Among the more than 500 Youth Hostels in Germany, there are many quite different buildings: new and renovated houses, castles, former farms, schools and hospitals.
Rottweil youth hostel (Baden-Württemberg)
Rottweil in the Black Forest is the oldest city in Baden-Württemberg but has a
modern youth hostel in a former Dominican monastery. Guests can enjoy the complete reconstruction and modernisation of the building which now comprises 34 rooms with a total of 135 beds available. All rooms are equipped with a private bathroom and shower. Four of the four-bed rooms are equipped for disabled guests, the entire hostel is wheelchair accessible.
Four seminar rooms, the size of which can be adjusted through the use of mobile partitions, are available for meetings and seminars. The special attractions of the historic city with Roman relics, museums and theatres are all part of the youth hostel programme ("Life in Ancient Rome", etc.)
Plauen youth hostel (Sachsen)
The city of Plauen in Saxony was once internationally famous for its lacework ("Saxon Lace" or "Plauen Lace"). The building which houses todays
hostel also reminds us of times gone by. In the "Old Fire Station" the name says it all: The interior reminds you of the building’s history. Where once emergency vehicles were parked, today you find the dining room – where, hungry guests can, when speed is of the essence, go down the sliding pole directly to the table. And the dishes give good reason to do so with such descriptive names as "Fiery delicacies" or "Hot-Spot Grill".
In addition to the sliding pole, the hose tower and an original hose washer can also be explored.
The house is complemented perfectly by its location, as not far away there are museums, shops and plenty of opportunities for hiking, climbing, mountain biking and relaxation.
Beckerwitz youth hostel (Mecklenburg-Vorpommern)
In the heart of the countryside of Mecklenburg Western Pomerania in north-eastern Germany in the hamlet of Beckerwitz a
youth hostel has been created from a new type of house design. Just 800 metres from the natural, unspoilt Baltic beach, six tree houses rise futuristically into the sky. These honeycombed-shaped, wooden structures can accommodate up to six people each.
Berchtesgaden youth hostel (Bayern)
A building of the
Berchtesgaden youth hostel in Bavaria has been remodelled using an innovative modern design. In the Unterberg house the architectural firm LAVA (Laboratory for Visionary Architecture) has combined alpine charm with innovative equipment and set new standards. The sleeping berths are now inserted in the walls of the bedrooms instead of the usual bunk beds. There are gallery rooms that offer guests the option to stay on two levels. There are rooms with a balcony, relaxation areas and a spectacular tower room. Lots of wood and a bold choice of colour set idiosyncratic accents throughout the hostel.
Chemnitz “one” youth hostel (Sachsen)[Saxony]
The
youth hostel Chemnitz "one" in the city which has now been completely modernized dates from the 19th century when it served as a foundry. Today, it is a remarkable testimony of Saxony's industrial architecture: With its girder trolley and "imported" flywheel half, the guests feel the atmosphere of this era at first hand.
All of the bedrooms are equipped with shower and toilet. The house has five family suites as well as three wheelchair accessible rooms.
“Pathpoint Cologne“youth hostel- Köln (Nordrhein-Westfalen) [North Rhine-Westphalia]
Köln (Cologne) is the fourth largest city in Germany. With its favourable location on the Rhine it was founded 2000 years ago by the Romans. The cathedral is the largest Gothic church in Northern Europe. Numerous museums, theatres, concert halls and nightclubs offer a wide cultural diversity. The chocolate museum with its chocolate fountain is unique worldwide.
In a former church, right in the city-centre behind the cathedral and the main railway station, the first German
youth hostel is specially intended for backpackers from around the world. The former place of worship was transformed into a large common room. There is a laundry room in the hostel and unusually, a self-catering kitchen, which is also often used as a meeting place. The youth hostel is open around the clock.
Wangerooge youth hostel (Niedersachsen)[Lower Saxony]
The West Tower, the landmark of Wangerooge Island in the North Sea signals its welcome from afar. Seven floors of the former lighthouse rise 56 meters into the air and together with a modern extension form the youth hostel.
Wangerooge is the most easterly of the East Frisian Islands and is also the smallest. There are no cars, only pure nature, fresh sea air and sandy beaches. The
youth hostel is located next door to the bird sanctuary at the Wadden Sea National Park.
The National Park Centre provides exhibitions and events concerning the Wadden Sea. Within the reserve there are rare plants such as Sea Lavender or Sea Thrift (Armeria). The old lighthouse with its Island Museum also offers an observation deck. Visitors can take historical and natural history expeditions to get to know the island up close. Ship excursions can be made to the seal banks or to the neighbouring islands. A holiday mood, whatever the weather, is guaranteed by a visit to the “Oasis" sea water swimming pool which offers a giant slide and an extensive wellness program.
