A tree house, an old lime tree and...an idea

I think we all wished as children that we had a tree house, or at least a friend with one, so we could play in it. The treehouse seems to embody the universal childhood dream, because we find it at the top of the wish list of children all over the world. For many of us, this dream is still with us when we grow up, so all over the world we find hotels, resorts, campuses offering accommodation in houses built in trees. About such tree houses I have told you on other occasions. Today's has a little story that I really liked.

In Austria, a 30-minute drive from Klagenfurt, you'll find the Prechtlof Hotel, a popular local accommodation with a spa and freshwater wellness centre and a wide range of wines selected by a certified sommelier. But these aren't the hotel's only attractions. The surprise is the possibility of staying in a cottage atop a linden tree on the property.

A few years ago the owner decided to repair the hotel's roof. During the repairs, with the help of a crane, he was curious to see the surroundings and the Karawanken mountain peaks from the height of the old lime tree in the hotel courtyard.

The view turned out to be impressive. While admiring the rooftops of the nearby old town, the mountains and the plains of Althofen, he got the idea to do something to share this incredible view with his guests. And so, 2 years later, after many approvals and procedures carried out, a beautiful two-storey cottage appeared on top of the almost 300-year-old lime tree.

A wooden staircase allows guests to reach the first level of the cottage, where an apartment with a small bathroom, including a shower, has been built. Yet this is not where guests will be surprised.

Further up they will reach the second level, where there is a terrace with sun loungers and a wooden bathtub from where they can admire the town of Altenbach. The sensation when they reach the terrace is so strong that guests are left speechless with amazement.

The construction was made of larchby a local firm, because it is not very hard wood, but strong. The project has been designed so that the tree suffers as little as possible. The wood was protected with special UV-resistant oil.

The cottage in the old yew tree is considered by the hotel owner to be the jewel in the crown. Couples come here to celebrate various events, but especially honeymooners. And the wine or the chosen dishes can be sent upstairs with a basket and pulley. Doesn't it all feel like a fairytale?

(source: treehousemap.com)