Share a creative, real, and slightly chaotic life with us in beautiful rural Bavaria, near Bayreuth, Germany

Details

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  Description

  Come share a creative, real, and slightly chaotic life with us in beautiful rural Bavaria.
  
  I’ll be honest: I truly need help. Since losing my partner, this big house and everything that comes with it can feel overwhelming at times. But I’m not standing still—I’m an artist and cultural project organiser, and I’m constantly working on ideas, events, and creative projects that bring meaning and energy back into our lives. If you come, you won’t just be helping—you can become part of something inspiring.
  My two young adult children are carving out their own lives and passions, which is great—but it does mean that help with household and garden tasks is, let’s say, not their main focus.
  
  I offer a balance that matters: meaningful work, but also space to breathe, explore, and create.
  
  Our home is surrounded by stunning landscapes—forests, hills, lakes—beautiful in every season, whether it’s summer swims, autumn colours, or crisp winter walks. It’s a place that naturally slows you down and opens your senses.
  
  Inside, things are just as rich:
  I have a large library of books, films, and art materials (in English and German), and I’m very happy to share my knowledge in painting and drawing. You’ll have access to a studio space and materials if you want to work on your own projects or learn new techniques. If you’re curious, you can also get involved in some of my ongoing artistic or cultural projects.
  
  We are a German-British household (with a strong tendency toward “Denglish”), and there’s also the chance to practice or exchange languages—Spanish and Japanese are especially welcome here.
  
  The help itself is varied and very human: painting windows, light DIY, garden care, cooking together—nothing extreme, but the kind of support that genuinely makes a difference in everyday life. We usually work a few hours a day and keep a good rhythm between contribution and free time.
  
  There is quite a lot of space in the house, and over time it has naturally turned into a place where people can also bring in their own ideas.
  
  In the past, a Workawayer even built a small bar in our downstairs kitchen simply because he enjoyed doing it—and it became a really fun and useful addition to the house. I really like when people feel inspired enough to leave something behind that has their own touch.
  
  If someone is interested in design, space-making, or creative projects, I’m generally open to them experimenting with parts of the house. This can mean helping to shape a room, creating small installations, or even putting together simple exhibitions. It’s never a requirement—just a bonus layer for people who enjoy that kind of creative freedom.
  
  For anyone with musical or media interests, there is also access to keyboards as well as some basic sound and video equipment. So if you like to make music, record ideas, or play around with visual projects, there is room for that too.
  
  But overall, we have a place where practical help and creative exploration can sit side by side—depending on what people bring with them.
  
  Couples are very welcome, and we aim for a relaxed, respectful atmosphere where everyone has space but also feels included.
  
  And just so you know: this is not a quiet, minimalist retreat. I love music—sometimes loud—and dancing in the kitchen absolutely happens.
  
  If you’re looking for a polished, perfect host experience, this may not be it.
  But if you’re open, creative, and willing to be part of a home that is rebuilding, evolving, and full of ideas, then you might feel very at home here.
  
  Come as you are, bring your energy, and let’s create something meaningful together.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Charity Work

  Art Projects

  Language practice

  Help with Eco Projects

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Creating/ Cooking family meals

  Help around the house

  General Maintenance
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  Interests

  

  Performing arts

  

  Blogging

  

  Carpentry

  

  Water sports

  

  Adventure sports

  

  Videography

  

  Events & social

  

  Fashion or beauty

  

  Culture

  

  Movies & TV

  

  Charity work

  

  DIY & crafts

  

  Music

  

  Books

  

  Art & design

  

  Gardening

  

  Languages

  

  Architecture

  

  Cooking & food

  

  Writing

  

  Drawing & painting

  

  Beach

  

  Dancing

  

  Fitness

  

  Nature

  

  Mountain

  

  Hiking

  

  Outdoor activities

  

  Winter sports
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  UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

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  What's this?
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  For me, cultural exchange is not something formal—it happens naturally in everyday life.
  
  We really enjoy sharing our region with our guests, whether that means showing hidden places in the Fichtelgebirge or simply talking about life here. At the same time, we love exchanging stories about the UK and Germany. As a bilingual and bicultural household, we feel connected to both cultures, and it’s always interesting for us to compare perspectives, habits, and ways of living.
  We are open to people from all backgrounds and walks of life. What matters to us is curiosity, respect, and a willingness to share a bit of daily life together.
  If you stay with us, you may also be invited to join family visits in Bayreuth. The grandparents are very welcoming and genuinely enjoy meeting new people. Grandma, in particular, is known for her cooking—traditional Franconian dishes, but also creative twists—and she always enjoys having extra guests at the table.
  I imagine that for travellers, this exchange is a mix of simple but meaningful experiences: learning how life in rural Bavaria feels day to day, sharing your own culture and language, and becoming part of a home where conversations, meals, and small adventures are just as important as the practical help.
  Our house is a place where people can bring in their own ideas, its great when people feel inspired enough to leave something behind that has their own touch.
  
