Tucked into the gentle forests around Borstel in Lower Saxony lies an escape that feels like a secret whispered by nature: Baumhaus Herberge Bockhop. It’s not merely a hotel in the trees — it’s a living, breathing experience, one that invites you to slow down, breathe deeper, and see what “luxury among oaks” really means.
You first arrive via a quiet country lane, the view unfolding to a parklike garden stretching across 25,000 m². Around you, century-old oaks stand sentinel — and some of them carry rooms. These are no elevated shacks on stilts; rather, the treehouses here are anchored to the trunks themselves, using precision-built hardware (like Garnier screws) that hold structural integrity without harming the trees. They aim to leave the oaks to continue growing, to live.
Perched as high as eight meters off the ground, each lodge delivers a panorama of branches, sky, and quiet. It’s a deliberate buffer from everyday life, tailored for adults: children under 16 aren’t accommodated. The result? A hush, broken only by the rustle of leaves, distant birds, maybe a breeze.
Inside, the illusion that you’re roughing it vanishes. These treehouses are well insulated, designed for year‑round stays. You’ll find bathrooms (some with composting toilets), wood-burning stoves, wide windows, and terraces. The “Bel Etage” model, for instance, includes a generous terrace of some 18 m² — perfect for lingering with a morning tea or evening skywatching.
Then there’s the communal sense of ritual: a softly heated hot tub outdoors, a barrel sauna, and a rustic outdoor shower space to cool off. When hunger calls, guests gather at a covered outdoor kitchen, where meal prep feels communal yet private, set within the greenery.
This commitment to authenticity hasn’t gone unnoticed. In 2021, Bockhop’s first treehouse — the Bel Etage — won first place in the International Treehouse Contest. A fitting accolade for a place that doesn’t just imitate tree-living — it redefines it.
Surroundings here amplify the magic. The property is bordered by horse paddocks, and lies along migratory paths of grand cranes that pass over in spring and autumn. On quiet nights, you might sense their wings or hear their calls — a connection to wild cycles that no rooftop city stay can match.
Logistics? The lodge limits guest numbers—only six at a time—so the sense of solitude is real. Extras like spa time, relaxing walks, or stargazing are baked into the stay. It’s partly a design retreat, partly a nature immersion, and wholly a reminder that luxury needn’t mean dominating nature — sometimes, it’s simply living with her.
If you’re yearning for something besides the usual getaway — a place where your senses realign, where ceilings shift, and where your host might be an oak — Bockhop just might be that rare hideaway you’ll remember long after returning home.
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