The Hermitage
on the Heilsberg, Bad Vilbel
Welcome to the Hermitage Heilsberg
Since 2019, The Hermitage on the Heilsberg has provided a peaceful, fully furnished, comfortable flat for visitors spending a sabbatical or starting a new position in Frankfurt or Bad Vilbel and seeking fresh air, nature, and views. English-speaking and German-speaking guests from Ireland, Austria, Belgium, Germany, UK, Australia, USA, and China have called The Hermitage home so far. Perhaps you will too!
The Hermitage enjoys an unparalleled location for those appreciating peace and fresh air while still convenient to amenities
and those who appreciate high quality, thoughtfulness, and convenience in their home. The Hermitage is a beautiful, comfortable, one-bedroom apartment featuring sweeping views of the Frankfurt skyline, the Taunus mountains, and adjacent fields and orchards.
The Hermitage enjoys its own separate private side entrance reached via a garden path to a generous covered wood veranda.
The windowed entrance to the apartment welcomes guests home with a generous, carpeted receiving area with coatrack, mirror, bench, and shoe storage.
The fully furnished, freshly renovated apartment spreads generously to the left into an open living space with floor-to-ceiling windows looking over the garden to orchards and sunset over the Taunus mountains. Here also, the fully equipped built-in kitchen flows into a home office and dining space.
To the right of the entrance is a private bedroom with closets, nightstands, window-seat, and windows facing mature plantings in front of the Frankfurt skyline beyond.
Between the living and bedrooms is a generous bathroom with a custom tiled shower, sink, separate Hollywood makeup and shaving mirror, laundry machine, plus plenty of storage and fluffy white towels.
Elegant, contemporary living and dining
Custom-made wood triple-glazed windows and up-to-date insulation and soundproofing make the apartment warm, private, and bathed in light from morning to evening. Under-floor heating warms the freshly oiled ash-wood parquet floor and walls are a soft sage color throughout the apartment.
Fiber-optic wireless and LAN connections offer the fastest internet connection possible.
Furnishings are new, Danish design, and tastefully chosen for comfort and to complement the outdoor views. Textile artwork is an original photograph of the landscape just outside the door. A tulip-style designer table and four designer chairs frame the window and can be arranged flexibly. Similarly, the vintage wooden coffee table can tuck under the bookcase or be placed conveniently in front of the sofa. Soft pillows and throws, soft flexible lighting and lamps, a home-office area with a fold-down table and flexible light, a TV and small stereo, coasters, vases, and faux houseplants make this space a comfortable cocoon to hang out and watch nature, dine, visit, or relax.
Fully-equipped, modern custom kitchen
The custom kitchen maximizes space and storage while retreating into the inner walls so that the living space with the stunning views is the focal point of the main room. The kitchen is fully outfitted with new and sharp knives, new pots and pans, and all appliances in top condition. The hosts are avid cooks and outfitted the kitchen as they would want to cook in, including a small dishwasher, countertop lighting, easy-clean surfaces, a fridge with freezer compartment, an oven that can double as a microwave, and an induction stovetop with a vent. Plenty of storage and glass-fronted cabinets with full glassware and dishes, plus useful utensils make the kitchen a comfortable place to prepare meals and beverages.
Luxury Bedroom
The bedroom is a comfortable place to start and end the day.
The queen-sized bed (160 cm by 200 cm) is on a wood Danish bedframe sporting three storage drawers underneath and a comfortable mattress topper. Kronborg of Denmark cotton satin sheets make this a luxury place to rest. Two nightstands flank the bed, with wall-attached reading lights on each side. Floor rugs plus underfloor heating mean comfort for the feet no matter whether getting in or out of bed, getting dressed, or just enjoying the view. The textile artwork is an original photograph of the skyline at sunset from the Hermitage.
Morning light streams through the southeast floor-length window with a view out to the south garden. This window also has a built-in screen in its blind.The southwest window lets in afternoon and evening light and has a windowseat below it. The view is across the private mature garden to the skyline. This window is also extra-soundproofed in case the morning joggers and horses would disturb a lie-in. The room can be fully darkened using the electric Italian exterior blinds. The window is flanked by two mirrored closets, complete with wooden hangars and drawers. A ceiling fan provides circulation, comfortable in the summer to create a gentle breeze and, in reverse direction, gently sending warm air from the ceiling to the floor or providing white noise to sleep peacefully.
Generous Custom Bathroom with Laundry Facilities
The bathroom has underfloor heating warming the marble-look tiles. Fluffy white 100% cotton towels in all sizes are ready to use. Two mirrors, one over the sink and one on the side wall with its own Hollywood lights, mean one does not have to lean over the sink to floss, shave, or use makeup. There’s a hairdryer in the drawer and plenty of electrical plugs for electric toothbrushes, shavers, nightlights, and other appliances.
