The treehouse suites at this hotel park and other fun and quirky things make it a truly magical retreat
Have you ever flipped through a fairy tale book and wished you could visit Cinderella’s castle, tour a house made of sweets, or stretch out beneath the boughs of giant oak trees?
Realise your childhood dreams at the charming Kulturinsel Einsiedel (“Culture Island of Einsiedel”), in Saxony, Germany.
This 5-hectare hotel park has sprawling grounds with lodgings straight out of a storybook. Indeed, just like in those tales, staying here is an absolute adventure. It’s like entering an entirely new universe that you can wander through for discoveries at every turn.
Happy forest houses
Kulturinsel is most loved for its Baumhaushotel (“Treehouse Hotel”), where quirky houses are tucked up in treetops more than 10m off the ground.
There are many other lodgings to try out here too. From luxury shacks to teepee villages, each ‘room’ in Kulturinsel is unique, with its own name and even a resident fairy tale character.
One writer, Loz Blain, shares on GizMag.com that his “Castle in the Air” belongs to a fairy named Fiona. His guide explained: “(She) likes buttons. We ask guests to leave a button as a gift when they stay.”
The ‘castle’ – actually a cosy little treehouse – has a balcony with a spectacular view of the German-Polish border. There are nine treehouses throughout Kulturinsel, all connected by quaint ramps and wooden walkways snaking through the trees.
Bizarre & fun features
Kulturinsel does a great job of making visitors feel enchanted. Outside the charming houses lie pathways leading into nooks and crannies with hidden delights.
Take a soothing outdoor bath heated with firewood in a giant cauldron called “The Cannibal Pot”, or zoom underground in a tube slide from a crooked purple tower called the Zauberschloss (“Enchanted Castle”).
You can also venture to the far end to find a traditional German restaurant built from stone and wood. Every weekend, Fiona the fairy and Kulturinsel’s other magical folk perform on stage here. If you’re lucky, you can even catch the “roof llama” that lives on top of this restaurant!
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