While there are hay hotels (aka farms and ranches) to be found around the world, we focused our search on a group based in Germany, Heuhotel (hay hotels.) The opening photo above is one of the sleeping bunks at the Schleifmuehle Gastof Museum, a family-owned farm (with an historic grinding mill) located about 60 miles southwest of Munich in the heart of Bavaria.

The pictures below (we just had to add a few more) show the overall layout of one of the shared sleeping rooms plus a few close-ups of the hay-filled bed chambers.

We think this is a clever way to break up a large, shared sleeping room – group cubbies

Carefully placed walls and drapery help to create a sense of privacy, more or less, in an otherwise very large guest room.

With a special blend of Mother Nature’s grasses, herbs and fragrant plants, this could be considered signature bedding

According to the hotels web site, the hay comes from untreated (no chemicals) farmland, thoroughly dried and dust free. To this the hotelier adds bits of flowers, leaves, and herbs, to create natural aromatherapy and a healing atmosphere. This may not be the best setting for those who have allergies, but there are alternate accommodations that do not have direct contact with hay. Bring your own sleeping bag or you can buy one on arrival.

To complete the Bavarian experience, check out the restored grinding mill museum (it’s free), followed by lodge style dining in the postcard-perfect Inn, featuring a beer garden that really is a garden. Oktoberfest, anyone?