Alte Goldschmiede

While the Southern Wine Route is world-famous for it sweeping, verdant slopes of vineyards, the flora of the region abounds with diversity. In April, the blossoming of the almond trees transforms entire avenues into pink streets of dreams. In the summer, hikers and walkers can discover fig trees laden with sweet, plump fruit. There are magnificent palm trees, and the occasional cypress tree stretches into the sky, all of which has contributed to comparisons of the area at the foot of the Palatinate Forest to Tuscany. The region is perfect for a family holiday, as the area is one of the sunniest in the whole of Germany, and the people of the Palatinate are traditionally cheerful, friendly, unpretentious and helpful. Excursions and hikes to the romantic castles are relatively easy, well suited to children and grandparents. It was here in the beautiful Southern Palatinate, with its numerous half-timbered houses, that Mirka and Matthias searched doggedly for a house and finally found a former goldsmith's shop in Klingenmünster - which they transformed into a modern-minimalist retreat for up to eight guests. The Alte Goldschmiede was originally intended to serve only as a retreat for their own family. Now they have also opened it up to guests. The house from 1930, with its white exterior, blue shutters, and black roof doesn’t stand out from its neighbors, but the interior and inner courtyard have a distinctly clear-cut design, flooding the house with light and exuding calm and brightness. The rooms discretely reflect many of the traditional half-timbered house elements of the region, but forego the small rooms and low ceilings. A color scheme of white, light grey, and black paired with light wood runs through the entire house, and everything looks very inviting. Four bedrooms, two bathrooms, a living room, a dining area with space for eight people – what more could one want? Perhaps a study, an extra children's area up a ladder to the attic, and a cozy garden with whirlpool - a real gem, die Alte Goldschmiede.

WHAT WE LIKE MOST:

• The consistently simple, modern color concept
• The raw brick wall in the staircase, the slaked lime plaster on the walls, the pretty white-glazed door in the courtyard – all rustic accents to the otherwise modern, smooth surfaces
• The "half" conservatory in the kitchen and the wood-burning stove in the living room
• Black and gray play the main role here: in the elegant black kitchen, even the plates and cutlery are color-coordinated, as are the accessories in the two bathrooms. In the living room on the ground floor, a stone-grey sofa invites you to relax and read.
• The huge windows on the ground floor flood the house with light.
• Light-colored wooden struts are a recurring design element - as stair partitions, in the open cupboards, as ceiling beams.
• That there is room for the extended family: grandma and grandpa or the cousins are welcome to join.
• Beds in the house are special: one is two meters wide. One goes across the entire width of the room. Two others are accessible via a ladder and special security with catamaran nets.
• That there is also a study in the former goldsmith's shop, providing a great space to work.
• The large dining table with room for eight people
• The terrace and garden as another room, and the balcony on the upper floor
• The whirlpool in the garden – everyone deserves a little luxury.
• The region: the Southern Palatinate is not yet overrun with tourists.

GOOD TO KNOW:

• es gibt vier gemütliche Doppelbetten in vier Zimmern, das macht bis zu 8 Personen
• You can rent a stand-up paddle board, it’s a 15-minute walk to the lake; beginning in the summer of 2023 there will also be two e-bikes and two children's bikes available.
• A supermarket is three minutes away, bakery, pharmacy, banks are within walking distance in Klingenmünster, if you need more, drive to Landau or Bad Bergzabern.
• There are so many great castles to discover: Landeck Castle, for example, with a great courtyard including a castle tavern, terrace and tower with a great view, Madenburg Castle easy to reach by car or on foot, has several courtyards, a castle tavern and a great panoramic view of the Black Forest. Or take a beautiful walk to the ruins of Neukastel Castle, starting in Leinsweiler, where you can admire the old village fountain from 1581 and visit the enchanted cemetery.
• There are great climbing rocks between the Trifels and Scharfenberg castle ruins.
• Lakes and several swimming pools are nearby.
• A well-posted hiking network with short and longer hikes in the Palatinate Forest
• In summer, almost every village celebrates its own wine festival – very nice!
• Be sure to try the popular wines Riesling, Rivaner, Kerner, Silvaner, Ruländer, Chardonnay and Scheurebe.
• In October, many villages celebrate the Keschdefeschd, the chestnut festival, with the smell of hot chestnuts permeating the air.