  If someone is interested in design, space-making, or creative projects, I’m generally open to them experimenting with parts of the house. This can mean helping to shape a room, creating small installations, or even putting together simple exhibitions. It’s never a requirement—just a bonus layer for people who enjoy that kind of creative freedom.
  
  For anyone with musical or media interests, there is also access to keyboards as well as some basic sound and video equipment. So if you like to make music, record ideas, or play around with visual projects, there is room for that too.
  
  Overall, it’s a place where practical help and creative exploration can sit side by side—depending on what people bring with them.

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  Projects involving children

  This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.

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  Help

  My main project in the warmer months is restoring the wooden windows of our 90-year-old house. Somewhere along the way I discovered that I actually love doing this—it’s detailed, hands-on work, and very satisfying. I’ve been teaching myself traditional restoration techniques, and I’m happy to share what I’ve learned if you’re interested. We usually do this in the cooler hours of the morning or evening, when it feels good rather than like a chore.
  
  In between, life here just needs the usual bits of care: light cleaning, tidying, small DIY things—nothing major, just the everyday tasks that are easier (and nicer) when not done alone.
  
  The garden always calls for attention too—watering, weeding, mowing, trimming hedges, or just keeping things from getting too wild. Again, nothing extreme, just steady, shared effort.
  
  If you enjoy cooking, you will be very welcome 😊 I do cook, and we eat well, but I won’t pretend I’m the most inspired cook in the world—so fresh ideas are always appreciated.
  
  There’s also a bigger, slightly chaotic layer: sorting through years of things, clearing out spaces, deciding what stays and what goes. I keep thinking about doing flea markets with some of it, but honestly, that’s not something I can manage on my own—so if you like the idea of turning old things into new stories, that could be part of it too.
  
  Overall, it’s not about working hard all day. It’s about sharing the load for a few hours, being part of a real home, and helping me slowly bring this place back into balance.

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  Languages

  Languages spoken
  German: Fluent
  English: Fluent
  Spanish: Beginner
  French: Beginner
  Japanese: Beginner

  This host offers a language exchange
  My daughter is bilingual (German/English) and is interested in improving her Spanish knowledge from school. She also studies Japanese in her own time - and would love to practice it.
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  Accommodation

  We live in a large house built in 1933, which still carries a lot of its original character (and, yes, also its quirks). The ground floor is dedicated to creativity: there are three art and communication studios, which you’re very welcome to use—for painting, drawing, or whatever you feel like exploring.
  
  We live on the two floors above, so the house has a nice balance between shared and private spaces.
  
  There are two guest rooms available, both with double beds, so it works well for couples or friends traveling together. The bathroom and kitchen are shared, and there’s a separate toilet.
  
  Outside the house, nature begins almost immediately. We’re surrounded by hills and forests, with endless possibilities for walking, hiking, or just getting some fresh air. If you’re into more active things, there’s mountain biking, and in winter even skiing nearby. There are also several beautiful lakes within easy reach—perfect for swimming or just spending a slow afternoon.
  
  The small town of Bad Berneck has everything you need for daily life—shops, supermarkets, pharmacies, banks—while the nearest larger town is Bayreuth, known for its cultural scene and the Wagner Festival.
  It’s a place that can feel both peaceful and inspiring at the same time—especially if you enjoy a mix of nature and creativity.

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  What else ...

  Bad Berneck is a small town with all the amenities you might need, all in walking distance. There are regular buses to larger towns, Bayreuth is 20 Minutes away.
  We have a car - and are happy to collect you from those train stations: Marktschorgast or Neuenmarkt-Wirsberg. Bus connections can be a little patchy, especially in evenings and at weekends.
  We have an extensive library with English language books, art books, and films (mostly in English).

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  A little more information

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    Internet access

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    Limited internet access

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    We have pets

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    We are smokers

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    Can host families

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  Can host digital nomads

  i am a digital media artist and a producer in film, architecture and town planning. although our WiFi is not the fastest in the world, if you don't need to shift huge data across the oceans - its more than adequate. so, at least you find some competence and interest here. Bloggers, writers and other creatives are welcome to an inspiring and unexpected setup.

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  Space for parking camper vans

  there is a carpark in a field approx. 250m from our house that can be used. It is without access to water or power - but our house is not far.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  Two

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  My animals / pets

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