The custom tiled shower is roomy, with an adjustable showerhead, storage basket, and glass walls. The sink is large with ample counter space around it and a tiled counter along the entire wall. The wall cabinet holds cleaning supplies and storage space. Next to the Hollywood mirror is an additional tall cabinet with flip-up mirror. The washing machine, drying rack (another one is outside on the veranda), and laundry basket round out the bath facilities.
Veranda, Garden, and Surroundings
Veranda
The covered veranda has a table and chairs for enjoying morning coffee, watching the birds and sunlight hitting the mountains, or evening aperitifs or dinner as the sun sets. The porch also includes an electrical socket, motion-detector lights, and an expandable drying rack.
Garden
The private garden space surrounding the veranda is beautiful in all seasons. Black cattail topiary trees accent the corners of the garden space.
Spring blooms include irises, daffodils, tulips, lilacs and wisteria climbing the archway.
In summer the nepeta, butterfly bushes, roses, elderflower, and lunarias (silver dollar plants) are in bloom.
In late summer we enjoy asters, black-eyed susans, and morning glory vines.
The autumn is spectacular with sedum, blackberries, hazelnuts, elderberries, and all the late summer blooms continuing until frost, while the lunarias turn into silver dollars.
Even in winter, the snowball bush blooms and the miner’s lettuce starts in February, along with abundant snowdrops.
Wildlife
Birdfeeders and plenty of perches in the low shrubs and adjacent tall birch tree ensure that a wide variety of birds are seen in the garden, especially robins, blackbirds, tits, wood doves, and magpies. A hedgehog can be heard and sometimes seen.
Over the fields, birds of prey and murmurations of starlings take to the sky, and sometimes deer and rabbits are visible running over the fields. Horses are ridden daily and often directly past the apartment. The fields are a favorite for dogwalkers, kite fliers, and picnickers.
Neighboring Berkersheim Village
Just 2 km over the fields is the farm village of Berkersheim, with a farm stand with fresh eggs, local potatoes, homemade marmelade, and honey, available in vending machines 24/7! Berkersheim is also the location for the closest S-Bahn (local train) connection to Frankfurt and is within the Frankfurt zone.
We have even closer transit connections in Bad Vilbel, but regular buses from Berkersheim also connect with the Frankfurt Subway (U-5) and skirt the north side of Frankfurt all the way through Frankfurt’s Ginnheim to Frankfurt’s Bockenheim.
Anna & Johan, 30, from Austria
We can warmly recommend this apartment to a single person or a couple. It is beautifully located on the outskirts of Bad Vilbel in a quiet and well-kept neighborhood with excellent connections to Frankfurt by car, train or bicycle. The apartment is very well laid out and equipped. In the kitchen you will find everything you need, including a modern oven with microwave function. The electric window blinds are very practical, as is the bedroom door with insect screen. In the cozy bedroom there is a beautiful view of the greenery and the Frankfurt skyline.
The apartment is also very suitable for working from home. You can enjoy the view of the Taunus. There are fields and apple orchards right on the doorstep, between which there are numerous paths that invite you to go jogging or for a walk, for example during your lunch break.
The landlady is extremely helpful, friendly and reliable. She provides her tenants with all kinds of tips, for example on restaurants and shopping facilities, and is always available as a contact person.
All in all, we can highly recommend the apartment, especially for people who have to travel to Frankfurt for work but appreciate the peace and quiet and beautiful rural surroundings in the evenings and at weekends. We really enjoyed our time in the garden apartment and will always have fond memories of it.
Kate and partner, 33, from the US
Staying at the Hermitage on the Heilsberg is a dream. The place is high quality. The surrounding area is absolutely gorgeous and can’t be beat. The landlady is also wonderful. She’s the best landlady you could ask for. Not only that, but she helped us in our transition to Germany and introduced us to people, places, and events to help us get settled. She was fantastic in communication and we always knew what to expect for the apartment. She provided all the facilities that we needed and the place is incredibly thoughtfully laid out. Everything serves a purpose and is convenient. We also liked her as a person. Overall a wonderful stay. We were there for work but the location was so nice it felt like vacation.
Michaela, 55, from the UK
I lived here for 6 months and it was a wonderful place to live – peaceful yet very connected; tastefully decorated with beautiful views towards the Taunus mountains and Frankfurt city that make one aware just how accessible everything is, whatever your needs, whether it’s an urban buzz or just tranquil countryside with walkers, horses and even deer.
