Click for
German
Haus Barnabas im Engel
Package holidays with Christian fellowship
Holidays in a Christian environment in the beautiful Black Forest of southern Germany with places of interest and activities for all age groups.
About Haus Barnabas
Haus Barnabas is a small guest house and retreat centre in the southern Black Forest of Germany run by evangelical Christians.
Len & Phyl Holder moved into the Black Forest in 1989 after six years in Basel, Switzerland believing this was God’s plan for them. (cf Eph. 2:10)
After a year or so they sensed that God’s ministry for them was twofold: to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to encourage Christian believers in their faith and Christian walk. This appeared to be the same calling as the New Testament apostle Barnabas hence the origin of our name.
Over the following few years we were joined firstly by Deborah Rule, initially to help us with the English teaching which God had provided for us, then secondly Timothy Brooks. The couple were married in 2001 and together with their two children, Tom and Esther (who is now married to Jonathan), are now taking over the main responsibility for the work since Len & Phyl have now retired.
Where are we?
Our village of Utzenfeld is situated in the beautiful valley of the river Wiese amongst the mountains of the southern Black Forest in the south west corner of Germany only 30 miles from the point it touches both France and Switzerland.
Accessibility is easy! Basel airport is an hour away and we offer to meet guests. We have our own bus stop, ‘Engel, Utzenfeld’, and during the week a 30 minute bus service with direct links to Basel, Freiburg, Titisee etc. and guests have free use of public transport with their Konus guestcard.
Our location in the Wiese valley is ideal. The main road from Basel up to Titisee bypasses our village thus leaving us comparatively quiet. Before rising over the Feldberg mountain, (approx. 4800ft) to the tourist town of Titisee with its picturesque lake, our main road gives access to side roads in both directions, to the city of Freiburg off left and St. Blasien or Todtmoos off right.
Guests coming by car often find it more satisfactory to leave their vehicle in our good sized carpark and take to public transport and most then marvel at its convenience and reliability.
Guest bedrooms
We have six guest bed rooms each with ensuite WC and shower. The rooms have been named after Christians from the past whose lives and writings have blessed us in different ways.
‘Charles Spurgeon’ ‘Hudson Taylor, and William Carey’
These rooms each have a large 2 metre wide bed with two separate mattresses and duvets in a single bed frame. Each has room for a further pull-out single bed or bunk beds for families.​​
Charles Spurgeon Room
​​​​​​
​
‘Amy Carmichael’
This has double bed and large bathroom also access to a terrace which is above a garage on the side of the house.
‘Corrie Ten Boom'
This is our smallest room with two single beds along one wall. It has a desk and chair and is very suitable for single occupancy.
‘Georg Müller’
This room is a large family room with two single beds and two bunk beds, table with corner seats and a large bathroom.
All these guest rooms are on the first floor at the top of a wide flight of stairs and lead off from a central corridor. Each room has a kettle and tea making facilities with free milk available in a fridge in the corridor, where there is also a microwave for your use.
There is an additional WC at one end of the upstairs corridor as well as separate men and women’s toilets on ground floor.
​
What we offer
​
We are a Christian Guest House and all guests are welcome to join in with our times of fellowship, ministry and worship.
​
​
We can provide either bed and breakfast with the option of an evening meal by arrangement on a day-by-day basis.
Or, rooms with breakfast and 3-course evening meal, pre-booked, with a special package price for 7 days of more which will include a light lunch Sunday.
​
​
​​
​​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
Supplementary Services
​
​
-
We can meet you at airport or train station.
-
You can book either a room with breakfast, or half board with 3-course evening meal and light midday lunch Sundays. See our 7-day package prices. The evening meal is a set menu each day and we are happy to meet dietary needs if informed before-hand. We normally eat together around a large table.
-
We offer a devotional time with Bible reading and prayer before breakfast.
-
We are happy to arrange a time of worship on Sunday with Bible ministry, to fit in with you. There is also a Bible study during the week. Translation into German or French is possible.
