The Barn

Classic Village Barn Reclaimed as Contemporary Holiday Rental

Its wooden façade retained out of respect for regional agricultural tradition, this gabled, four-bedroom barn is a distinctively personal renovation project that was completed in 2017. The childhood property of noted architect/designer Stephanie Thatenhorst, named one of AD’s Best 100 Designers and Creatives in Interiors, Architecture and Design, the converted barn now stands as a contemporary retreat from urban hustle, a vast, 200sqm space in which the old coexists with the eclectic and new.

Among many standout details is a ceiling that soars seven meters above its living room. Local spruce trusses support the generous roof and have been made to appear original with a vinegar stain to give a rich patina. Doors and built-in furnishings in the living/kitchen and dining area are made of regional wood, and the interior designer in Thatenhorst comes out through the warm combination of vintage and custom furnishings in soft, textural fabrics and cozy gemstone colors. There’s a sunny balcony overlooking the pastoral landscape, and the barn is part of a working organic farm.

Around

Located in the idyllic rural landscape of Staudach-Egerndach, a few kilometers from the Bavarian Chiemsee, a vast lake often referred to as the Bavarian Sea, this barn stands as a generous retreat from the pressures of urban life, in a region known for its wide range of outdoor recreation activities. The inviting property makes a warm, contemporary base from which to experience a tranquil rural landscape, with walking, hiking, cycling and biking available right outside its doors, watersports possible on the huge Chiemsee Lake or the Tiroler Achen, skiing in season along with other winter activities such as cross-country skiing, tobogganing, or snowshoeing.

One of the most popular destinations near Munich, the Chiemsee is the largest lake in Bavaria, with sailing, swimming, fishing, kayaking, biking or sunbathing on the beach-like shores at Prien am Chiemsee, Seeon, Bernau, Übersee and Chieming. Biking the lake’s shoreline is also a popular activity, and water sports enthusiasts can try their hands at SUPs, kiteboarding, surfing or even rafting on the Tiroler Ache River. Within the lake’s waters there are two islands, one home to Herrenchiemsee Palace, called “little Versailles,” that’s open to visitors. The smaller island, Fraueninsel, is home to a cloister, Germany’s oldest convent. And Seeon Monastery, a few kilometers north of the lake, is another local sightseers’ delight.

Location

Nearest airports: Munich (90km), Salzburg (60km)

Best time to visit

Year round outdoor recreation activities available