Schlossparkhotel Mariakirchen

SPONSORED STORY Somewhere, a woodpecker hammers away. A chorus of chaffinches and greenfinches, great tits and blue tits, goldfinches and jackdaws envelopes the quick-paced “tok-tok-tok” noise coming from close by. Squirrels frolic through the branches of the old oaks and lime trees in the castle park, while a flock of wild ducks settles in the moat. A kingfisher flits across the new swimming pond. And here, between all the greenery, rises the “Mariakirchen” moated castle, built in 1550, with its turrets and green-white-red shutters.

Wedding in the Castle

What a setting, a place made for glamorous celebrations. And indeed, the four-star “Schlossparkhotel” is a popular venue for wedding celebrations. The hosts Johanna Lindner and Arno Sonderfeld said “I do!” here themselves.

“That was a matter of course! In our case, however, the church wedding did not take place in the beautiful baroque church of Mariakirchen – as is usually the case with our weddings – but in the Arnstorf parish church.” After all, Johanna is a native of Arnstorf and the town of 7,000 inhabitants is still the headquarters of the globally active construction company Lindner Group.

Even Hong Kong International Airport and London Heathrow are among the references that the company – situated in the heart of Lower Bavaria – can boast, a company that also pursues its enormous commitments to society and the environment with genuine conviction.

In 2003, Hans Lindner, the hostess’s father, bought the dilapidated moated castle in the village of Mariakirchen with its 600 inhabitants, in order to create seminar and conference rooms for the staff – and to save this gem from decay.

To this day, business travellers and groups make up the location’s primary clientèle, but an increasing number of private guests are discovering the charm and ideal location of the “Schlossparkhotel”, which is only an hour’s drive from Munich airport.

Contrast Between Old and New

First, the “Schlossbräu” was established in the former stables, and its home-brewed, naturally cloudy beers taste particularly good in the beer garden under old chestnut trees. And because Johanna Lindner had already worked in the hotel business before, it made sense to develop the stately ensemble into a hotel.

In every room, there are old photographs

The modern main house was built in 2007, and the historic “Hofwirt” was added in 2016. But the highlight are the five hotel rooms in the moated castle itself: beautiful old wooden floors, high ceilings, chandeliers and finely restored walls preserve medieval flair despite all the modern comforts.

Host Johanna Lindner loves the contrast between old and new. “It is also noticeable in the main house,” she says. “In every room, there are old photographs of the Arnstorf photographer Joseph Gollwitzer, who rode his moped across the villages and fields in the post-war period. He captured family celebrations and rural scenes, a world that no longer exists – something that fascinates me immensely.” With warm colours, plenty of wood and clear structures, each room forms the setting for the touching black-and-white photographs.

Favourite Place in the Vaulted Cellar

Even though some regular guests prefer the special ambience in the castle, there are many who prefer the spacious rooms in the main house. And, of course, some have already discovered Johanna Lindner’s favourite place in the hotel: “This is a miniature vaulted cellar in the ‘Hofwirt’, which we have converted into a reading corner. Anyone can pick up a book there and browse a bit, I like to do that too.”

The beer garden is also close to Johanna Lindner’s heart: “Here, the guests chat with each other, the game of “Schafkopf” is played at the regulars’ table, and you can savour a wonderful Bavarian attitude to life.” The ingredients for snacks & the like primarily originate from the in-house organic farm “Land.Luft”, which is situated in Leberfing.

The animals move freely there and are slaughtered directly on the pasture without experiencing any stress. Of course, the hotel guests also enjoy the organic products – from scrambled eggs thanks to free-range chickens, to home-made jams and sausages from the hotel’s own production facilities.

Nature Playgrounds and Golf Courses

It's worth exploring the surrounding area

The reception is located in the garden house built in 1810. Here, you can also sit in style in the small coffee bar and take beautiful walks in the castle park from there. The first choice for families is, of course, nature’s great playground situated in the west corner: “We have a vibrating plate, rollers for balancing, hammocks and so much more,” says Johanna Lindner, “almost everything is made of wood.”

Nevertheless, it is worth exploring the surrounding area as well. In the quiet “Kollbachtal” valley you can enjoy wonderful hiking and cycling, while the nearby “Bockerlbahn” cycle path connects three long-distance cycle routes. There are several golf courses in the surrounding area, and for those feeling a little adventurous, there is the Voglsam Adventure Park with a high ropes course, giant trampoline and summer tobogganing.

Those who want to get to know more of the country and its people will have the opportunity to do so at one of the many folk festivals. Or maybe even at the “Maibaumaufstellen” (the maypole raising ceremony), where all the strong men of the village traditionally lift the tree into the air with the help of “Schwaiberln”. And afterwards, of course, it’s “O’zapft is!” (Cheers!).