Historic Cottage in the Beautiful Vienna Woods, Artists/Writers Retreat

Historic Alp style cottage in an ideal location close to Vienna. A rare combination of peaceful seclusion where you can see the stars at night and wake up to birdsong in the morning, surrounded by thousands of acres of public forest land for hiking, yet only 25 minutes by car from the Vienna city limit and 10km from a train station.

We have lovingly restored our guest cottage, and the cottage next door which is our own home, while preserving the historical features and unique character of the buildings. Our guest cottage is furnished with beloved family heirloom antiques, some over 200 years old. The cottage has wifi, a washing machine, dishwasher, fully equipped kitchen, and wood-fueled central heating but otherwise remains much as it was 100 years ago. There is no TV.

The ground floor of the cottage includes the kitchen, bathroom, a sitting/dining room with a sofa bed which sleeps 2 people, and spacious sitting/dining areas on the outside porches. The upstairs has a large bedroom with king size bed and a smaller bedroom with a single bed. Two mattresses can also be placed on the floor in the upstairs bedrooms for additional children. The large bedroom upstairs and the sitting/dining room downstairs each have a curtain separating them from the next room, rather than a door.

The kitchen is stocked with many useful food items like pasta, rice, beans, tea, coffee etc. Fresh garden produce is also available for purchase most of the year.

The ground floor and upstairs inside the Cottage, as well as the covered terrace/porches and lawn/garden area on the north and east side are for the private use of Cottage guests. Some areas outside the Cottage are shared access.

On the Cellar level facing the street, the door marked Gwendolen's Garden is open for guests and neighbors to buy our vegetables and farm produce. The small glasshouse in the same area is for our vegetable production and the green cellar door is a storage area, accessed only by us.

Other guests also stay in our Tiny House, located behind the Cottage on the other side of the garden fence. The car parking area and firewood/storage on the West side of the cottage are shared with us and with other guests.

As artists ourselves, we try to create living spaces that lend themselves to the creative process and a peaceful retreat atmosphere. We enjoy hosting other artists, writers, and musicians, people who appreciate nature and organic local food, international visitors wanting a quiet home base to balance a busy day in Vienna, and anyone needing a break from the hectic modern world!

This tiny village of 10 cottages was originally an experimental homesteading community established by the Austrian government in 1925. We are working to restore our property with a modern twist on its origins; as a demonstration mini-farm to teach and inspire others in the direction of creative, artistic, sustainable living. We grow much of our own food, plus some to sell. The farm residents include laying hens, a horse, and 4 cats.

Our location is at the end of an unpaved road, far from city traffic noise. A peaceful countryside haven within easy distance of all the attractions of Vienna has to offer, as well as historic castles, monasteries, and charming country villages. Located in the famous Vienna Woods(Wienerwald) to the west of the city, this mostly forested landscape is interspersed with idyllic green meadows dotted with wildflowers. This area is the first small foothills of the Alps, with some panoramic views of larger mountains to the south.

Well behaved pets are allowed on a case by case basis. If you would like to bring pets, please provide specific info in your booking inquiry for us to confirm.