Travel sustainably.
Stay climate-friendly.
Enjoy mindfully.

Want to travel sustainably?
We make your vacation climate-friendly.

1. The good things are close by

• Thanks to its central location in Germany, the Thuringian Forest is easily accessible from all directions.

• No long-haul travel needed – the Rennsteig is right on your doorstep.

• Forests, hiking trails, cross-country ski tracks, and many staffed hiking huts can be visited on the very day you arrive.
   

2. Getting here sustainably

• Zella-Mehlis West train station (900 m from the holiday home, reachable on foot)

• Zella-Mehlis main train station (3 km) and a well-connected Flixbus stop

• Public transport network: the Zella-Mehlis city line; bus or train connections to Suhl, Oberhof, Meiningen, or Schmalkalden

• Local shops and markets are easily reachable on foot or by bike

• Electric vehicles can be charged at the parking area in front of the holiday home

  • Bike rental in Zella-Mehlis

  • E-car rental in Zella-Mehlis

  • Car rental companies with electric vehicles
     

3. Four climate-friendly holiday homes

• Photovoltaics and heat pump – we heat with solar power

• Fireplace – every house has a wood stove, heated with locally sourced wood

• Rain barrels – we collect rainwater for watering the garden

• Recycling and composting – at our own recycling station, we collect waste in all categories, and the compost goes to the chickens

• Natural materials – solid wood and natural stone

• Impact Label from Natuurhuisje

• Sauna, forest, and silence
   

4. Shopping regionally and sustainably

• Local farmer's markets in Zella-Mehlis with seasonal, regional produce:

  • Every Wednesday, 8 AM–1 PM: Mehliser Markt (walking distance)

  • Every Friday, 8 AM–1 PM: Zellaer Markt

• Carolas Hofladen (farm shop) – Louis-Anschütz-Str. 1, Mehliser Markt (walking distance): fresh, regional, and unpackaged food; with homemade soup every Wednesday

• tegut in Benshausen (approx. 5 km) – a wide range of organic products

• Wildhof farm shop in Steinbach-Hallenberg (approx. 15 km) – game meat and specialties, plus a wildlife enclosure with red and fallow deer

• Regional specialty – Thuringian bratwurst from local butcher store in Zella-Mehlis:

  • Fleischerei Löser – Peter-Haseney-Str. 37 (reachable on foot)

  • Fleischerei Schneider – Hauptstr. 89

  • Fleischerei Hengelhaupt/Häring – Oberhofer Str. 16

  • Thüringer Landstolz, from Schmalkalden – Talstr. 77 A
     

5. Experiencing and protecting nature and the region

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Friendly neighbors:

• Fire salamanders Lilly & Prometheus

• Squirrels

• Deer

• Ants

• Wildflower meadow for bees & butterflies

Gentle nature experiences with our local partners:

• Forest bathing with Dennis & Kristin Klein

• Guided herb walk with Astrid Polakowski

• Alpaca tours on the Rennsteig with Simone Stoy

• Hippotherapy / Therapeutic horse riding at "Am Heiligen Berg" with Mandy Kuhles

• Wellness massage with Heike Zentgraf