FAQ – or simply: more background information
How often can you spot wild animals?
All wild animals are shy by nature and are very sensitive to noise. The photos of the wild animals on our website have been taken over a period of years, this makes them very rare and precious snapshots.
We were able to spot the fox only once in 17 years in broad daylight and then, we quick-wittedly picked up the camera when he was busy pilfering our plums. If you’re lucky, you might see deer and hares every now and then. Lizards and birds are a lot less shy and can be seen quite often.
We were able to spot the fox only once in 17 years in broad daylight and then, we quick-wittedly picked up the camera when he was busy pilfering our plums. If you’re lucky, you might see deer and hares every now and then. Lizards and birds are a lot less shy and can be seen quite often.
What is a ‘secluded setting’?
The next neighbouring house is about 300 meters away as the crow flies. Our house is located at the end of a public road which is also cleared from snow in winter; so there’s relatively little traffic around our house. It’s about 1 kilometer of road to the nearest bus stop – a local bus runs several times a day to Waldkirchen or Passau. There’s fairly good road access, this means, Waldkirchen’s city center can be reached by car in just a few minutes and it takes 30 minutes to drive to Passau.
It’s quite idyllic, meaning: here, you can have some peace and quiet, away from the crowds. But this is not a desert island, so that you might hear – depending on the wind – quiet road traffic. And as we are nestled in the countryside, of course also farm vehicles such as tractors and harvesters will pass by.
Waldkirchen is a climatic spa, its excellent air quality is a proven fact. Only sometimes you might also enjoy pure ‚country air’ (= slurry and manure).
It’s quite idyllic, meaning: here, you can have some peace and quiet, away from the crowds. But this is not a desert island, so that you might hear – depending on the wind – quiet road traffic. And as we are nestled in the countryside, of course also farm vehicles such as tractors and harvesters will pass by.
Waldkirchen is a climatic spa, its excellent air quality is a proven fact. Only sometimes you might also enjoy pure ‚country air’ (= slurry and manure).
I am not a vegetarian – am I not welcome there?
When furnishing our holiday apartment, we attached great importance to design it that way that it is also suitable for vegans. For example, we have neither selected leather furniture nor silk or wool fabrics. Pillows and duvets are filled with synthetic fibers and not with feathers and down. And also the laundry detergents and cleaning products are vegan.*
And, to be consistent, we would not like any meat to be prepared and consumed here at all. ’No meat’ also means no poultry and no fish. If you are already a committed vegetarian or vegan: perfect. If you are still a meat-eater but are already dealing with the topic meat-free diet much more closely and wish to eat vegetarian or vegan products here: of course, you are also very welcome to visit us.
* Despite our best efforts, we cannot entirely rule out the possibility that any non-vegan additive can be found in our holiday apartment. For example, glue in furniture, flooring or books might contain bone.
And, to be consistent, we would not like any meat to be prepared and consumed here at all. ’No meat’ also means no poultry and no fish. If you are already a committed vegetarian or vegan: perfect. If you are still a meat-eater but are already dealing with the topic meat-free diet much more closely and wish to eat vegetarian or vegan products here: of course, you are also very welcome to visit us.
* Despite our best efforts, we cannot entirely rule out the possibility that any non-vegan additive can be found in our holiday apartment. For example, glue in furniture, flooring or books might contain bone.
In this idyllic area, everything must be healthy, don’t you think?
Healthy wild herbs are growing on our property such as chickweed, goutweed or nettle. There are, however, some plants with extremely toxic blossoms, leaves or fruits such as foxglove, burning bush or ivy. So, if you don’t have a thorough knowledge of plants: do not try any experiments!
How is the house heated? What about electricity, water, and wastewater?
Our house is heated in an environmentally friendly way with a heat pump. Electricity comes from our 9.45 kWp photovoltaic system, installed in 2025, which we have combined with a 15 kW battery storage system. If our own electricity isn't sufficient during the darker months, we purchase additional electricity from Green Planet Energy, which is generated from 100% renewable energy sources. Drinking water comes from the Waldkirchen municipal waterworks in the Bavarian Forest.
We try to be very economical with water overall. When flowers or vegetables need watering, we use water from our cistern. We collect rainwater from the roof there, as well as water from a small spring. As soon as the cistern is full, it automatically flows into the nearby stream, which eventually empties into the Danube. This way, not a single drop is wasted.
Wastewater is treated by millions of bacteria in our wonderfully efficient reed bed wastewater treatment plant.
We try to be very economical with water overall. When flowers or vegetables need watering, we use water from our cistern. We collect rainwater from the roof there, as well as water from a small spring. As soon as the cistern is full, it automatically flows into the nearby stream, which eventually empties into the Danube. This way, not a single drop is wasted.
Wastewater is treated by millions of bacteria in our wonderfully efficient reed bed wastewater treatment plant.
How ecologically is the poperty managed?
We try to interfere with the natural cycle as little as possible. For example, ladybugs and earwigs keep the aphids on the fruit trees in check. And the numerous birds and bats eat the insects. Weeds—insofar as they can be called that—are pulled.
The largest part of our property—the meadow on the slope—is mowed once or twice a year and not fertilized, so that it remains a natural, low-nutrient meadow.
The largest part of our property—the meadow on the slope—is mowed once or twice a year and not fertilized, so that it remains a natural, low-nutrient meadow.
Hiking in the Bavarian Forest is like going for a walk, isn’t it?
Although there are no high mountain ranges in the Bavarian Forest, hiking is not without pitfalls and depends on the mountain and route chosen. There are some rocky tracks where surefootedness is required (e. g. ‘Steinernes Meer’ on mount Dreisessel). So we recommend to plan your tours carefully: wear sturdy hiking boots/alpine boots, bring hiking stocks, if necessary, and pack a torch, drinks and snacks in your backpack. Furthermore, a mobile phone with a fully loaded battery and a bug spray to protect you from ticks is highly recommended.
And a further advantage of the Bavarian Forest is that even rocky tracks provide more grip due to the special surface of the stones, that means, they are less slippery in wet weather than the rocks in the limestone alps.
And a further advantage of the Bavarian Forest is that even rocky tracks provide more grip due to the special surface of the stones, that means, they are less slippery in wet weather than the rocks in the limestone alps.
