Weekend trips including culinary packages at small, family-led unique hotels is one of my favourite ways to explore the utterly magnificent German wine country; as you will well know if you follow my blog.
Landhaus Rüssel is the perfect place for a culinary escape into the forests of the Saar-Hunsrück region, just a short drive away from one of Germany’s most acclaimed wine regions, the Mosel.
Landhaus translates into country house and Landhaus Rüssel, a carefully converted former mill tucked away in a beautiful small tranquil valley with its bright green shutters contrasting with the light yellow facade, a slate roof and vine leaves covering nearly the full back of the building truly is the quintessential of a German country house.
The interior is like you expect a typical German country house with lots of wood and earthy tones.
The outside areas are simply beautiful …
and the terrace bordering a small pond is just ever so gorgeous and perfect for a warm summer day and evening!
At Landhaus Rüssel, you are guests of Ruth and Harald Rüssel who are looking at a long history in the hospitality sector as chef and sommelier respectively. Their passion for excellent food and wine defines any stay in their beautiful country hotel whilst they have created an ambience of calm rural chic ideal to slow down and immerse yourself in the surrounding nature.
There are 14 rooms and suites, all individually designed featuring the characteristics of different regions.
Our lovely St. Jaques theme suite had a separate lounge offering a comfortable sofa, small table, coffee making facilities and a large flat screen.
Be prepared to be awoken by cows loudly mowing at the back of the house in the morning!
Chef Harald Rüssel is not only working his magic in the kitchen. He is one of those chefs heavily involved in the local community, souring nearly all his food from nearby farms and getting hand-on in collaborating to develop new products and move towards sustainable farming.
Alongside excellent food, expect a superb wine list including wines from across Europe but most will come from the nearby Mosel wineries.
We were booked into one of the hotels culinary packages, the three nights country hideaway, which includes a three course menu in the casual Hasenpfeffer restaurant on the first evening, followed by a four-course menu on the second and a six-course menu on the third evening in the hotels gourmet restaurant.
At Hasenpfeffer, the focus is on a typical traditional country cuisine and reflecting the chefs passion for hunting many of the dishes are game directly from the surrounding forests.
The Michelin-stared gourmet restaurant again puts a high focus on regional seasonal produce with a creative twist.
Keep your eyes open in the lobby where you will find a range of cookbooks by chef Harald Rüssel along with several other products he at least has co-developed.
Despite its secluded location, you are just a 20 minutes drive from Germany’s oldest city, Trier with a total of nine UNESCO World Heritage Sites and about 30 minutes from Luxembourg City whilst some of the most beautiful small historic towns along the Mosel river like Bernkastel-Kues, Traben-Trarbach or Cochem are also just around the corner.
I had a wonderful stay at Landhaus Rüssel, enjoying the essence of German country life and con only recommend this lovely country hotel if you are looking for a relaxed stay away from the city or for exploring the nearby idyllic Mosel valley and its vineyards.
Once you have visited, you will always want to return.
Carrots and Tigers 