The 200-year-old manor house Gut Bliestorf …

Recently our friends Sabine and Rudolph invited us to their manor house Gut Bliestorf in Schleswig-Holstein. I asked in advance: “What are you celebrating?” The immediate answer was: “Life!” What a great occasion to drive back to my old homeland Schleswig-Holstein! Celebrating in the countryside usually also means staying in the countryside.  And this works particularly well at manor house Gut Bliestorf, because the von Schröders transformed the house into a charming boutique hotel in 2008. Embedded in an English landscape park, the guest experiences a 200-year-old manor house culture.

… embedded in an English landscape park

With over a century, the mansion Gut Bliestorf, which Rudolph’s grandfather Baron Johann Rudolph v. Schroeder bought in the early 20^th century, is family owned. It was built in Swiss style in 1843 by landowner and chief forester August Luis Detlev von Schrader. Later, influential families like family von Tode, von Köhler and von Wickede, who were the majors of town Lubeck, resided here. Today’s owners derive from a merchant dynasty that is rooted in Hamburg since the mid 18^th century. Nowadays, the estate operates besides conventional agriculture also a Demeter farming and a Demeter gardening center. As well as the said boutique hotel.

Winter garden and terrace of the manor house

Sabine Schröder is responsible for the special style and the harmonic ambience of manor house Gut Bliestorf. With a keen sense of materials and colors, the Baroness gave new life and breath to the manor. Since then, the snow-white mansion and the English landscape park are unique settings, also for events. The Baroness got the idea of “renting-a-mansion” in England, where she was fascinated of the concept “First Class Bed & Breakfast”: “It exited me to live in castles or mansions and feel like home.” Thus, a mansion got turned into a boutique hotel with 13 individual rooms, in which one can wonderfully celebrate and stay overnight. I tried it myself after a long party night and the celebration of life. Just lovely! BvH

Present owner, Baron Johann Rudolph v. Schröder (on the right), took over the manor house in 1974 of his father Baron Hans Rudolph v. Schröder. Today Sabine and Rudolph von Schröder inhabit the renovated foreman house, which is located opposite the mansion

View from my antiquities equipped suite – the park room …

… into the spring like garden. Morning sun included!

Sabine von Schröder has set up the rooms of the manor house with family antiques

The Baroness has a special knack for decorations …

A dreamy stay at the Manor House

… which can be found all over the house

Very classy: The breakfast room in Lavender color

Festive layd boards with matching flowers

A great location – also for weddings

The ancestor of the Schröder family guarded sternly about the guest book

Cozy chill in salon

From the salon you can enjoy the magnificent view into the park

Baroness Sabine von Schröder conceived the concept “rent-a-manor”

At the park borders a nature reserve with its old tree population, where you can watch rare water birds

The manor house Gut Bliestorf was awarded with the World Luxury Award for the best wedding destination 2016

What you can do here? Sleeping and enjoying the peace. The Bliestorfer forest also invites to long walks and bicycling tours

Contact Manor House Gut Bliestorf

www.herrenhaus-gut-bliestorf.de

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Pure idyll: Since one year Claudia Weidung-Anders resides in Klostergut Besselich in Urbar near Koblenz with her showroom ‘Home & Dogs’ *

Do you know that feeling when you enter a shop thinking, wow, how beautiful, I wanna have it all! Such a burst of buying power came over me when visiting ‘Home & Dogs’ in the Klostergut Besselich, a noble manor near Koblenz in southern Germany. Lovingly arranged and decorated for Christmas, Claudia Weidung-Anders – wife of popstar Thomas Anders – presents her assortments. Here, two- and four-legged friends will find everything their hearts desire, from a dressing gown to the dog lead. A conversation amongst dog owners and interior fans with tea and biscuits (dog-shaped, of course).

Thomas and Claudia Anders with mongrel dog Summer on Klostergut Besselich. The popstar supportes his wife with her company ‘Home & Dogs’

Room fragrances and scented candles adjusted to the Christmas season

MyStylery: It smells lovely in here – and clearly not of dog food …
Claudia Weidung-Anders: Yes, right? We just unpacked the candles with Christmas scent. They provide a good feeling of space.

