Wabi-sabi designed country retreat offering Bavarian version of barefoot luxury
ROSSO / Altusried / Bavaria / Germany
This hotel, or maybe it is better to call it retreat. Or escape. Ok, this farm of possibilities (which is the official label of the owners, Lisa and Christian) opened in Summer of 2020. It had already popped up on my radar during its construction and we were originally planning to stay here that same Summer. Unfortunately those plans were cancelled due to travel restrictions caused by the pandemic. We tried to find a room in 2021 but no luck. Same thing happened in 2022, but in the Summer of 2023 we finally managed to find an available room and had the chance to spend some hot Summer days at this dreamy place.
The Rosso is located in south Bavaria, right where the soft hills are starting to transform into mountains, growing taller and taller the further south you travel. This region is full of charming little towns surrounded by insanely green meadows, lush forests and what has to be the happiest cattle in the world. Lisa Rühwald and Christian Müller came across this farm in 2017 and decided to move here from Hamburg. In 2018 they started the planning of what they wanted to be something that they hadn’t been able to find anywhere in Germany. A place they would chose themselves for their vacation. And two years later Rosso opened its doors.
This farmstead consists of three lodgings, La Bella, La Familglia and La Grande, which would be best described as full scale apartments. We stayed in La Bella which is the smallest (almost 70 square meters) one of the three, perfect for two people. The design is oozing of the wabi-sabi aesthetic which celebrates the beauty of imperfection where the idea is that nothing lasts forever, nothing is finished and nothing is perfect. This aesthetic fits surprisingly well into this Bavarian environment and the result is something that would feel right at home in the Tuscan countryside. Or you know what, actually it would fit in any country’s countryside. By honoring nature, the pure and the rustic, it somehow transcends national identity and just feels deliciously rural.
On site there is everything you might need for your stay. There is a natural spring water pool with lily ponds and everything, a sauna, a bright yoga room, a super spacious living room area with communal kitchen and table as well as a sun deck with views of the town of Altusried and the rolling hills of the Allgäu Region. On top of this there is a cute little farm shop right next to the entrance where you can find what you need for dinner.
It took us some years to manage to secure a stay here, but trust me when I say that we will continue to try to come back, because this is a hotel that is truly unique and worth several revisits.
Welcome to Rosso, a farmstead sitting high up on a hill in the southern parts of Bavaria.
This place had me at hello.
The design aesthetic that is ruling at Rosso is wabi-sabi that honors the beauty in imperfection. This beautiful sight is the first that greets you upon entering.
The hallway leading to the three lodgings. Ours, La Bella, is behind the first door.
Our apartment shot from the bedroom loft, one story above, where you can see the rustic kitchen in the background.
The materials, the colors, everything just fits together.
Me taking a morning bath in the giant steel tub. It was huge, even for someone of my height.
The dining room/kitchen with a glimpse of the balcony through the French doors.
A cozy little corner under the stairs. Or the Harry Potter spot as we named it.
The kitchen is fully equipped with different options for coffee making which suits two coffee lovers such as us.
I think the vintage cutlery is so beautiful. I wanted to bring them with me.
Tho shower. Of course with refillable bathroom products.
The view from the bathroom
There is a cute little honesty shop next to the entrance where you can all you might need for your breakfast or dinner.
Downstairs under the apartments there is an absolutely lovely living room. I can imagine this is the perfect place to retreat back to during a chilly Autumn evening with a fire crackling in the background.
The communal table, right next to the communal kitchen.
Next to the living room, behind the huge windows there is a work out- and yoga space.
The space is open for a work out when you wish. I think this might actually be my favorite photo from our stay here.
Outside the living room there is outdoor seating with a barbecue, open for all to use.
I love these kind of bio pools. A clever way to avoid using a lot of chemicals and instead having a natural spring water pool where plants grow and animals thrive. And humans too.
My favorite space at Rosso. So nice to sit here with a book and a glass of wine in the shade hearing the faint sound of cow bells in the distance.
The coffee they have at the hotel is from local rosters, Purschwarz which is located a short car- or bike ride from the hotel. Perfect place for an afternoon “fika”.
Back to the hotel. This section is where the owners, Lisa and Christian live.
An afternoon dip in the pool after a short jog along the country roads.
Sun is setting over Rosso.
We are ready to crawl into bed in our roomy upstairs loft.
When morning arrived we made coffees and brought them out to the sun deck and watched as the day commenced.
M is having a fresh morning swim before he is ready to take on yet another sunny day in south Germany.
RG inside info
This place is perfect if you…
…are looking for a truly unique rural escape where all you can do is relax and adjust your pace. A refuge that honors the countryside through rustic design and warm hospitality. If you appreciate the perfect in imperfection, you will love Rosso.
My favorite thing about this place…
…is the size. It is so unique to find a hotel with only three rooms (this also makes it difficult to secure a booking since Das Rosso is very popular), and when you stay here it is so calm and relaxed. It does feel like staying with friends with really excellent taste in design.
What not to miss when staying here…
…is to go swing by the local coffee roasters Purschwarz on your way into nearby market town of Kempten. I recommend to go there when there is the weekly farmer’s market. You can sample a lot of delicious local delicacies and also stock up on things to bring back to Rosso for your upcoming dinner.
If you like this hotel you might also like…
Moka & Vanille, Heusden-Zolder, Limburg, Belgium
Norrman’s Farmhouse, Klippinge, Sjælland, Denmark
Agroturismo Can Marti, San Juan, Ibiza, Spain
