Tours

There’s much to discover
in this magical place…

Rosarium

Welcome to Sammatz!

You find yourself in the middle of the village, somewhere between the Café and the roundabout tree, amidst the friendly Sammatzians and International helpers – let’s get started! Paths of red gravel will lead you in all directions. Or you can ask somebody for help; it can be nice to chat to the people here. There’s much to discover in this magical place.

For example, the rosarium. Directly behind the café, between the walnut tree and the palm trees, lies a small hideaway for roses of many varieties, colours and scents. Feel free to tread on the grass in order to get a closer look of the flower beds. These majestic flowers bloom from the end of May up until November. It is only during the midsummer that they take a small break. At this time, countless lilies reveal themselves; some are delicate and knee-high whilst others are more striking in height, colour and scent.

Have you ever wondered what the plants that we use to make your cough sweets and healing ointments actually look like? In the block beds on the way to the campus garden we grow medicinal plants: here you will find not only the typical remedies such as mallow, echinacea, chamomile and sage, but also unexpected things like horseradish and tobacco. Tea herbs such as mint and bergamot are also growing here. Eventually, they are used as ingredients for the fine tea blends that you can purchase at the farm shop later on.

When you pass the magnificent cherry tree (in the spring there are magical tulips at its feet), you will reach the campus garden. A lawn decorated with beech hedges serves as the front yard for the new houses, which have been completed in 2018 and look pretty inviting – the blue one is the youth hostel, the yellow one is the House of Nature.

In the hostel there live the volunteers – travellers who help out for board and lodge. They are always between 30 (in winter) and 80 (in summer) great young people staying with us. They bring good humour, positive energy and world wide perspectives to Sammatz.

Campus garden

Another thing which contributes to the good feeling in Sammatz and enriches life in the community greatly is the cooperation with Waldorf Schools for Agricultural Traineeships which began this summer. Two schools classes came here and took part successfully and we are looking forward to many more trainees coming in the next year.
The new Youth Hostel has plenty of space available.
Many exhibitions, seminars and other events will be held in the House of Nature to which you are extended a warm welcome. Nature will be one of the main themes, the others being social and cultural events. We are excited to see it ourselves. Sometimes studies have a bad reputation – but if the human being is not forgotten, reading ‹the book of Nature› can be one of the most exciting adventures, you could possibly think of.

…and bring good feelings

and tales from the
big wide
world…

Learning from the ‘Book of Nature’

– some of the most exciting adventures one can think of

Immediately next to the houses you will find an enchanting, small pond where a wooden bridge takes you onto the apple tree island. The circular bench around the tree is a particularly romantic place. Behind this is a spacious retreat in the shade (it seems like a boules pitch in a French town). There are many benches where you can sit, talk and play. Continuing on you will reach the orchard, where towering apple trees are surrounded by the swaying ornamental grasses that are characteristic of Sammatz. There you will probably encounter a family of ducks; these cuties that quack and waddle through the garden are a source of delight for children and adults alike.

Arche-Hof farm

Moo! Baa! Can you hear the noises nearby? Auf dem Arche-Bauernhof leben wie im Bilderbuch cows, sheep, goats, pigs, horses, donkeys and poultry and are a real attraction for visitors of all ages. All of these old domestic breeds, whose populations are in great danger, are kept in spacious wooden stables in accordance with Demeter guidelines. You are welcome to spectate as the animals are fed and milked! In a large enclosure, the turkeys and chickens cluck as they help to supply the community, shop and café with eggs. Give them a try! The difference in flavour to many other eggs is enormous.

Tucked away in the middle of the yard there is also the cosy farm shop. Here you will find an assortment of organic products including medicines, cosmetics, clothing and food, all sourced the farm itself. The variety is impressive: fantastic cheeses (from cow, sheep and goat), yoghurts, meats, eggs, vegetables and breads (baked almost daily in the Sammatz bakery). The opening hours can be found here.

Nearby, the vegetables grow on the field. There you will find sumptuous cabbages, leeks, lettuces and pumpkins. It is great, especially for children, to see the actual plants from which the vegetables originate. Larks and swallows fly in the sky where the changing shades of light create a particularly beautiful aura above the expanses.

Central gardens

On the way back to the village you can marvel at the stately oak, which must have at least 300 years under its belt. You are allowed to enter the greenhouse next to it where rarities such as lush flowering angel trumpets await you. Behind this, follow the chirping to reach the next highlight – the aviary in the tropical greenhouse. In addition to banana trees and grapefruit trees, parrots and a large number of parakeets perform their bird concert. You can even perch yourself nicely on the edge of the picturesque stone fountain.

Now if you go across the street to Michaelshof, you are in the Central Gardens – the colorful house or village gardens around the buildings of Michaelshof. Here can be found the so-called main building, administration, meeting rooms, library, a small hall, the kitchen and the large dining room. The gardens are our oldest facilities – old trees, large flowerbeds, rose bushes and benches that create serene and sometimes cozy dreamy corners to rest or explore.

Arena & the Perennials Plateau

A few more steps and you are already on the way to the gardens that lie within glacial landforms.

There you will find the simply named ‘Arena’, a steep valley which is terraced by stone walls and lush greenery. Above, the dahlias glow during the late summer and the tulips blossom in spring. The valley has paths that spiral through a colourful array of shrubs to the pond, sculptures, and rockery besides the sweet sheep and gabbling geese. Back uphill, the somewhat hidden S-shaped curved flower beds can be found on the plateau acre. Located between old beech trees and offering a view of the valley, it is a special place that is worth a visit.

Back uphill, the somewhat hidden S-shaped curved flower beds can be found on the plateau acre. Located between old beech trees and offering a view of the valley, it is a special place that is worth a visit.