At ‘Home & Dogs’, the visitor awaits Christmas atmosphere

MS: Originally it was your business idea to prepare own dog food. Sounds like a pretty big endeavor…
CWA: True, it took a while until I found the right partners. But the suffering of my dog drove me on. Summer (dog’s name) had an intolerance to conventional dog food and thus stomach and digestive problems. Our food is made with a gently cooking method in a 100% foodquality and is free of gluten and grain. The varieties are very well appreciated, the dogs love the food.

Lets dogs’ hearts beat faster: Savory treats – gluten and wheat free – by ‘Pepper’s Choice’. Or how about baked liverwurst bones by ‘Omas Hundekekse’ (grandma’s dog biscuits)?

MS: Now your product range includes things for dog and owner. How did this idea about such combination come about?
CWA: Actually, my customers put me up to this. The dog’s mat should be compatible with the furnishing. The maritime Sylt- (German island) and modern country house looks are currently trendy and very popular. And I love to be at the fairs, tracing beautiful things. Much inspiration I get on our journeys. We travel a lot.

The ‘Home & Dogs’ dog basket series ‘Classic luxury’ is equipped with washable covers and matching ball and playing-bone of the same material

MS: Certainly one of the reasons why, in addition to a large selection of baskets, ‘Home & Dogs’ even offers a dog travelling bed.
CWA: Right. But even dog leads are an important issue, and I’ve been searching for matching items for a long time. Bling-bling with rhinestones is completely out of the question (laughs).

Here only the Advent decoration glitters: Christmas feeling for dogs and owners in the ‘Home & Dogs’ Showroom

MS: Summer is a mongrel dog, which you got from a Spanish pound. Which dog would you not want have?
CWA: I basically like all dogs. In fact, animals from the animal welfare are particularly close to my heart. Especially the mixes are often the most fantastic characters. I Love Weimaraner, they are so pretty, but motion and time-consuming. That has to be considered when a dog comes into the house. Dogs should be kept appropriately regarding their species.

The dog food is available in eight varieties with resealable lids and in three different packaging sizes. The bestsellers: ‘poultry with rice’ and ‘beef with potatoes’. Yummy!

MS: Absolutely. Apropos: ‘Kangaroo with pumpkin’ or ‘horse with carrots’ sound rather exotic: Has a two-legged ever tried ‘Home & Dogs’ dog food?
CWA (laughs): Yes, I myself. I gotta know what I’m selling.  BvH

Did you already get an Advent calendar for your doggies?

Claudia Weidung-Anders has adapted to the needs of both dog and owner. Whether round, square, with border or exit: The range of baskets and dog beds serve all sleeping-preferences

“Dog leads – for example by Cloud7 – should be practical and look good at the same time. The leather must be durable and soft in the hand.”

Nice items for the bathroom from ‘Amélie & Mélanie’

The mistress will find cozy homewear and pretty decoration. Help, what should I get?

… presented in a beautiful countrystyle-look

New to the assortment are the cashmere-collections from ‘Heartbreaker’ and ‘MAP Ibiza’ for the mistress. I go for the comfortable casual wear by ‘Cornelie Weiss’

I admit it, for my two four-legged friends Franz and Willi – a Labrador and a Parson Terrier – it’s always got be the best. That’s why I just belong here!

This cozy cushions would look great on my sofa

Tip:

On all Saturdays of Advent, the ‘Home & Dogs’ showroom has open from 11:00 – 17:00 o’clock.

