Villa Anna

The people of the Palatinate like to boast about their hospitality. And let's be honest - they have every right to do so! Heike Frank has put this Palatine superpower to good use and, at her Villa Anna, provides visitors from all over the world with a holiday paradise in the center of the Palatine cathedral city of Speyer. In 2017, the imposing building from 1924 was completely renovated, with respect to both ecological and historical standards, and converted into an extraordinary BnB. The double rooms Drei12, Drei38 and Drei70 on the first floor are furnished with restraint and style, leaving plenty of room for being oneself and for new travel experiences. The windows offer a view of the neighboring houses, which are also listed buildings, or of the enchanting garden. For the renovation the owner used local craftsmen who completed her project with great attention to detail. Careful attention was also paid to ensuring that only non-allergenic and solvent-free materials were used for the interior fittings. Because sustainability is very close to Heike's heart - just like the well-being of her guests. She constantly comes up with new breakfast ideas, and every day she serves up a freshly and individually prepared combination of seasonal, mostly regional, organic ingredients for each visitor. Villa Anna owes its name to Heike's grandmother Anna, who once regularly received friends and family at her table. Heike's BnB is a tribute to that grande dame, keeping up the tradition of Palatine hospitality for travellers from all over the world at her own table. 

WHAT WE LIKE MOST:

• The rooms come to life with their clean-cut decor, a subtle design language and a clear color code of light grey and blue – the combination radiates harmony and instantly creates a homey atmosphere.
• No one, really no one, should turn their back on Villa Anna without having had breakfast there: delicious chocolate fig jam, homemade nut cookies, freshly picked herbs ... who's mouth isn't watering?
• Meals are served at the large table on the ground floor, in the hostess's kitchen, who, by the way, is particularly pleased when the guests mingle with each other.
• Driven by her love of the Palatinate, Heike follows the call to "buy local": the coffee comes from the coffee roastery in Speyer, the oven-fresh bread from a local bakery, Die Brotpuristen, cheese and sausage from organic farms in the region - but the cakes come directly from Heike's own oven.
• Nothing was left to chance: the beds were made by a local carpenter - from solid silver fir imported from the Black Forest, mattresses and pillows were made in Austria from organic cotton and natural rubber, the organic cotton towels come from India and are certified with the Fairtrade seal.

GOOD TO KNOW:

• The individual breakfast is included in the price.
• The Villa Anna is in a quiet but central location: it's a 20-30 minute walk to the cathedral (which you should definitely visit) and the banks of the Rhine.
• The train station is only 1.6 km away and can be easily reached by taxi in about 7 minutes or by bus (line 561, St. Vincentius KH stop).
• Speyer will bring tears of joy to the eyes of amateur historians. It is one of the oldest cities in Germany, and the cathedral is the world's largest surviving Romanesque church. Both it and the city's Jewish establishments are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. No matter which direction you take, impressive traces of the past are everywhere.
• Culture vultures can also get their fill at the Feuerbach House and the Purrmann House, or at the Historical Museum of the Palatinate.
• The locals' favorite spot is the Sonnenbrücke, a medieval bridge that has been preserved in nearly its original state – the view of the cathedral from here is particularly majestic.
• Villa Anna is the perfect starting point for excursions to the Weinstrasse, to Heidelberg (each approx. 30 minutes by car) or to Schwetzingen (approx. 15 minutes); for cyclists we recommend the Rhine Cycle Path to Worms (approx. 45 minutes).
• Bicycle parking is available in the open garage.
• Free parking spaces are available in the streets around the villa.