Hansel and Gretel Cottage

Hansel and Gretel Cottage
Hansa - Shropshire - UK

Your next off-grid adventure is in a Victorian gothic lodge built to host the Earl of Bradford's luncheons, set on acres of private woodland in Shropshire. Find total immersion and privacy in nature, next to a lake, with all modern conveniences but without the stress. Step back in time at this luxurious cottage. Magic awaits, close to the village of Weston-Under-Lizard. The cottage sits within the Bradford Estates, a 12,000-acre estate, with history traced back to the Doomsday Book in 1086, and which has since been under the careful stewardship of 36 generations of the Earls of Bradford. Suits 2 guests with a yearning for whimsy.

Fernhill Estate - Gingerbread House - Dandenong Ranges - Victoria - Australia

The leafy and misty Dandenong Ranges are only an hour away from the centre of Melbourne, but a world away. Curved, romantic roads sweep through the rainforest, tea houses and restaurants pop out of the woods and hiking through fairy dells in the national park is a must. With 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms this cottage welcomes 6 guests in comfort.

'A magical and relaxing getaway in the heart of the Dandenong Ranges. I had a wonderful stay at Fernhill Estate 'Gingerbread House'. The house is spacious, comfortable, and well-equipped with everything you need for a relaxing getaway. The location is perfect, surrounded by the rainforest and close to the charming Olinda village. This is a place where you can feel the magic and history of the Dandenong Ranges. I will definitely come back again.'

Savannah Gingerbread House - Savannah - Georgia - USA

The original 3 storey house was built in 1899, this beautifully restored home features completely renovated immaculate historic features. Step back in time and enjoy timber craftsmanship, tall ceilings and ornate decorations. Enjoy all the modern touches you need for a comfortable stay, yet magic and wonder at every turn in furniture, fixtures and art work. With 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms this home welcomes 10 guests into local history.

"A grand historic property with pizzazz. I recently stayed here for a bachelorette party of 8 and we loved our stay. The place has a ton of charm and so many fun different spaces for entertaining. The decor was impeccable and having the coffee shop next door was so convenient! I would stay there again."

Charming Gingerbread A-Frame Cottage - near South Windham - Vermont USA

This magical cottage sits in the forest within easy driving distance of the major Southern Vermont ski areas. Enjoy the wood stove, deck and outdoor fire pit as well as the snug interior. Use this as a base for stretching your legs on nearby hiking trails. One queen bed and two singles welcome a family to create magical memories. Breathe in the silence with no neighbours, just countryside and forest all around. Magic Mountain ski resort is a 16 minute drive from here. 

Vineyard Chalet Hansel and Gretel - Otocec - Slovenia

Relax surrounded by vineyards in Otočec, in this 2 bedroom home with plenty of space for 4 guests. With air-conditioning, a fully equipped kitchen, and a cosy fireplace, enjoy a comfortable stay with the terrace and garden.  This charming wooden cottage is straight out of a children’s fairytale. Set on the hillside, looking out over the Krka river valley, 5 km outside of the village. Explore the beautiful region of Dolenjska.

'Gingerbread House' - Flamboyant Cottage on Saba Island in the Caribbean Netherlands

This spectacular historic home has magical views from high up on the windward side of the island. Welcoming 4 guests in 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, in colonial splendour. Located in a secluded, private area on Booby Hill just a 10-minute walk from Windwardside town with all conveniences and restaurants. Enjoy sun downers on the deck and swim in your own private pool. Gaze all the way to St Kitts and Nevis islands. An extraordinary location.

'Superb view, lovely cottage. We had a great time at Flamboyant cottage. Sunrises were beautiful, the neighbourhood is quiet. The cottage has everything you need for a stay and the pool is clean and great for a refreshing 'dip'. The walk from Windwardside is a bit steep here and there. We can recommend this stay to anyone.'

'The Carousel House' - Ocean Park - Oaks Bluff - Martha's Vineyard - Massachusetts - USA

With 6 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms, this historic home built in 1865 featured in the New York Times article as 'the Fifth Avenue of Oak Bluffs'. Stunning playful features and a great location as it sits at the heart of Ocean Park, with the closest access to Circuit Avenue of any of the homes on the Park.

'Great family vacation! This was our first visit to Martha’s Vineyard and the Carousel House was perfect for our party of 11, including 8 adults and our 3 grandchildren under the age of 3. Oak Bluffs was the perfect town with its beach, Ocean Park, retail stores and children’s playground.'

'The Carousel House is simply an outstanding luxury home to stay in for that quintessential Martha's Vineyard experience.'

'The Legacy House' - Oaks Bluff - Martha's Vineyard - Massachusetts - USA

This carefully renovated historic house is a must for cottage lovers and architecture buffs. Enjoy Oaks Bluff and the Vineyard from this stunning 250 year old home. Welcome 10 guests in 5 bedrooms with 2 bathrooms and state of the art kitchen. Minutes from Inkwell Beach.