Okay, I take the wooden dog-decoration, too

Contact:

Home & Dogs
Claudia Weidung-Anders
Klostergut Besselich
56182 Urbar, Germany

Open from Monday to Friday 9:00 – 13:30
Saturday and Sunday by appointment

Email:
info@home-and-dogs.com

From the dog lead to the basket – the range now includes more than 500 different products, which can also be ordered via the online shop

Bye bye, Klostergut Besselich! I’ll be back

Online-Shop:

www.home-and-dogs.com

More about Klostergut Besselich:

www.klostergut-besselich.de

Featured pic by Nikolaj Georgiew

Photo marked* by Klostergut Besselich

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Baron Enno von Ruffin says about himself that he’s a ‘car-driving rambler’

“The baron is coming in a second”, says the friendly woman and pleases me to wait. And then he’s standing in front of me – in red cords, a for him typical cardigan, of course with a breast pocket handkerchief: Baron Enno von Ruffin falls down on his sofa in his salon. “There was a problem with the cables for the Christmas illumination”, he explains his delay whilst being a little bit out of breath. But everything is sorted now. Like always. Even after 2 a.m., when a hotel guest stands in front of his door – without a key. Then it’s Ennos mobile phone that rings.

Since 400 years, Gut Basthorst is the home for the Ruffin family

Since 35 years Enno von Ruffin is leading Gut Basthorst in Schleswig-Holstein, a 650 hectares big estate, which includes next to its agriculture a company for gardening and landscaping, as well as a hotel and gastronomy with its own Basthorst Bier. And since 400 years, Gut Basthorst is the home for the Ruffin family that originally comes from Bavaria and Meran in Tirol. This is where Enno was born. Where he was raised. He knows every corner, every tree, and every shrub. He went to the village school, pending between mornings and afternoons, because there was only one classroom. Afterwards Enno has been sent to boarding school. At this stage he was only ten years old. He couldn’t really cope with the rough world of boarding. Suddenly there were different rules. Rules, which didn’t include cigarettes, beer or girls – Enno was, as a lover of liberty, truly not a fan of these rules. “In fact I was an easy child”, says Enno and grins. “Others probably saw that differently”. So he changed the boarding schools in periodically intervals, “I have no idea how many.” His protest against the establishment, “but never against the family.”

The manor: in the former private rooms of the old Baroness – the mother of Enno von Ruffin – today the hotel resides

After school he went to Bavaria, was lieutenant for the mountain infantry, completed an agricultural apprenticeship earlier. And spent one year near Dallas, where he dealed with the American agriculture. It seemed to be fascinating and deterred at the same time. This anonymity. “There was no caregiver, nothing familiar.” Instead there were miles of fields. “This literally broadened my horizon.” Enno von Ruffin returned to Germany to his home in Schleswig-Holstein. Because it was clear; he as the male heir takes over the farm and the responsibility for the business and the therefore involved people. At just 27 years of age. He structured, modernized, rented the empty buildings to craftsmen. The former horse stable nowadays contains an inn; events take place in the barns, from dog competitions to the ‘Players Night’ – a night where the polo cup, which regularly takes place at Basthorst, is celebrated.

In the former horse stable – built in 1913 by the ancestors of the Ruffin family, the Brusselles – visitors will find a comfortable restaurant, in which German cuisine is served

Basthorst is popular for its seasonal markets. Next weekend starts this years Christmas market. Ten thousands of visitors will come to attune themselves to the Advent season with Negus and deer-sausages. And to sing Christmas songs with Vicky Leandros. In the mid 80s Enno von Ruffin gets to know the famous singer in the once legendary Hamburg nightclub ‘Insel’ (island). First he didn’t know who she is; he did one of his flippant slogans, which she skillfully parried. He introduced her to his – luckily relatively liberal – parents so that Vicky’s Greek origin or the “standardized marriage” were no obstacles. Today they are amicably seperated.

The pond of the village lies romantically in the middle of the hundreds of years old building-ensemble

35 employees and a diversity of temporary workers take care of the farm estate. “I am farmer”, says Enno von Ruffin, “I don’t want to look after chair covers.” The animal husbandry – pigs, cows, sheep, chicken with which Enno grew up – have been abolished in the 60s. Now there are horses again, because Ennos companion, the Swedish Estelle Rytterborg, is a passionate show jumper. A passion that unifies both and nearly leads to a disaster: in fast gallop Enno fell from his horse, suffers from a life-threatening breach in his lungs. “Such incisions make you humble”, he says in thoughts. Since then he doesn’t smoke anymore. “Sometimes I drink enough”, he laughs. Enno enjoys skiing in Kitzbühel during his holidays and says about himself that he’s a ‘car-driving rambler’. “I got calmer, don’t have to attend every party.” The wild times are over now.

