Éco-Gîte La Chouette Verte/Eco-Lodge The Green Owl

Surrounded by forest, this peaceful cottage at an altitude of 600 m in Wangenbourg-Engenthal, in the Swiss Alsace, at the foot of the Schneeberg (961 m), offers a panoramic view of a 13th-century castle and the village, 40 km from Strasbourg and 37 km from the airport (SXB). The Vosges forest will appeal to lovers of nature, hiking, cycling, photography and the observation of wild fauna and flora. The terraced garden, perched on the hill and full of plants, is a pleasant place to relax. The space Guest-only space: Guests have a private floor of our house, on the panoramic terrace level, with a separate entrance. The space includes (ceiling height: 214 cm): - a living room (kitchen area, dining area, open living room with sofa and coffee table), with an area of 25 m²; - a bedroom with a double bed and a view of the village, with a surface area of 13 m²; - a bathroom with shower, with a surface area of 5 m², to which is added 2 m² of corridor. A small outdoor terrace with a table, 4 chairs, a wooden bench and a parasol, with an area of 10 m². Guests also have at their disposal 2 sunbeds on the main terrace, available all year round except in winter. Shared space: Vacationers can also share the garden and terraces with the hosts. Forest spirit: We designed a wooded atmosphere, with mostly oak furniture and carefully chosen natural colors. The green dominates - it couldn't be otherwise in the heart of the forest. The wood, warm, contributes to a soothing atmosphere, faithful to the spirit of our village labeled Station Verte. We have brought to life a place in harmony with its environment, where we find the calm and the benevolent presence of nature. A garden refuge for nature: Our garden has the status of Refuge LPO. Here we protect nature: we plant trees and shrubs, sow flowers for pollinators, preserve natural habitats, and encourage biodiversity. To promote local wildlife, bird nest boxes as well as a shed for bats are installed in the garden. In winter, we feed birds to help them get through the cold season, which allows us to observe many species. In the spring, you can watch the young birds leaving their nest boxes and enjoy their singing year round. Parking: - A parking space is guaranteed in front of our gate; - Tourists can also park across the house, on the street, in a parking area, right at the edge of the forest. Bike storage room: Guests can make use of a secure bike storage area in a locked shed from spring to autumn. What's nearby: The cottage is a 5 minute walk from the village center, where you will find restaurants, a Proxi store, a bakery, a Maison de Santé, a Crédit Mutuel bank with ATM, a postal agency, a church, as well as a bus stop providing the connection between Wangenbourg and the city center of Strasbourg. Every Saturday, a small market is held in the main square of the village, with fruit and vegetable stalls, butcher shop, sweets and flowers. Throughout the summer, a creperie is open under the Chateau. Tourist information: - all information about the many tourist attractions in the area is available at the Tourist Office, just a 5-minute walk from our place; - you can also visit, in the building of the media library, an exhibition dedicated to the stay, in 1939 and 1940, of General de Gaulle (then colonel) in Wangenburg, as well as the period of the "Funnel of War". Hiking and bike paths located a short walk from our cottage: - easy circular walk around the valley: a forest trail that follows the slopes and runs largely on flat terrain, accessible to all; - trail to the Schneeberg: direct access from our gîte to the highest peak of Petite Suisse d'Alsace (961 m above sea level), ideal for lovers of beautiful panoramas; - GR 53 - Crossing of the Massif des Vosges: iconic long hike itinerary, marked with the red rectangle by the Club Vosgien. First French path labeled "Leading Quality Trails - Best of Europe", it crosses the Massif des Vosges from north to south for nearly 430 km, from Wissembourg (Alsace Verte) to Belfort. Route des Vins d 'Alsace: The Wine Route starts in Marlenheim, 17 km from our cottage, and extends south throughout Alsace. Cities to discover from our cottage: From our home, it's an excellent base to discover several interesting cities nearby: Saverne (21km), Strasbourg (40km), Obernai (41km), Colmar (86km) and Nancy (113km, Lorraine). Day Trips: From our cottage, you can easily discover many remarkable sites in the area on day trips: - Rock of Dabo (18 km), - Botanical Garden and Roseraie in Saverne (21 km), - Château du Haut-Barr in Saverne (22 km), - Arzwiller inclined plane (24 km), - Mont Sainte-Odile (39 km), - Château de La Petite-Pierre (45 km), - Centre International d 'Art Verrier in Meisenthal (57 km), - Parc Animalier de Sainte-Croix (63 km), - Château du Haut-Koenigsbourg (76 km), - Wolves and Black Forest Bear Alternative Park - "Alternativer Wolf- und Bärenpark Schwarzwald" (99 km). Ideal base for discovering the Christmas markets in Alsace: - Strasbourg, the Christmas capital of France, is about an hour away by car or bus. Its market, the oldest and one of the most beautiful in Europe; - Don't miss: Colmar, Kaysersberg, Riquewihr, Ribeauvillé, Obernai or Eguisheim … our favourites and many more! Guest access Garden and outdoor spaces: Guests have access to the shared garden with the hosts, located on a 17-acre property, which includes: - A paved terrace with sun loungers; - a green terrace with stone benches and a decorative pond; - a wilder space, below the land. For the exclusive use of guests: - A private terrace of approximately 10 square metres, located