-
We provide a folder of information in English with suggestions and details of places of interest to visit with details of bus and train times. Your guest card gives free use of public transport.
-
By arrangement we offer day and half-day excursions for up to six passengers. This may be limited due to other commitments. (See our excursion package price).
-
We can provide a packed lunch if booked at the evening before at the latest.
Group holidays
We encourage group visits to us and are happy to help in any way we can with ideas and arrangements. Groups come to us for various reasons including:
(i) simply a holiday with family and friends;
(ii) retreat weeks for prayer, Bible ministry etc.
(iii) family weeks with a children's programme;
(iv) theme weeks e.g. hill walking, bird watching, reformation history;
(v) celebrations with family and friends.
​
​
​
​
​
Sportsreach girls at Todnau Waterfall
We make the following offer against our recommended accommodation prices: bring 6 people and the 7th comes at half-price; bring 10 people and the 11th comes free.
Self-catering holidays
Around us are a good number of self-catering holiday apartments The typical Black Forest house is large with often several generations living together in separate apartments under the same roof. Some homes have converted one or more such apartment for guests for self-catering holidays. Being part of the family’s house these apartments are well looked after with mostly good quality fittings.
We offer to try to find you a suitable holiday home, make arrangements with the host family and give you a price. Many such apartments are in villages where it is best to have your own transport.
​
Themed holiday weeks
Most years we aim to offer themed holiday weeks. In past years such weeks have included:
Reformation weeks when we have provided evening lectures and DVDs on 16th century British and European reformers and visited reformation sites in Switzerland and southern Germany.
Reformation Wall in Geneva
​
Conference weeks when a guest speaker gives evening expository ministry on a particular Biblical theme or passage.
​
​​​
If you have interest in a holiday with a particular theme do please let us know and we would try to interest others and arrange this.
​
Photo gallery of Haus Barnabas and Utzenfeld
Family hoilday group arriving at Haus Barnabas
River Wiese runs past end of our garden
Entertaining the village ladies' club
BBQ in Haus Barnabas garden
Up hillside behind our village of Utzenfeld
View across fields to neighbouring village of Geschwend
Relaxation and fellowship in Haus Barnabas lounge
Haus Barnabas in winter
Places of interest and recreation
near Haus Barnabas
​
We provide a folder with details of suggested walks and a range of outings using your free bus/train pass or car. The following provide only a brief introduction to some of the possibilities:
​
Belchen Mountain: 1415m
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
Approx 10 mile walk to peak from HB but accessible by bus and cable car. Wonderful views.
Todtnau with Hasenhorn Mountain
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
Todtnau is a small town; 3 mile walk up old railway track from HB. Has the longest mountain coaster run in Germany (2.9km.) – a challenge and enjoyment for all age groups!
Basel & Freiburg​​​​​​​​
​
Freiburg and Basel are our nearest cities. Both approx 90 min by public transport using free bus/train pass.
​​
​
​
​
​
​
Bridge over Rhine in Basel
Feldberg Mountain: 1493m
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
Approx 30 min bus ride from HB. Skiing in winter and many walks in summer. Feldsee is a glacial lake at the foot of the Feldberg.
Titisee and Schluchsee
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
Picturesque mountain lakes both approx 60 min bus/train from HB. Swimming, boat trips, also boats and wind-surfing hire.
​
Black Forest speciality
​
​
​
​
​
​
Local restaurants and tea rooms offer delicacies to suit most tastes including the Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte as seen above.
Activities to enjoy locally include: Hill-walking; nature and bird-watching; mountain-bike hire; steam-trains; swimming in lakes, open-air pools and thermal baths and golfing.
Steam train on Titisee line
Boating on Lake Titisee
We offer excursions to places less accessible including Rhine Falls; Isle of Flowers on Lake Constance; Swiss Alps, French Alsace and Strasbourg. (Max.6 people)
Crossing the Alps on outing to Switzerland
Rhine Falls at Schaffhausen, Switzerland
Alsace region of France
Isle of Flowers on Lake Constance
GUEST REVIEW
