The Schwalbenthal
In March 2023, we bought the former inn on the eastern slope of the Hoher Meißner in northern Hesse.
The “Schwalbi” is located at an altitude of around 620 metres and the view from here really is as fantastic as the pictures on this page!
At the same time, it is constantly changing: Rarely can the changes caused by the seasons and weather be observed so closely as here… And not to mention the birds of prey.
And when the sun and the songs of the many different birds wake us up in the morning, the couch on the large balcony invites us to linger and let our look and thoughts wander.
But that’s not the only thing, of course.
The Schwalbi is currently not barrier-free and there is still a lot to build –
but it is a start, it was feasible and it is beautiful!
The house has a small and a large seminar room, as well as a hall – also with a panoramic view. There are also ten guest bedrooms, three of which have access to a balcony. We are building a kitchen and additional sanitary facilities so that the seminar and group house can soon become a financial basis for us. Over time, it will become an increasingly cosy place. We are looking forward to being able to accommodate groups here whose goals we think are good and worth supporting. And we especially want to provide space for people who are disadvantaged by discrimination and/or are ecologically/socially politically engaged to meet and relax.
The bus stop right outside the door, which allows us to get to or from the east and west of the mountain at least every hour from early in the morning until late at night, provides a very good basis.
In addition, our property is surrounded by nature conservation forest.
Hiking trails lead in all directions past outstanding beauty spots such as particularly old, gnarled trees, small cascading streams, lakes, ponds and pools, carpets of flowers and otherwise rare animals. In between, we discovered both well-known and hidden places that are also suitable for groups to sit and socialise.
This is where the hang-gliders once took off.
Beautiful view under the shady lime trees
Opposite the building is a larger terrace with a small booth. Here we started to create a cosy, organic-vegan “café” with as much regional produce as possible without the pressure to consume, and so far without the logic of exchanging. It should become an inclusive place for people to meet, exchange & discuss, education & cultural events, enjoy life and promote social change, where there is also an appealing offer for children and young people.
Next to it is a former hang-gliding ramp that is getting slightly aged. How cool would it be to convert this ramp into a small open-air cinema with selected films that we would like to discuss in public?
Delicious dishes from the region could soon be available here
Create more living space
We can initially live in the small owner’s flat on the same floor as the guest bedrooms. In the future, as the group grows, we want and need to expand the previously unused attic and the barn in line with our needs and the requirements of the listed building.