Alpine traditions meet minimalist contemporary design in rural Bavaria
Berge / Aschau im Chiemgau / Bavaria / Germany
Bavaria in the southern part of Germany is one of my favorite regions with rolling hills that grown into the Alps and one of my favorite cities, Munich as the local capital. In the south western corner, right next to the Austrian border is where you’ll find this hotel, Gästehaus Berge in the small village of Aschau im Chiemgau.
The man behind Berge is Nils Holger Moorman, a local furniture wizard and designer that in 2005 decided to expand his business to include a hotel. He bought this traditional Bavarian building that is more than 350 years old and went to work. They undertook an extensive renovation where the ambition was to keep as much of the heritage as possible while still brining the building into the 21st century.
The result is a Alpine minimalist dream with smooth clay walls, raw metal staircases and Moormans sleek and contemporary furniture that are combined with old, creaky wooden floor boards (that are original), exposed brick walls and a rugged looking wooden ceiling.
There are 17 different style and size studios (three of them are individual bungalows standing at the far end of the garden). We stayed in the one called K3 that was on the top floor with views of the garden and the mountains beyond. What made me decide to book this particular studio was the bathroom with the yellow tiles against the black wood. All the studios (except for two of them) have their own kitchen so you can really move in and feel right at home, living your own Bavarian Alpine fantasy. At least that is what we did.
Welcome to Gästehaus Berge! What first looks like a very traditional Bavarian building…
…morphs into a totally different, more contemporary building that would feel at home in any urban setting.
The reception has very limited opening hours so when you check in you get a code to your own locker where you collect the key for your room.
The reception and information area.
I’m obsessing a little with this first aid kit on the wall next to reception.
The interior is so much about geometry, lines and shapes. Like this massive metal staircase.
This is my favorite photo from when we stayed at Berge. This space is Berge in a nutshell. The old heritage that greets and welcomes the new elements in the shape of Nils Holger Moorman’s furniture.
We stayed on the top floor in the studio called K3. This is the view that meets you when you enter. The space is flooded in light.
The bed. The design and the furniture is all Nils Holger Moorman.
All (except for two) of the studios have their own kitchen. Not often you see kitchens looking this good.
This is such a great welcome gift. A care package so you can make your own pasta dinner if you wanna stay in and haven’t managed to pass by the the shops.
And if you need something to drink there is an amazing shop in the basement. Just remember to bring some cash for the honesty check-out marked “Kasse”.
But back to our room. How beautiful is the combo of solid wooden floor boards with the exposed wall beams and the bricks?!
The reason why I booked this particular studio was actually the bathroom. I was so drawn to this black and yellow combo.
This shower! I need to redo our bathroom at home and make it look like this.
The view from our studio of the garden bungalows and the surrounding mountains.
There are three of these bungalows if you want a stay that is even more private.
This must be one of the nicest boule courts around. Hiding underneath a pergola covered in greenery.
And if you want to have a first row seat, there is a little gazebo to watch the game from.
A short walk from the hotel Nils Holger Moorman has his show room. Well worth a visit. Especially if you wanna buy something to bring back home. Like one of these cool chairs.
RG inside info
This place is perfect if you…
…love the combo mountains + design hotel. If your are a nature lover that still appreciates to stay at a unique design hotel with self-catering units in a rural setting then I think you should check out Gasthaus Berge.
My favorite thing about this place…
…is how a design this contemporary has been gently placed into this old, traditional, local building and that the result feels totally right. It shouldn’t work but it does. The contemporary but still timeless pieces designed by Nils Holger Moorman are really unique but still somehow gentle which means they don’t cause any disruption, just harmony.
What not to miss when staying here is…
…to enjoy being in the countryside surrounded by mountains and fresh air. That’s it!
If you like this hotel you might also like…
Hotel Krone, Pfronten, Germany
Quartier Lodges, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany
48 Nord, Breitenbach, France
