For a little R & R after the end-of-year holiday and family frenzy, a quiet weekend at a forest-edge Brandenburg getaway is the best choice for minimal planning and maximum comforts. Re:hof Rutenberg has a familiar origin story – crumbling farm brought back to life – but feels unfamiliar in its spirit.
Peppered with details like bucket baths in the mini spa, sliding bedroom doors to allow (summertime) open-air sleeping and ceiling-high hammocks for fearless kids, it’s a space that feels deliberately and lovingly crafted. Poised to go Genossenschaft (“cooperative”) in the new year, Re:hof may not be open to the public for that much longer – all the more reason to book a stay sooner rather than later.
Nestled in nature, flooded with light
Good bones are at the heart of Re:hof’s main building, with clay walls crafted from repurposed floors and original wood beams. As Martin Hansen, one of the owners, explains, the ancient wood has a particular sturdiness due to the slower growing patterns of the time when it was felled, making it “like gold”.
The from-the-earth framework is nicely contrasted by the interiors, which Martin and his wife Marieken Verheyen, both artists, have injected with air and light. Large windows give snapshots of surrounding farmland and forest, little seats built beneath the slant of the roofs allow you to peek your head into the sunshine, and raised platforms for the beds let the space breathe.
While Re:hof is designed for separate stays, there is a bit of a communal feeling as well. At the farm shop, you can pick up drinks, snacks and grocery staples like cheese and fresh bread (sign up the day before) via an honour-system sheet, and you can rent bits and pieces you may have forgotten to bring, like sauna robes and towels. The large lounge space, with its fireplace, comfy chairs and long dining table, invites group hangs and evening get-togethers, if you’re so inclined.
Alone time
While several of the stays are in the farmhouse and the outbuildings, the Gartenhäuser, the standalone buildings on the outer edge of the farm, are the most popular of the Re:hof’s 10 apartments. The Skalix is the most ‘Insta-famous’, with its nearly 360-degree floor-to-ceiling windows, a fluffy bed tucked into a nook, a wood-burning fireplace and an enclosed outdoor shower cube beneath a cherry tree.
All of the garden houses have their own special features, though. The ‘Lupulus’ has a large terrace and tends to get the most wildlife sightings, while the ‘Spinosa’ is the most secluded, sheltered on one side and completely open on the other for maximum solitude. Of the other apartments, groups may gravitate towards Pfarrhaus Süd, a light-flooded space with two bedrooms and a winter garden for up to six guests, while singles may want to go for the Scheunen Studio, a smaller space on the second floor of one of the outbuildings, ideal for a writing or artist retreat.
What to get up to
Although it’s common for guests to squirrel themselves away for the entire stay, there are a few activities worth slotting into your weekend. The first – and most important – is the sauna. Many a Brandenburg getaway includes a wood-fired sauna, but Re:hof takes it to the next level, with ergonomic headrests and a great view of the gardens.
A sort of miniature Vabali, the spa also includes an outdoor shower, an indoor shower/rinse area with curtained-off bucket bath stations and fancy-smelling soaps, and a large lounge area with couch-beds, homemade herbal teas and huge windows overlooking the property.
Late the next morning (the post-sauna sleep hits hard), take a stroll down to the lake. Large, flat and clear, it’s an ideal spot for a quick winter swim or a hot drink by the water’s edge. To warm up, walk the long way around to Lychen, circling Stiepensee and Wurlsee, and stop for lunch at Mühlenwirtschaft und Kaffeemühle.
Situated next to an old mill, the interior has an old tavern energy with wall-to-wall red brick and a roaring fire, and serves German classics, like “Wild” schnitzel from the area, seasonal flammkuchen (with goat cheese and pears, for example), and crispy rosti and smoked salmon. Tuck in before heading back to Re:hof for a last sleep nestled in the quiet of the orchard.
At a glance
- Train: From Potsdamer Platz, take the RE5 towards Rostock and alight at Fürstenberg. From there, take the 517 bus to Lychen. You can either request a pickup from the town or walk about an hour on quiet country roads to Re:hof – a nice option if the weather is good and you don’t have too much luggage. Note: While the 517 is mostly on a fixed schedule, at a few specific days/times it functions as a “Rufbus” that must be booked at least 90 minutes in advance. Be sure to check the schedule before planning your trip.
- Car: The drive takes about an hour and 45 minutes up north through the Uckermärkische Seenland.
- Pricing: Holiday apartments start from €115/night for two people, with a minimum three-night stay. The sauna can be booked for up to four people, at €12 per person.