'Lovely home in a fabulous area. Adorable home in a central location of Oaks Bluff. Exceeds the pictures, the home is comfortable and has everything you need.'

The Mack on Winemack - Oaks Bluff - Martha's Vineyard - Massachusetts - USA

This character-filled vacation home sleeps 8 guests in 4 bedrooms with 4 bathrooms in spacious style. Relax on the wrap-around porch made of mahogany. Plenty of great details to discover in the timber work. Close to everything and 3 minutes from the ferry stop.

'A lovely house and great stay. We had a wonderful stay at the Mack and loved the energy of Oak Bluff. The house was beautifully appointed, comfortable, and the kitchen was well provisioned. It was also very conveniently located on a quiet tree-lined street. One of the best parts for us was the porch which is where we spent most of our time.'

Ferienhaus Rosenhof - Weidenbach - Bavaria - Germany

This historic home welcomes 8 guests in 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms with total modern comfort. Enjoy your private garden, full kitchen and a choice of dining areas. Relax in the outdoor spa. Just try not to nibble on the eves or shove anyone into the oven!

'Spacious house, with beautiful large garden. Quiet location. Perfect location to relax.'

Ferienhaus Chalet-Ettal - Holiday Home - Ettal - Bavaria - Germany

Surrounded by woods, close to a village, in the heart of Bavaria this comfortable holiday home is not made of biscuits but offers 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and a fully equipped kitchen. No room for witches in the oven! Plenty of room for 4 guests.

'Perfect stay in a beautiful home. Wish we could have stayed longer. Beautifully located, spacious chalet with parking on site and gorgeous view over the valley. Meticulously clean, welcoming host, walkable town to explore and find dinner. Well-equipped kitchen to prepare food if desired. Great place from which to explore the area.'

Burg Hotel - Rothenburg ob der Tauber – Bavaria - Germany

More like a cottage than a hotel, this historic 12th Century building is located on the outskirts of town, overlooking gardens and the beautiful Tauber Valley. This small cosy, well maintained family-run hotel has no nasty witches and only pleasantries to offer. Just 1.3 km from the train station.

'Exceptional. The visit to the place was an extraordinary experience. The building is magnificent, and the location is quiet, with a stunning view. The room is fantastic, clean, large, and, above all, very quiet. The building's location allows for parking and walking tours of the area. The breakfast is very varied. The view from the breakfast room is fantastic. The staff is very friendly and ready to help with everything.'

Hotel BurgGartenpalais - Rothenburg ob der Tauber – Bavaria - Germany

This charming small hotel is located in the Old Town, between the marketplace and Castle Gardens. It features a rose garden, grand interiors with Renaissance details. It is the castle-like ancestral home of the patrician family Bezold, which is one of the oldest residential houses in Rothenburg.

'This hotel was located a 2 min walk from the main town square where the Christmas markets are, in a beautiful street. The staff were so friendly and I loved how we were staying in an historic building which has been decorated beautifully. Breakfast was lovely, enjoyed having some good old fashioned cornflakes and fruit, along with my eggs and coffee. Would definitely stay here again, a lovely stay. Nothing was a problem for the staff at this hotel. We even got a little history lesson, which was a bonus!'

Gotisches Haus - Rothenburg ob der Tauber – Bavaria - Germany

This historic hotel could also be a little cottage that was built in the forest - then surrounded by other cottages slowly over time, in the past. Full of local charm, this hotel is on Herngasse one of the most central streets. This 13th Century building has been lovingly restored and now operates as a suburb 4-star boutique hotel. Enjoy walking around town and hiking in the Frankenhöhe Nature Park nearby.

'Luxurious, historic, indulgent, a real treat! What an amazing hotel in an incredible town! We were on a 2 week tour and this was our most luxurious hotel! Our room was huge with a wonderful bathroom and majestic decor, looking out over the historic buildings. Definitely the place to stay for a glorious treat!'

Mittermeiers Alter Ego - Boutique Hotel - Rothenburg ob der Tauber - Bavaria - Germany

Although it looks like a witch could have lived here, the pesky black cat has been kicked out and the whole place swept clean with ultra modern efficiency. Now it is a 4 star chic comfortable, trendy, boutique experience. Zuper!

'Exceptional. An excellent hotel in a great location. Rooms were comfortable with everything you needed for a good stay and the bed and pillows were fantastic. The honour kitchen was great, well stocked and very comfortable. Staff were very friendly and helpful. Location was close to the old town without being in the hustle and bustle of the crowd which made it much easier accessing by car and free on-site parking was very much appreciated. We cannot rate this hotel highly enough.'

Hotel Reichskuchenmeister - Rothenburg ob der Tauber - Bavaria - Germany

A historic gem on Kirchstrasse in the centre of the old town. Petite, refined. Enchanting. The name is roughly translated as the 'imperial kitchen masters' of Rothenburg ob der Tauber. The building dates from middle ages and the restaurant from 1919. Walk everywhere from here over the cobblestones.

