 2005 to protect historic houses in Switzerland from decay, demolition or vacancy. The oldest buildings are from the early fourteenth century, the youngest house from 1933. The houses are often donations from the owners, who do not have the opportunity to rehabilitate the buildings. The foundation then collects donations and, whenever possible, looks for local architects and craftsmen who will restore and refurbish the building as true to the original as possible. The rental income from the objects rented out as holiday homes covers the running costs and guarantees the preservation of the houses. The foundation combines monument protection with sustainable tourism. In this way, not only history can be vividly experienced, but at the same time appreciation for the architecture, sustainability through the preservation of the houses and the identity of the region is conveyed. The foundation now offers over fifty objects in Switzerland that could not be more different - just as different as their exciting stories.

EnvironmentThe house has central heating, which is operated with district heating. There is also an oven that is heated with wood. The Taunerhaus is very well accessible by public transport. The house was built in 1850, which in and of itself means a maximum saving of embodied energy. The quality with which houses were built back then cannot be surpassed today. Therefore, the structure of the house was very well preserved despite being vacant for many years. Thanks to gentle maintenance, this will now last for centuries to come. The high-quality furnishing contributes to the fact that it is preserved for a long time despite frequent use. The waste is recycled. It is cleaned with natural detergents.


Characteristics

  • Holidays in a monument - a small farmhouse from 1850 in Vinelz
  • Vinelz is a lively, small lakeside town with less than a thousand inhabitants, a church and a beach bar
  • Only 5 minutes walk from Lake Biel
  • With its half-timbered houses, the Bielersee region offers a very special type of architecture - characterized by centuries of agriculture and viticulture
  • The village center is on a hill on the southern shore of Lake Biel, with a wonderful view of the lake and the hilly landscape
  • The Rebenweg runs from Biel to La Neuveville: the well-signposted nature trail on the northern shore of the lake documents the history of the vines and viticulture in this sun-drenched area
  • Tranquil wine villages such as Twann and Ligerz offer wine tasting and in Ligerz there is a viniculture museum
  • In addition to the hiking trails, cycling and inline skating routes lead around the lake. There are always places to rest and bathe along the way, and at the boat stations there is always the option of shortening the route
  • In the Kunsthaus Centre d´art Pasquart in Biel there is contemporary art, photography and architecture
  • On the St. Peter Island in the lake there is a medieval monastery to visit, the island can be reached via a long jetty
  • Day trips to the historic old towns of Murten, Biel or Freiburg are also worthwhile

Holiday home4 bedroomsOwn kitchenChildren welcomeWi-Fino disabled accessno PoolPets allowed

Features

  • Two-storey 4-bedroom holiday home for up to 6 people
  • Fully equipped kitchen
  • A small gift basket with regional products is available on arrival
  • 1 bathroom + additional toilet
  • Underfloor heating + 2 tiled stoves
  • Several outdoor areas with seating: in front of the house, in the arbor and in the old stable
  • Washing machine available
  • Baby cot and chair on request
  • Free parking

Fotos: Gataric Fotografie

Visit Website

Rooms + Rates

per night
entire housefrom175 €

Location + Directions

By car

It only takes about half an hour to get to Vinelz (37 km) by car from Bern. It's about an hour's drive from Lausanne (90 km), from Zurich it's just under 2 hours (136 km) and from Basel it's around 1.5 hours (113 km). The exact address can be found on the website.

With public transport

The nearest train station is in Ins (regional train from Bern / Neuchâtel). From there there is a bus to Vinelz. The bus stop is not far from the Taunerhaus.


Availability

More about this accommodation on our blog