Romantik Blog
Literature & indulgence: Our most beautiful literary hotels
In our Romantik® literary hotels, books are an essential part of the house: on the bedside table, in your favorite armchair, during an evening reading, or as a novel in which this very hotel suddenly appears itself. Literature here does not happen on the side—it is part of the atmosphere. Discover the stories of our literature-related hotels and enjoy a reading holiday full of inspiration.
Between quiet forests and powerful voices
The "Literarischer Frühling" unfolds a very special magic in the green, rolling landscape of North Hesse—between enchanted forests, gently flowing streams, and places inseparably linked to the legacy of the Brothers Grimm. Since its first edition in 2012, marking the 200th anniversary of the “Children’s and Household Tales,” the festival has developed into a cultural highlight of the region. Yet it is not only the major names of contemporary literature or the fascinating historical novels that captivate visitors—it is the interplay of storytelling, landscape, and atmosphere.
The readings take place in extraordinary venues: in stately castles, rustic bakeries, former synagogues, lovingly restored barns—or directly at the Romantik® Hotel Landhaus Bärenmühle, which serves both as host and as one of the heartpieces of this special festival. With great passion and a refined sense for literature, cuisine, and atmosphere, the hosts of the Bärenmühle, including journalist and author Christiane Kohl, are also the initiators and organizers of the Literary Spring. This is where all threads come together, where the concept is created year after year that makes the Literary Spring one of the most important literary festivals in North Hesse. Each venue tells its own story and becomes a stage for new literary worlds.
Secluded and peaceful, set in the idyllic Lengeltal valley and surrounded by forests, nature, and silence, it feels like a place that could itself have come from a story. Guests become part of the narratives being told. The Literary Spring thrives on this special connection: words meet indulgence, stories meet cuisine. The calm of the Hessian countryside meets socially and politically engaging themes. Carefully composed menus accompany the readings, reflecting their themes and creating a fully sensory experience that goes far beyond the written word. Each year, the festival is shaped by a new motto—and with it, a new chapter of this unique narrative is written, continually reinventing itself between nature, culture, and hospitality. And if you visit the country hotel outside of the Literarischer Frühling, you will always find something interesting to read in the cozy fireplace lounge.
© Photos Literarischer Frühling: Eva-Maria Schmidt
Literature lives at the Romantik® Hotel Kleber Post—then as now
In October 1963, the Romantik® Hotel Kleber Post in Bad Saulgau became a very special stage in literary history for a few days. The legendary meeting of Group 47, documented in original black-and-white photographs at the hotel, brought together major voices of post-war German-language literature. Among the defining figures of this circle were Günter Grass, Heinrich Böll, and Ingeborg Bachmann. In the distinctive atmosphere of the Kleber Post, these renowned authors gathered to read their texts, exchange ideas, and provide new impulses for literature. For a brief moment, the house became a place where literature was not only discussed but actively shaped.
This connection to literature is still tangible today and continues to define the character of the hotel. The Kleber Post sees itself not only as a place of rest and enjoyment, but also as a space for inspiration and cultural exchange. In the library, guests will find a curated selection of books for browsing and lingering. This offering is complemented by regular readings and literary events that bring literature to life and connect people. In this way, the Romantik® Hotel Kleber Post uniquely combines its rich historical legacy with the present, offering guests a place where indulgence, tranquility, and the world of books come together in harmony.
The Literature Festival in Meißen
When the streets of Meißen fill with voices, stories, and curious listeners in June, literature becomes an open space of experience. The Literaturfest Meißen, the largest admission-free literary festival in Germany, transforms historic squares, winding courtyards, and small stages into vibrant venues for contemporary literature. More than 150 readings create a program ranging from children’s books to current affairs—driven by great commitment and a palpable passion for the written word.
Amid this special atmosphere, the Romantik® Hotel Burgkeller & Residenz Kerstinghaus in Meißen offers the perfect retreat. Perched high above the old town, this traditional house combines history with the present and creates a setting that quietly extends the spirit of the festival. After a day full of impressions—between open-air stages, author talks, and literary discoveries—guests return to an environment that itself tells stories. The festival resonates, conversations continue, impressions settle. The proximity to the festival venues, combined with the calm of the hotel, makes the Burgkeller an ideal companion for literary days in Meißen—a place where experiences naturally continue to unfold in their own way.
The former library of Goslar’s old town at the Romantik® Hotel Alte Münze
Historically significant: Part of the Romantik® Hotel Alte Münze is located in the former city library of Goslar on Marktstraße. For almost a century—around 98 years—this building served as the city’s “House of Books” before the library moved to the new Kulturmarktplatz in 2017. Today, the place continues to be a space for encounters: the restaurant is located in the former reading room of the library, where people once read and browsed through books. Guests now dine in a setting that was dedicated to literature for many decades—a beautiful connection between history, culture, and gastronomy. Other parts of the former library have also been integrated into the hotel. Where books were once borrowed, guests today enjoy the special atmosphere of our historic hotel in the heart of Goslar’s old town.
