I have travelled all over Germany before, so I am not looking for recommendations to Garmish or Munich or Berlin or Rothenburg etc.

I want to spend about a week in a Ferienhaus in Germany around Christmastime. I want a white christmas, so I was thinking either the Thuringian forest or the Bavarian Alps. Does anyone have knowledge (or experience) of a rustic, rural vacation cottage for rent from which one could cross country ski or hike. Any leads would be helpful!

thanks

I don't have a specific recommendation for you, but I found a website with a lot of vacation cottages (unfortunately only in German):

http://www.huettentouristik.de/

White Christmas is something we all want but unless you go over 2000 meter chances have been low in the last years. January / February are more likely to bring snow.

Around that time of year, most cottages can only be rented for 2 weeks, i.e. Christmas into New Year.

And you should be quick as those cottages are booked very early.

On our recent trip we stayed in a fewo in a chalet (not a cottage) owned by a couple who are avid x-country skiers. It is in Leutaschtal which is known for that sport, and they located there (in retirement) because of that.

Technically, it's in Austria, near Seefeld but close to the border near Mittenwald.

The fewo is on their lower floor with its own private entrance and it was ideal for us...www.haus-schurr.de.vu

We have rented ferinwohnungs (apartments) in quite a few places in Germany, you might want to go into the website www.vacationvillas.net
we've had very good luck with them and will use them for an upcoming 3 week trip in Nov/Dec.

The Erzgebirge (ore mountains) south of Dresden and Chemnitz, right on the Czech border are quite snow reliable, also at Christmas time. An additional advantage is that the Erzgebirge is know as the German "Christmas land" - really cosy with a long tradition.

Cross-country skiing/hiking is excellent - better than in the Thuringian Forest.

Not sure about English versions, but here is a list of some websites:

www.oberwiesenthal.de
www.osterzgebirge.net
www.altenberg.de
www.eibenstock.de (see Carlsfeld)

Ingo

I can read German websites, if anyone has any more recommendations.

What about the Bayrischer Wald? I am still intrigued by the Ore mountains - Erzgebirge of Sachsen. Is there a location not far from Dresden?

Thanks for your input...

Sorry, no personal experiences with Bayerischer Wald. But I heard it is nice and snow reliable.

Here are some links to small rental houses in the Ore Mountains south of Dresden (about 1 h by car, Altenberg easily accessible from Dresden by bus). I personally prefer the small villages, Rehefeld and Schellerhau. Altenberg is a small town, like Geising, but the latter is at little lower elevation and not as snow reliable.

Rehefeld would be my first choice. Be prepared that it is a very quiet village. Not much entertainment going on there.

I am afraid that you are a bit late for Christmas this year. Probably almost everything is booked.

Rehefeld:
http://www.fewo-rehefeld.de/
http://www.meierbaude.de/

Altenberg:
http://www.altenberg.de/walther.htm
http://www.altenberg.de/Unterkunft/fh_wiltzsch.htm
http://www.altenberg.de/Unterkunft/hentzschel/start.htm

Geising:
http://www.ferienhaus-geising.de/
http://ferienhaus-knabe.de/
http://www.ferienhaus-muehle.de/
http://www.ferienhaus-tandler.de/

Schellerhau:
http://www.schellerhau.de/unterkunft_feha.xml
http://www.schellerhau.de/unterkunft_fewo.xml (apartments)