The garden is a lovely place to sit and take in the stunning sunsets. The night time views of the city are incredible and it was lovely to sit on the veranda, enjoying the evening sun, taking in the colours and the wonderful air. I usually cycled into work through the fields: in 15 minutes I was in Frankfurt but if I wanted to use public transport, I had multiple options also. The local town – Bad Vilbel – with all its shops was even closer. The landlady was always on hand to advise, generously sharing her depth of knowledge of Frankfurt and Germany when asked and always willing to help.
The living space is so well thought through that I hated leaving it. It is compact but spacious with the clever use of space to separate day and night time living. There is an amazing, all-singing-all dancing oven that bakes bread just as easily as it converts into a microwave. There is also an induction hob that is brilliantly well built in and made cooking a joy. The bathroom is well put together with lovely tiling and a roomy shower. The bedroom is so peaceful with the electric blackout blinds … the underfloor heating throughout the apartment makes every square centimetre of this space a joy to inhabit.
Amenities
Under-floor heating. Custom-made wood triple-glazed windows. Soundproofing. Fiber-optic internet. Solid wood parquet flooring. Custom tile work. Danish design.
Utilities included: Heat, water, trash removal, garden maintenance, Fiber-Optic Internet, WiFi. Electricity measured with meter so guests only pay for their own use.
Additional storage in the basement for bulky items such as suitcases can be organized.
Private Parking Space
There are two parking places in the driveway off-street which can be used by the Hermitage guests. A private parking space is included with the apartment, providing added convenience. Frankfurt is just minutes away by car.
We can offer covered, locked storage for a bicycle or motorcycle in the garage, by arrangement.
Abundant Transit Options
Just ONE minute by foot to Bus 60 to downtown Bad Vilbel & onward connections to Frankfurt by bus or train.
Just 15 minutes by foot over paved paths through fields to Bus 39 in Berkersheim, connecting to subways and north Frankfurt regions.
Just 25 minutes by foot to Berkersheim’s commuter train S6, to Frankfurt West (15 min), the Trade Fair (Messe) (20 min), Frankfurt‘s Main station (22 Min) with connections to Europe and the airport, Frankfurt, the European Central Bank, and on to Darmstadt — train every 15 minutes. Or the other direction, toward Friedberg and points north.
Kitchen
The custom kitchen maximizes space and storage and is fully outfitted with sharp knives, new pots and pans, induction range, dishwasher, freezer compartment in fridge, oven and microwave, toaster, kettle, milk foamer, Carl Henkel Arka X-tract Brew coffee and tea maker, and baking supplies. Everything in top condition.
Comfort & Connectivity
Enjoy fast and reliable password-protected WiFi (fiber-optic 1 Gbit/s Download, 500Mbit/s Upload) throughout the apartment, perfect for work or leisure. LAN cable plugs for top security online. A TV and small stereo can be hooked up to other devices.
Environment
We care about the environment: organic gardening with plenty of habitat and native plants. Solar panels for electricity. Modern insulation and triple-glazed custom windows. A ceiling fan in summer months keeps guests comfortable.
History
The house was built in 1967, and the extension, within which the Hermitage is located, was added in 1968. The Hermitage guest apartment was created out of the former music room of the main house in 2018-19, which originally was a room where neighbors enjoyed grand piano and cello concerts. The apartment is located directly under the living room of the main house, yet has a fully private entrance, private views, and full soundproofing for privacy and comfort.
The hilltop community of Heilsberg was named on June 9, 1948. Heilsberg was created to provide a new home for displaced persons from across eastern Europe, and the homes, parks, churches, and community centers are testament to the strength of spirit of the founders. In 2023, Heilsberg celebrated its 75th anniversary. The history is painted in murals and art along the green central pedestrian axis and a neighborhood historical walking trail. Today’s Heilsberg is a lively and diverse mix of the descendants of original settler families and neighbors from all over the world, many who have moved out of Frankfurt but work in Frankfurt, those looking for a beautiful place to live that is convenient to the city, but not in it. We love our skyline view, and our proximity, and we also appreciate the fresh air, quiet, and community here.
Location
The Hermitage on the Heilsberg
Bodelschwinghstr. 70
61118 Bad Vilbel, Germany
stay@hermitage-heilsberg.com
Heilsberg, Bad Vilbel
Heilsberg is a community of 6000 on the gentle hill between Frankfurt and Bad Vilbel downtown. We enjoy conveniences on our doorstep: two groceries (Lidl and Rewe), a pharmacy, two or more ATMs, multiple religious communities, a post office, the award-winning Cafe Einzig, sports facilities including the Center for Physiotherapy and Fitness, a tennis club, an active sports association, doctors and dentists, restaurants, bakeries, and wine shops. We are well-networked by public transit and directly adjacent to Frankfurt am Main. The natural surroundings for walking, running, and cycling are unparalleled.