Der Birkenhof ***** Spa & Genussresort
Hofenstetten 55
92431 Neunburg v. Wald
Germany
Telefon: +49 (0)9439 950-0
E-Mail: info@der-birkenhof.de
Fax: +49 (0) 9439 950-150
Description
Unwind and enjoy. The 7-star Estate (5 for the hotel and 2 for the restaurant) is a wonderful place to do just that. Perched on a hilltop, the property overlooks the glistening waters of the lakes and the surrounding wooded landscape.
Many guests travel here specifically for the renowned "Eisvogel" restaurant. Senior chef Hubert Obendorfer's Michelin-starred restaurant was recently passed on to his son Sebastian Obendorfer, who is now the second generation of the family to hold two Michelin stars.
Highlights
- Beautiful location in the Upper Palatinate Lake District in Bavaria
- Restaurant "Eisvogel" with 2 Michelin stars
- "Turmstube" with fine country cuisine
- Special gourmet packages with 7-course dinner and overnight stay
- Spa area with saunas and treatment rooms
- Indoor and outdoor pools and natural swimming pond
- Hiking and biking trails start directly from the hotel
- Golf courses nearby
- Boating and canoeing opportunities on the lakes of the Upper Palatinate Region
environmental protection
being local - authentic experiences
giving back
cultural commitment
Rooms & Amenities
The hotel offers suites, double and single rooms. The 25 suites, ranging in size from 35 m² to 92 m², are individually and differently designed. What they all have in common is that they are spacious and offer a wonderful view of nature. Below you will find two examples of the suites.
History
The Birkenhof is a dream come true for the Obendorfer family. The country hotel was opened in 1997 with the Eisvogel restaurant at its heart. Hubert Obendorfer, senior owner of the hotel, began his career as a chef and hotelier in various star hotels and had high ambitions from the beginning. He took the down-to-earth Bavarian cuisine to new highs.
“As an environmentally conscious company, we are committed to supporting and actively implementing the region's sustainability principles.” Der Birkenhof
Green Initiatives
“Sustainability is important to us. We are committed to achieving a sustainable future by balancing environmental, social, and economic aspects. Through energy efficiency, waste reduction, recycling, and renewable energy, we minimize our environmental impact and contribute to the conservation of natural resources.” – From the Birkenhof’s mission statement
- Management
- Biodiversity
- Architecture
- Energy
- Water
- Waste Management
- Food
- Communication
- Social Commitment
- Mobility
- Certifications
- Effective communication with employees, customers, and suppliers is a key component of the company’s sustainable focus.
- The appointed “Green Team” is responsible for all sustainable activities within the company.
- The Birkenhof is committed to biodiversity and the well-being of vital ecosystems.
- The hotel grounds are richly planted with a variety of native species.
- For the 5th time in a row, the hotel has participated in the Bavarian Environmental Pact with qualified, voluntary environmental services and received the Gold Certificate as a special recognition.
- The GreenNight seal recognizes the Birkenhof’s commitment to sustainable management in accordance with the 17 sustainability goals of the United Nations.
- Use of environmentally friendly building materials
- Own ecosystem with a natural swimming pond and biodiverse plantings on hotel grounds
- A specially appointed energy officer monitors all consumption on a weekly basis and works to improve energy efficiency.
- CO2-neutral heating of the hotel by two Hargassner cogeneration units (600 kW each, total output of 1.2 MW)
- Heating control according to demand/occupancy
- The Klafs sauna control system heats all saunas one after the other as soon as they are activated, in order to avoid power peaks.
- As far as possible, the electricity for the saunas is generated by the company’s own photovoltaic system.
- There are three photovoltaic systems with 62.92 kW, 50 kW and 80 kW.
- Additional energy is generated by a wood gasifier (68kW electricity and 144kW heat).
- An ‘EnergyCube’ has been built on the site to enable the efficient and sustainable use of energy. This is not yet operational.
- Green electricity is also purchased from the local utility.
- LED Technology
- Water consumption is measured regularly and kept low through controlled flow rates, e.g. at the taps.
- Showers with ECOTURBINO reduce water consumption by 36% without compromising comfort.
- Biodegradable detergents (soon to be replaced by micro-steam detergents)
- Modern swimming pool technology with night lowering (this means less circulation and less chemicals)
- A well for the drawing of water for service purposes
- Laundry service from the Top Clean laundry (water-saving and CO²-neutral textile management)
- The hotel management attaches great importance to waste prevention and proper waste disposal, and informs and sensitizes employees and guests.
- In order to minimize the amount of waste, data on the amount of waste is collected on a regular basis.
- Extensive waste separation systems are in place, including in public areas, and the use of large containers and reusable systems is taken into account when shopping.
- Regional purchasing based on occupancy to reduce food waste
- A zero-waste breakfast is planned.
- Paper consumption is kept low through appropriate measures and digitization.
- Sustainable coffee machine capsules from Rezemo, sourced from PEFC-certified forests in southern Germany, free of persistent microplastics.
- Composting facility by “EcoCreation” (see Food section)
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- Favoring regional, seasonal, organic, and fair trade products
- Selection of vegan food and beverages
- Fish and meat from species-appropriate / organic farms
- The hotel has its own “EcoCreation” composting plant that recycles compostable food waste. The compost is used in the garden.
- Transparent guest communication
- A detailed sustainability program is used to document, evaluate, and monitor the measures that are implemented.
- Sustainability is listed under a separate menu item on the hotel’s website to give this active topic sufficient space.
- Guests are informed about the origin of food and other products.
- Birkenhof is committed to fair treatment of all internal and external stakeholders.
- Numerous benefits for employees
- Employees can continuously develop their skills through training and benefit from the company’s health management.
- Donation partner of the Bruder Gerhardinger Haus
- Birkenhof is committed to equal opportunity
- Language training for foreign employees
- Employees are local and knowledgeable about the area. They walk, cycle, or use public transport to get to work.
- Regional suppliers
- 12 charging stations for guests’ electric cars and another 12 for staff
- The owners, the Obendorfer family, drive a hybrid and an electric car.