Enno von Ruffin with companion Estelle Rytterborg

What is from true importance? The family. Of course. The children Leo, Milana and Sandra. His companion Estelle and her daughter Pauline. Friendships. Basthorst. Milana, who’s meanwhile mother of two children, is going to take over Gut Basthorst one day. Gradually, how Enno von Ruffin emphasizes. Sometimes. Because he cannot completely release: “I always have an ear on the yard.” If it’s raining inside or if the wind whips off the tiles of the roof: it will be his phone, which rings. BvH

Christmas market in Basthorst

Tip:

The Christmas market at Gut Basthorst is one of the most beautiful in North Germany. It starts on the 20th of November (except the 22nd of November) and will be open all Advent weekends: from Friday until Sunday 300 exhibitors offer handcrafts and regional specialties in harmonic atmosphere.
Friday the 27th of November Vicky Leandros is doing a Christmas benefit concert in favor of ‘Ein Herz für Kinder’ (‘a heart for children’). You can auction a VIP-Christmas Tree that will be signed by celebrities like Udo Lindenberg, H.P. Baxter, Johannes B. Kerner, and others.

About the antique secretary the coat of arms of the ancestors

“I’m a human of yard and family, this is what makes my day”, says Enno von Ruffin, who is accompanied by the two Jack Russell terriers Lion and Trouper at every step

Shopping at Gut Basthorst: in the outbuildings of the yard are several shops that invite to further shopping experiences

Over all reigns the neo-Gothic, evangelist Granit church St. Marien – with Baron Enno von Ruffin as patron

Diverse trades have been established at Gut Basthorst: a shoemaker and bassoon-maker, a glider and a felt maker …

… There’s an antiques shop and boutiques for fashion, presents as well as a distillery, a bakery and a whisky-storage

Always with Enno von Ruffin: Lion and Trouper. Sweet!

Pure nature: Gast Basthorst in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany

Accession at Gut Basthorst is an original ‘Holzhäuserl’ (house out of wood) from Tirol …

… marvelous lodge-feeling – for this no one has to drive to Austria

Impressions of the countryside …

… and one photo opportunity more beautiful than the other

Enno von Ruffin and me

Contact:

Gut Basthorst
Auf dem Gut 3
21493 Basthorst, Germany

www.gut-basthorst.de

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The 200 years old manor Le Manoir de Contres, built in the style of Louis XII, is nowadays a charming hotel with eights rooms and a separate pavilion

I love France! The language and culture, and not to forget the food! And when the best friends invite you for a weekend to France into the valley of the Loire to celebrate a special wedding day, then this is très chic and lets my heart leap with joy. Especially now in autumn when the nature turns into a blaze of color and the sun still caters for warm moments under blue sky.

Hotelier-couple Maria and Victor Orsenne, the ‘Chef de cuisine’*

About two hours by car in the southwest from Paris lies the Manoir de Contres, a family-run, down-to-earth hotel in a 200 years old, charming manor that is owned by Victor Orsenne and his wife Marie – the sister of my friend and host – and is ideally the trailhead for diverse trips into the cultural assets and small, idyllic places along the countryside of the Loire.

The terrace in the garden, beautiful for a breakfast in the morning sun, in the summer there’ll be BBQ for lunch, in the evening with an aperitif

Someone lucky starts the day with a coffee in the sun on the wonderful terrace of the Manoir de Contres. And listens to the small anecdotes, which Victor, the patron, has to tell, whilst enjoying homemade marmalade, delicious croissants and fresh fruits: how he, a French, got to know Maria, a native of Hamburg, in a hotel management school in the Swiss Lausanne. How both of them led two small boutique-hotels in Paris and someday asked themselves, whether life offers something new. When the manor in the little town Contres, which was previously inhabited, was on offer; the Orsennes didn’t hesitate long, renovated all eight rooms. Adieu metropolis, bonjour country life. This happened four years ago and was a good decision.