More than 1,000 stories—spread throughout the entire house
At the Romantik® Hotel Stafler, reading is as much a part of the house as the Dolomites are of South Tyrol. More than 1,000 books are spread throughout the entire hotel—in the rooms, the restaurant, the wellness area, and quiet corners along the corridors. Sometimes for a quick glance in between, sometimes for an entire afternoon that simply slips away. Everything is designed to help guests slow down and let themselves drift—with a good story in hand.
The books are a distinctive part of the house and its philosophy. The Stafler family believes that reading slows things down, inspires, and connects people. The collection is intentionally not a silent bookshelf, but part of the hotel’s everyday life. Guests are encouraged to browse, take books along, continue reading, or leave behind their own favourites. In this way, a small, living library gradually grows and constantly evolves.
At the heart of this literary house is also its very own voice: Carmen Ramoser, eldest daughter of host Angelika Stafler, is herself an author of books full of imagery, emotion, and subtle nuance. Titles such as “In die klare Luft springen” and “Das Lexikon der Töne” are available directly at the hotel—and are often exactly what guests like to take home at the end of their stay.
Crime novels & coastal flair on Juist
At the Romantik® Hotel Achterdiek on the car-free North Sea island of Juist, literature is not only read but experienced in a very special way. The hotel gave us insight into a distinctive tradition that has evolved over the years: as part of the annual themed evenings, specially written short crime stories are created, each tailored to the respective journey through time.
In 2025, the focus was on the Roaring Twenties, while 2026 will bring the world of the 1950s to life. For both occasions, custom-written stories by renowned German-language crime authors were developed—specifically tailored to the hotel and its atmosphere.
A special moment of this literary collaboration is the authors’ readings, which take place at the beginning of each year at the hotel. Here, guests experience the premieres of the stories firsthand and have the opportunity to engage in personal conversations with the writers. Contributors include Sandra Lüpkes, Jürgen Kehrer, and Tatjana Kruse, who give the house their very own “criminal signatures.”
But the stories do not end with the final applause. As a thoughtful gesture, each arriving guest receives a copy of the current short crime story in their room every year—a small literary surprise accompanying their stay.
This offering is complemented by a continuously growing holiday library. Guests are invited to browse at their leisure, borrow books, or leave behind their own reads. In this way, a living space of exchange gradually emerges—filled with stories that remain, are passed on, and continually find new readers.
When everyday hotel life meets suspense
For many years, the Romantik® Hotel Hof zur Linde in Münster has maintained a close relationship with Münster-based crime author Henrike Jütting, who lives not far from the hotel and whose Münster crime novels featuring Detective Katharina Klein have long found many readers here. Guests frequently pick up her books to discover the city and the region from a new, suspenseful perspective. A well-attended reading with more than 80 guests has also already taken place at the hotel.
The connection became even closer when the Hof zur Linde itself was woven into literature: for her short story in the anthology “Der Münsterland Mord-Club,” Henrike Jütting chose the hotel as a setting. In the story, a mysterious death of a service staff member occurs in the hotel’s surroundings, while her partner is simultaneously enjoying a stay in the wellness area. Detective Katharina Klein takes on the investigation—and uncovers a web of everyday hotel life and unexpected depths. In the Hof zur Linde, reality and fiction begin to blur. For the hotel, this is a beautiful example of how stories can shape places—and places, in turn, stories.
The mysterious hotel in the East Frisia crime novel
At the Tides Boutiquehotel by Romantik®, literature regularly returns very close to its origin. Once a year, crime writer Klaus-Peter Wolf and musician and author Bettina Göschl visit and fill the hotel with stories, music, and a coastal crime atmosphere. Particularly fascinating: the former Reichshof itself repeatedly appears in Klaus-Peter Wolf’s East Frisia crime novels as a setting that connects fiction and reality in surprising ways.
Hotels with a literary connection
Germany
Romantik Hotel
Burgkeller & Residenz Kerstinghaus
Italy
FAQ Questions & Answers
Literary hotels are establishments in which books, stories, and writers play a special role. This can range from small libraries and readings to hotels that themselves serve as settings in novels.
It varies greatly: some hotels offer extensive libraries, others regularly host readings or collaborate with authors. In some cases, original texts or books are created exclusively for the property. Others are located near well-known literary festivals or even offer their own literary programming.
Some properties organize readings, literary evenings, or small festivals. These are often closely linked to the place and its history, making the stay especially unique.
In most literary hotels, the books are explicitly intended to be read. Guests are often welcome to use them during their stay—sometimes even taking them to their rooms or exchanging them.
No, quite the opposite. Many of these hotels are located in unique landscapes—by the coast, in the mountains, or in historic towns—and combine nature experiences with literature.
Not at all. The literary offerings are an enrichment, but not a requirement. Even without a specific interest in books, guests benefit from the special atmosphere and sense of calm.
It depends on the hotel. Some offer their own publications or selected books for purchase. Others use lending systems or small “bring & take” libraries.
Because they offer more than a traditional overnight stay. They create spaces for inspiration, calm, and new perspectives—and bring stories to life in a very unique way.
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