Do you have a favorite themed hotel? Last July I stayed at the Im Schulhaus in Lorch, Germany for two nights. In 2013 this former school house was converted into a modern hotel with 44 rooms. I grew up attending grade school in the States – but from the moment we entered, I was carried back to my childhood. A chalkboard greeted us with announcements, posters of former students grace the hallways (loved this touch!) and there’s a backpack in your room to use.
The Im Schulhaus sits in the picturesque village of Lorch, along the Upper Middle Rhine Valley (this part of the Rhine is a UNESCO World Heritage site due to the abundance of castles along this stretch). You can read more about my visit to this area in Germany here and also watch my Travel by Kris Visits the Upper Rhine River Valley video.
The staff was helpful in sharing their advice on the local area and we were able to buy the local ferry tickets at the front desk. They were extremely knowledgeable about what places to see, how far to take the ferry and which docks were closed due to the low water levels. Don’t miss the scrumptious breakfast at Im Schulhaus! Not to mention it’s included in your room cost, they use mainly locally grown food. You’ll be smothering extra home made jam on your freshly baked bread each morning. They will also happily pack you a lunch for your day upon request.
After your day exploring – you’ll get a great night’s sleep in this former school. The beds are comfy, curtains blocked out the light and we were able to keep up with work – using their speedy wi-fi. Most importantly – we relished sleeping with air conditioning (not all hotels in European have this feature)! We happened to be in Europe during a huge heat wave and since this was the only two nights with a/c during our trip – we never wanted to leave! 😉 Another big plus – they have handicapped accessible rooms, which is also a rarity in European hotels.
Don’t miss an opportunity to stay at this history filled hotel – it’s an ideal location for your vacation exploring castles along the Rhine, tasting the local Reisling, or hiking between German villages.
Until the next adventure – bon voyage!
Kris