in front of the cottage, equipped with a table, 4 chairs, a wooden bench and a parasol; - Two sun loungers on the panoramic terrace, with a parasol. * Parasols are not available in winter. Grill: Holidaymakers can use the barbecue. Garden herbs: The aromatic herbs from the garden (sage, rosemary, mint, chives and many others) are also available, except in winter. Other things to note A new gite to discover: For now, we only have a few great reviews of our accommodation… because it's brand new! Perhaps you'll be our next guests to enjoy the "La Chouette Verte" 💚 cottage 🦉? We look forward to welcoming you there! Nordic walking: Two pairs of Nordic walking poles are available for your stay. We hope you have some nice walks on the trails of the Vosges! An eco-responsible stay: - We lead an ecological lifestyle and want to allow tourists who stay with us to experience it; - In our gîte, we favour natural materials whenever possible: wooden furniture treated with vegetable oils and ecological waxes, linen bed linen, towels and bathroom mats, cotton, wool, etc.; - Bed linen, towels and other textiles are washed with environmentally friendly products; - Cleaning is carried out using baking soda, white vinegar and steam, in order to avoid any contact of your skin with chemicals; - We provide certified organic cleaning and hygiene products: washing-up liquid, hand soap and shower gel; - In the garden, we only use eco-friendly products. We harvest rainwater to water the plants. Spring water: The running water comes from several mountain springs around the valley. It does not contain limestone deposits and has very good taste. Love of nature: - Here we love nature and the animals that live in the forest. If you come "hunting", do it with a camera, not with a firearm. Please do not get too close to the animals with your goal - do not disturb their tranquility. They're at home. - No animals were harmed in the decoration of the cottage – the deer antlers were found in the forest. Dog: - Our Border Collie loves people and can jump for joy when we see them. If you leave the gite door open, it can come in to greet you. - We do not host other animals, as our dog does not accept other animals in her territory, unfortunately. Stone stairs: The property is sloping with stone stairs leading to the garden, offering views of the valley, without railings. We do not recommend the stay to people with young children or those with reduced mobility, as this could pose a risk of falling. Bed linen: We have several sets of bed linen, used according to their availability and the season. In summer, we favour lighter materials such as cotton gauze or linen, while in winter we use flannel, cotton, etc. It is not possible to choose the bed linen. What you will enjoy in our cottage: - The natural and preserved forest, which surrounds you as far as the eye can see: a soothing bath of greenery at every glance; - The pure air of the Vosges, invigorating and refreshing; - Tranquillity; - Direct access to hiking trails - just step out of our property to enter; - New furniture, equipment and linen; - The decoration of the cottage made of natural and warm materials, for a soft and comforting atmosphere; - Equipped kitchenette, allowing you to prepare your meals easily; - A garden on several levels, with a wide variety of plants, changing colours of flowers and fruits, all offering a beautiful view of the valley; - The scent and taste of the herbs from our garden in your dishes and infusions - from spring to autumn; - Many secret corners in the garden to sit, read, dream or do nothing; - Living nature all around: if you stop for a moment, you may see all kinds of birds (including owls), squirrels, lizards, bats… and sometimes even majestic deer. As you reach out, you'll hear crickets chirping on warm evenings. In spring, the night is illuminated by fireflies, while in autumn, salamanders emerge from their hiding places; - Respect for your health and nature: organic cleaning and toilet products available; - A small library that offers books about France and our region: tales, stories, cooking, flora and fauna, etc., for those who love to discover new things; - A collection of games to have fun and share good times in the evening; - Our adorable dog, always cheerful and delighted to see you, ready to play, curious and sweet - she could well become your best friend of the stay. What you might not like in our cottage: - Our dog enjoys her freedom and moves where she wants; she might prefer your company to ours. You have two options: ignore it, and it will quickly get bored, or play with it, in which case it will come to visit you even more often; - The wooden stairs of our part of the house squeak when we borrow them, and this noise is heard in the cottage - the 1930s house has retained all its charm and soul. Simply close the door between the rooms of the gîte and the corridor leading to your bathroom; - The land is sloping, with much more space on the slope than on the flat surface, and the stone stairs leading to the garden do not have a guardrail; - In the cottage there is no TV - and it is a choice. So that you can really pick up, refocus, let yourself be enveloped by the silence and soothing sounds of the forest - a real moment of disconnection. And if you like music, you can easily connect your Bluetooth phone to the speaker available to you - to enjoy your favorite songs in a soft atmosphere. Damage and liability: Guests may be responsible for damage to the gite or property. The report is done through Airbnb, which then takes care of the reimbursement process as part of AirCover for Hosts. Registration details CV9YZT