Stylishly restored vacation apartment in the old Schweigen schoolhouse with garden.

The Apartment
The “Große Pause” vacation apartment is located in a former classroom of the Old Schoolhouse in Schweigen. The apartment can accommodate 2 to 4 people. The bedrooms, each with a double bed, were added to the space at a later date to preserve the character of the classroom as a whole.
In addition to the two bedrooms and a bathroom, key features include a kitchen area, a large dining table, a sofa, and a stove.
The large dining table—a former art class table—can comfortably seat eight people.
The kitchen consists of a kitchen island with a ceramic cooktop and built-in range hood, as well as a kitchen unit with a sink, dishwasher, and fully automatic coffee machine.
The bathroom features a toilet, a vanity, and a large walk-in shower.
In the small bedroom, there is a platform accessible through a hatch
where children can play or even spend the night.
Brushed oak floorboards and a combination of wood-fiber insulation and clay plaster create a pleasant, cozy atmosphere. In the summer, the insulation helps keep the room temperature low and the humidity at a comfortable level. In winter, the underfloor heating and the stove ensure pleasant warmth.

Surroundings
The old schoolhouse is located in the center of Schweigen, surrounded by numerous winemakers right on the edge of the Palatinate Forest. The vineyards and the forest, as well as the nearby historic town of Wissembourg in Alsace, are within walking distance.
Further afield, to the north lie the spa town of Bad Bergzabern, as well as Landau and Speyer; to the east, Karlsruhe and the Black Forest; and to the south, Alsace and Strasbourg. To the west lies the Palatinate Forest, the largest contiguous forest area right on the doorstep.

Ecology plays an important role:
During the renovation of the apartment, special emphasis was placed on eco-friendly materials and energy efficiency. For example, the walls in the classroom were insulated from the inside with wood-fiber insulation, plastered with clay, and painted with silicate paint. The triple-glazed lattice windows facing south were enlarged to allow more natural light to enter and provide better views of the outdoors. Additionally, a window was converted into a door, making the apartment directly accessible and thus separating it from the rest of the house. Great care was taken during the renovation to preserve the character of the facade. The sandstone window jambs were extended true to the original design without requiring any subsequent alterations to the facade.
The bedding is made from 100% ecologically certified materials, and the mattresses are made of eco-certified cold foam. The bed frames are made of untreated Swiss stone pine.
The apartment is heated by underfloor heating powered by an air-to-water heat pump.
The apartment’s electricity supply—including underfloor heating, hot water, and the EV charging station—is provided entirely by 100% renewable energy.

The house has a long history:
The Old Schoolhouse was built in 1866, destroyed during World War I, rebuilt, and completely burned down during World War II. Rebuilt in the 1950s, it was considered the “most beautiful schoolhouse” in the Palatinate.
In 2010, Gudrun Zoller purchased the schoolhouse. Until 2022, Ms. Zoller regularly hosted art openings and events in the classroom—now converted into a vacation rental—which garnered significant attention both regionally and beyond. Ms. Zoller regularly organizes exhibitions in the neighboring sculpture park and is also involved in numerous regional art initiatives. https://schulhaus-schweigen.com/kunstraum.php
Frau Zoller also rents out a vacation apartment directly above the “Große Pause.” We’d be happy to put you in touch with her and look forward to a full house!