Bio-Hotel Pausnhof

The Bavarian Forest lures visitors with its wild, original nature. It was declared a national park in 1970 and has since been allowed to develop freely and untamed. Together with its Bohemian counterpart, the Šumava, it forms Europe's largest contiguous (primeval) forest landscape ¬ the "Green Roof of Europe." Here, in the heart of the picturesque monastery village of St. Oswald ¬ once the ecclesiastical center of the region ¬ lies the idyllic Pausnhof, nestled between the park’s two highest mountains, the Rachel and the Lusen. It is Germany’s first organic hotel and a perfect place for nature lovers and friends of gentle tourism. Sabine and Johann Simmet and their two daughters Katharina and Johanna run the farm and put great emphasis on tradition and comfort. The façade of the main house is freshly clad in wood, surrounded by quiet seating areas looking out over grassy lawns and ¬ an absolute highlight ¬ a natural pond with a sun deck. Summer fun at its best! Inside, the fresh, clean design and high-quality furnishings, all hand-crafted from oak and pine in regional workshops, paired with a subtle color scheme and lots and lots of light, are pure bliss. It’s all the work of a good friend of the family, the interior designer and artist Franz Hafner, who specialized in harmonious and inspiring living spaces. Next door there is a bathhouse with sauna, steam bath and relaxation room: soothing for body and soul. Only organic food is used in the kitchen, preferably from the farm, where Pinzgauer cattle and sheep native to the region graze, and organic chickens, ducks, and geese welcome guests with cheerful clucking, quacking, and honking. Behind the house is the meadow orchard, a true paradise. And as it’s located directly at the edge of the forest, it’s a great starting point for cycling or hiking tours, and all kinds of winter sports activities. The Pausnhof well and truly earned the Bavarian Forest Tourism Award 2017!

WHAT WE LIKE MOST:

• Taking time out in the first certified organic hotel in Germany (with four stars).
• The Pausnhof is a family business, run with a lot of heart.
• 100% organic is the motto here, and that includes the rooms: everything is from regional artisans, such as the Hafner carpentry shop or the Moser weavers; you’ll sleep like a dream in the 2 x 2 m beds of untreated wood!
• The natural materials give the rooms a more than pleasant atmosphere.
• The unobtrusive, natural design of the whole house, which radiates comfort.
• The 18 x 4 m natural swimming pool in the garden has a natural filter and a plant zone; here you can relax by the water, do some sporty laps or enjoy the ambience in the evening (with underwater floodlights).
• Wellness treatments that delight the heart and soul! In the light-flooded bathhouse you can enjoy a time-out with many amenities: in the sauna, in the steam bath or during a soothing massage and cosmetic treatment.
• The alpine charm of the former monastery village of St. Oswald-Riedelhütte
• The gourmet menu every evening, with seasonal regional delicacies ¬ vegetables from the garden, beef, lamb and poultry from the farm, or game, mushrooms and berries from the Bavarian Forest. Of course 100% organic! 

GOOD TO KNOW:

• There is only one category, all rooms are of the same high quality.
• The organic breakfast from the buffet is included in the price ¬ with homemade jams and pastries, fresh fruit and vegetables and high-quality cheese, ham and salami; in the afternoon there’s tea from a samovar.
• The outdoor brine pool is heated to 36 degrees all year round.
• Beach chairs and bathrobes are available.
• There is a lot to discover in the Bavarian Forest National Park vacation region: the forest history museum and the glassworks (glass art has a long tradition here) in St. Oswald, Europe's longest tree-top walk in Neuschönau or the animal enclosures in the national park.
• Fancy some culture? Then we recommend a day trip to Passau or Regensburg; or to one of the glass factories or hand weaving mills nearby.
• At the Pausnhof everyone receives a guest ticket for free transport by bus and train in the national park as well as numerous discounts at museums, exhibitions and events.
• Food intolerances and allergies are taken into consideration at the Biohotel.
• There are different booking offers: from a forest week (7 nights in a double room), to pampering stays of various lengths, to day spa outings.