'A definite must to visit. This "old style" hotel in one of the most magical towns in Europe was way better than even we expected! You cannot ask for a better location as you are literally staying in the middle of the town next to all major attractions. Breakfast was delicious and value for money.'

Turmstüble im Torhaus - Burgbernheim- Neustadt-Bad Windsheim - Bavaria - Germany

This exceptional building dating from 1545, is a dreamy way to experience the south of Germany, just 60 km from Nuremburg and 18 km from Rothenburg, this can be your base for hiking and exploring.

'Fantastic and very atmospheric apartment in an exceptional building. Perfectly equipped and very clean. Very good and nice contact with the owner. Great base for visiting nearby attractions, such as Rothenburg. I recommend!'

Long Hikes - the Westweg, Ostweg and the Gorge Trail, all of which are multi-day hikes.

Medium Hike - for a day loop walk take the 'Allerheiligen Rundwanderung Wasserfall' which is 12.6 km or 7.8 miles and includes waterfalls, creeks, peaks and history.

Short Hike - for a short loop walk - take the 3.5 km or 2.1 mile moderate 'WIlderness Trail Baden Baden' in the north of the National Park.

Wildlife - look out for these critters and flora in the Black Forest

• European Badger - Meles meles
• Great Spotted Woodpecker - Dendrocopos major
• Long Beech Fern - Phegopteris connectilis

Romantic Road Rothenburg ob der Tauber from Frankfurt - 1 day

A fully guided tour to Spessart Nature Park, River Main and Tauber, Weikersheim with magnificent Renaissance Palace, Röttingen, wine village, Rothenburg ob der Tauber, highlight of the Romantic Road and Würzburg Residence, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Plenty of Hansel and Gretel Cottage photo ops. 10.5 hours

Rated 4.7 / 5 ( 69 reviews )

'The stops on this trip were amazing. Getting a guided tour of a castle and it's gardens, multiple amazing photo stops, and tons of free time in Rothenburg. That's not all that made this trip special though. The guide was a self described romantic road and castle freak. Her passion for the area made everything seem so much more special. This was honestly one of the highlights of my two week trip to Germany. I highly recommend.'

Romantic Road & Rothenburg ob der Tauber Tour from Wurzburg - 1 day

Rated 4.5 / 5 ( 6 reviews )

'Well-organised day excursion, pleasant guide and driver. Very handy if you don't have a car yourself, you still get to the most beautiful places!'

Fairytale Neuschwanstein and Linderhof Castles from Munich including Oberammergau with Hansel and Gretel Heim - 1 day

Travel to the magnificent castle of Linderhof. Scenic drive through Oberammergau, enjoy a delicious lunch in Hohenschwangan then visit Marienbrücke and Neuschwanstein. 10.5 hours.

4.5 / 5 ( 11770 reviews )

'The day was fantastic. Our guides were great and made it a memorable day. Very professional, organised and friendly.'

Hansel and Gretel Cottage - Carmel-by-the-Sea, California USA

This small seaside town is situated 130 miles or 190 km from San Francisco. It is located 4 miles or 6.5 km south of Monterey overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

Enchanting cottages meet stunning coastline in this artist colony-turned-boutique retreat.

Hugh Comstock built several delightful 'storybook cottages' in Carmel-by-the-Sea in the 1920's. These were passion projects by the builder and toymaker for his dollmaker wife. Over the years, they have become famous, but most are private homes and their residents need to be respected. If you go to Carmel, keep this in mind. 

You may be able to see his first cottage 'Hansel' built in 1924 and his second cottage 'Gretel' built in 1925. You will see the 'Obers House' built as their own home in 1925, and many others.

Don't worry, I have a dedicated page about Carmel-by-the-Sea and these inspired fairytale cottages. I have found plenty of delightful cottages for you to rent for a magical visit.

Hansel and Gretel Cottage - Vancouver Island - British Columbia - Canada

Bruce Winckler designed his dream cottage known as Shake Cottage. It is a private residence. Do not disturb. The fairies are sleeping.

Plenty more to come on the beautiful cottages in BC and on Vancouver Island.

Hansel and Gretel House - Oberammergau  - Baviera - Germany

In Oberammergau is building known as 'Hänsel und Gretel Heim' with detailed murals called lüftlmalerei. They depict the fairytale in dramatic detail and don't hold back on gruesome details. The black cat is included!

The town is home to many delightful artworks in the mural art that is native to villages and towns of southern Germany and Austria, especially in Upper Bavaria and in the Tyrol. The art is a popular, folk-oriented variation of trompe-l'œil from the Baroque and imitates architectural elements. A must for fairytale lovers.

Arrange your hire car for your journey, choose from petrol, electric or hybrid vehicles.

By Katia Luz, sharing my fairytale bush cottage, discovering enchanting, charming, whimsical cottages, cabins and cosy little places to inspire your dreams. Contact Me. About Me.

I trust you have enjoyed the magic of My Fairytale Cottage. Bon Voyage!