Whilst the fire place crackles, I look at the for the region typical, colorful ceiling paintings*

Because the Val de Loire in the heart of France is a popular travel-region, not only for gourmets and wine lovers, but also for fans of the French cuisine. More than 300 castles and fortresses – built by emperors, kings and the French aristocracy from different epochs – of which about 100 can still be visited, string together, like pearls on a cord.

The last summer flowers from the hotel’s internal park

At this time of the year the endless columns of bus-tourists already left, one has the region mostly for oneself. Famous is the Château de Chambord, former hunting castle of Louis XIV, which is the biggest château at the Loire under the renaissance castles with its 400 rooms, crenellation and towers on the largest park-area Europe’s with 5.440 hectares. But there’re also some real insider tips, in which one can amble along the halls just by oneself and seems to hear the haunting castle ghost giggling behind the screen. For example the Valençay or the castle Cheverny (more soon). Indeed there’s a numerous amount of castles that are lead and inhabited by aristocratic families since generations.

View on the one-hectare big park with its old tree population*

In order to get not sick of all the castles I recommend to narrow down the choice to a couple of castles – otherwise you’ll end up with a real castle-marathon: it’s best to focus on one to two castles per day. Then in the evening you’ll still be able to assign the castles that you saw during the day.

The restaurant of the Manoir de Contres, in which one can excellently dine*

Apropos evening: Victor, the Maître of the Manoir is a gifted cook and his magic arts at the stove are not only reserved for this hotel guests. We got spoiled by a salad of green beans and crayfish tails, followed by scallops with rose pepper, veal medallions in clear estragon sauce and the delicious potato gratin, which I ate. In conclusion goat cheese from the Loire valley and ‘Framboisier du Manoir’ out of white chocolate mousse with fresh raspberries. Accompanied by wonderful wines from the in-house, comprehensive cellar of the Manoir de Contres and its perfect, attentive service, which couldn’t be better even in four- or five-start-hotels: Savoir vivre! What else could you wish for? BvH

Et voilà, le menu:

Scallops with rose pepper …

… followed by veal medallion and potato gratin …

… and ‘Framboisier du Manoir’ out of white chocolate mousse with fresh raspberries. As you can see, I already have tried it

Bon appétit!

View from my room

The pavilion

Portal of the Manoir de Contres: this is where we sadly have to say ‘au revoir’!

Exclusive tips by Maria Orsenne …

… for a perfect day in and around Contres. How about a trip to the famous limestone caves, the so called ‘caves-troglodytiques’, in which different wineries store their wines, for example the winery  Monmousseau with its wonderful Crémants near Château de Chenonceau. The wine tastings take place inside the illuminated rock caves.

Learn more about the famous limestone caves: ‘caves-troglodytiques’

A friendly lunch address is the ‘Les Trois Marchands’ in Cour-Cheverny. From there you can drive onwards to the chocolate manufactory Max Vouché in Bracieux (near Chambord). On the weekend it’s worth to visit the Sunday market in Amboise between 8 am and 1.30 pm directly at the shore of the Loire with up to 200 market stands. What will you find there? Everything!

Lunch address: ‘Les Trois Marchands’ in Cour-Cheverny

More information: maxvauche-chocolatier

Château de Chambord, the biggest château at the Loire, with its 400 rooms, crenellation and towers on the largest park-area Europe’s Château de Chambord

Contact:

Le Manoir de Contres
23, Rue des Combattants d’Afrique en AFN
41700 Contres, France
www.manoirdecontres.com

Don’t miss:

The castle posts about Cheverny and Valençay. Soon on MyStylery!

Featured pic and pics marked* by Giacomo Morelli

The post Savoir Vivre in the Loire Valley appeared first on My Stylery.