Get to know the real countryside life at a historic castle in Niederabsdorf, Austria

Details

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  Description

  We live at a castle which is an old historic estate in the heart of the Weinviertel in Lower Austria. It is a very peaceful place surrounded by wide fields and nature and because we have horses here there is always a bit of life on the grounds. The atmosphere is very family oriented and calm so it is perfect if you enjoy country life and a slower pace. Even though we are out in the countryside you do not really need a car because a small grocery shop and a local bakery are just around the corner which makes daily life quite easy. In exchange for your help we offer a cozy place to stay and we usually share meals or you can use the kitchen depending on what fits best into the day.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Teaching

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Animal Care

  Farmstay help

  Babysitting and creative play

  Creating/ Cooking family meals

  Help around the house

  General Maintenance

  House & pet sitting
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  Interests

  

  Pets

  

  Plant care

  

  Carpentry

  

  Cooking & food

  

  Farming

  

  Gardening

  

  Animals
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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

  Staying with us is a great chance to get to know the real Austrian countryside and see how a historic estate actually works in everyday life. You will see everything from the daily work in the stables to creative projects around the house or the garden. Since our nonprofit riding association is an important part of the castle you can join in on local events and see how the community here comes together. We really love it when you bring your own experiences and talents because the exchange and learning from each other is very important to us. As a special thank you we offer riding lessons once or twice a week so you can build a real connection with the animals no matter if you are already an expert or a total beginner. In the end it is all about sharing stories and having a good time in the nature of the Weinviertel.

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  Registered charity

  This host is a registered charity in their country and is looking for volunteers to help with their project(s).

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  Help

  ​We are looking for people who are reliable and motivated to help us with all sorts of different tasks around the estate. A big part of the daily routine happens in the stables where you would help with feeding and grooming the horses or mucking out their stalls. If you have enough experience we would also love some help with training our horses or starting the younger ones because we are always working on their education in a patient and positive way. During the summer months we also host riding camps for children and that is when we really need someone who enjoys being around kids and helping them while they discover the world of horses. Besides the animal work we also need a hand with general maintenance and gardening or sometimes just keeping the house and the kitchen clean and organized. If you enjoy being creative you can also help us with redesigning some of the rooms or spaces which is always fun. While you do not need to be a professional for everything the training of the horses does require some solid background and confidence. Overall having a positive attitude and being responsible is the most important thing to us. If you are someone who likes being active and does not mind getting your hands dirty and if you are a friendly team player then you will fit in perfectly with us.

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  Languages spoken

  German: Fluent
  English: Fluent

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  Accommodation

  You will stay in a comfortable apartment right inside the castle which is a pretty unique experience. It is about 80 square meters and has two rooms plus its own kitchen and bathroom so there is plenty of space for two or three people or even a couple. Depending on the season you can also use the shared kitchen on the ground floor. The apartment is located on the east side of the first floor and you can reach it through a private staircase that goes through the riding hall. This is great because you have your own private space but you are still very close to the horses and the action. It is a very quiet and cozy base where you can really relax and feel at home after a day of helping out or riding around the estate.
  
  Meals are part of the exchange. We usually provide three meals a day and enjoy sharing meals together as part of the cultural exchange. If this isn’t possible, we provide ingredients so Workawayers can cook for themselves. We will cook and eat together as well as often as possible. We also will have some barbeques, if the weather is nice.

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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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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  More than two

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  My animals / pets

  

  Around 30 different horses to take care of and a bunch of them to train and ride

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