Thanks to Astrid’s years of TLC, this stunning 16th century manor house in the south of the island of Rügen, close to the Hanseatic town of Stralsund, has been restored to its former grandeur. On the approach, the striking white build stands proudly amongst the greenery. It's a remote and idyllic place surrounded by parkland and water that are visited by all kinds of birds. Geese, grey herons, great egrets and ducks, plus cranes stop here every spring and autumn. In the morning the deer come to the house, approaching through the ancient fruit and nut trees.
Just thinking of the surroundings is enough to make you feel at peace, but inside the manor, you’re treated to modern, bright apartments, with simple furnishings and hand-picked antiques, old books and little peculiarities. Each is spacious, and comes complete with a sleek kitchen and spoiling marble bathtub. It’s hard to believe that, just a few years ago, the building was a total ruin. But perhaps better still is that each apartment has its own view of the ground and water; the manor is, in fact, at the heart of the shallow seawater bay that is the “Üselitzer Wiek”.
Introducing Astrid!
“For a few years we had been looking for a building that was historically and architecturally interesting, and also in a pristine landscape. What we found was this renaissance ruin in the middle of nowhere.”
She loves…
“Each room has a breathtaking view of the landscape and the surrounding water.”
Astrid’s insider tips
The Island Farmhouse is located on the southern side of Rügen.
You can drive from Berlin in around 3 hours.
Sadly, getting to Rügen with public transport is quite hard.