A quaint ‘Gingerbread Guesthouse’ in the heart of a small German town, offers a wealth of history and a beautiful destination to visit away from the hustle and bustle of city breaks
Situated next to an idyllic river, the Gingerbread Guesthouse is a 350-year-old half-timbered house that you can stay in.
In the picturesque town of Bacharach, Germany, there is a 350-year-old Gingerbread Guesthouse which measures on 100 square metres. Despite being small in size, it boasts views of the nearby famous painter’s corner, the city wall complete with the ‘love tower’ and Stahleck Castle.
Inside, guests share the hallway on the ground floor with other guests, but the apartment itself is self-contained. The guesthouse is decorated with florals, and antique furniture, making the inside as charming as the outside. It can sleep up to six guests across two bedrooms and a lounge with a sofa bed.
In addition, guests have access to a small patio garden, where there is also a bubbling creek and views of the ‘love tower’ on the city walls. The small tower pokes up between trees, and used to be a part of the town’s defensive system. Locals dubbed it the ‘love tower’ after many young people from Bacharach, have met there in secret over the years to have their first kiss.
The Gingerbread Guesthouse also features a TV with Netflix, books and other reading material, a coffee machine, and a outdoor dining area. Pets are welcome, as well are guests who want to stay for more than 28 days.
The impressive home, which is in the top five per cent of homes on Airbnb, also has great reviews. Connie, from Madison, Wisconsin, said in a review: This is the most beautiful apartment I’ve ever rented… The living room was a jewel box, very comfortable for our family of four. The host was communicative, welcoming and helpful. Would stay here again, what a delight!”
Alyssa from Toronto, Canada stated in her review: “Most beautiful home I’ve ever stayed at! The photos don’t do it justice. The location was perfect for us as a base for other Rhine towns. We had a car and parking was steps from the house and free.”
Bacharach itself is a small town, with a population of under 2,000 and it is located on the Rhine River — which is the second-longest river in central and western Europe. Even though the town is small, it has a wealth of places to explore.
Postenturm used to be part of the city’s fortifications, but was later used as a water reservoir. Now, visitors can use it as an observation tower. Elsewhere in the town is the Gothic Wernerkapelle, which was built between 1289 and 1430, in the shape of a clover leaf. By 1787, the chapel’s roof, vaults and cellar walls had been removed. Later, between 1847 and 1996, it underwent several restoration projects, however it remains still roofless and the ruins provide a focal point of the town.
The area is also well known for its impressive hiking trails, and is only an hour drive from the Hunsrück-hochwald National Park. The park spans over 10,000 hectares and also reaches high altitudes. Classified as a “hotspot region for biological diversity” by the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation, the park features impressive forests, a diverse range of flora and fauna and spectacular views.