I was invited to stay at Bollants Spa im Park as a guest of the hotel. All opinions, as always, are my own. This article contains an affiliate link: if you book through it, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
I’m always looking for beautiful places to escape to for a few days, especially somewhere we can drive to from Luxembourg. So when I was invited to spend a couple of nights at Bollants Spa im Park in Germany, I was curious. I’d never heard of it, despite it being so close. Well, what a discovery.
After two nights and three days, I can safely say Bollants has earned a permanent place on my list. It’s peaceful, wonderfully comfortable and exactly the sort of hotel I love finding.
Located in Bad Sobernheim, in Germany’s Nahe Valley, Bollants is surrounded by countryside, with lovely gardens, historic buildings and a rather wonderful spa. But what makes it special is the atmosphere. You arrive and almost immediately feel like you can slow down.
Almost 120 Years of History
One of the things I found particularly interesting about Bollants is its history.
The hotel dates back to 1907, when it opened as a health retreat inspired by the natural healing methods of Pastor Emanuel Felke. His philosophy centred around four elements: earth, water, air and light, with guests coming for treatments including clay baths, fasting and other natural therapies.
While the hotel still has strong ties to its wellness roots, it was explained to us that the vision today is shifting away from the more medical side and towards creating a beautiful place for people to escape, relax and enjoy themselves.
Bollants has also recently joined Marriott’s Autograph Collection, a group of hotels chosen for their individual character and distinctive stories. The property has undergone extensive renovations, but it’s still full of history, which I love. One of my favourite stories is about one of their trees.
In the grounds stands a historic linden tree, planted by the founding family more than a century ago as a symbol of peace. When we were welcomed, it was explained that each Autograph Collection property has its own special signature. At Bollants, it’s the linden honey made by bees that collect nectar from the tree. I love little details like this, especially when they’re so closely connected to the history of a place.
The Kind of Place Where You Can Just Be
The property itself is gorgeous. It’s quite large, with several buildings, gardens, terraces and little places to sit tucked away everywhere you look.
You could easily spend an entire day just wandering around, finding a quiet spot to read or sitting outside with a coffee.
One afternoon, we went for a walk beyond the hotel grounds and spent almost the entire time watching deer grazing in the surrounding fields. It was so peaceful, and honestly, it felt a little like paradise.
There are also some thoughtful details throughout the hotel. One of my favourites was the record-listening area in the lobby. You can choose from a collection of vinyl records, put on a pair of headphones and settle in for a while. Such a simple thing, but I loved it.
The hotel is adults only, welcoming guests aged 16 and over, which definitely adds to the peaceful atmosphere.
Here’s something else I absolutely love: dogs are welcome too! They even offer a VIP package, which stands for Very Important Pet. How cute is that?
There are designated pet-friendly rooms and some restrictions around the spa and gardens, but I think it’s wonderful that you can bring your four-legged family member along.
The Spa (and a Massage I Won’t Forget)
Of course, one of the biggest reasons to visit Bollants is the spa. There are heated indoor and outdoor pools, several saunas and plenty of places to relax. I particularly loved that the spa stays open until 9pm, so there’s no need to rush through your day to squeeze in some pool time.
Swimming outside in warm water when it’s cold is one of my favourite things, and the outdoor pool here is lovely. There are also some new areas still being developed, including a mud treatment room, which I’m already looking forward to trying when I return.
I have to say though that the absolute highlight for me was my massage. I get tension headaches fairly regularly, and the therapist who treated me somehow managed to find every knot in my back, shoulders and neck. She worked really hard to release the tension, and while I was sore for two days afterwards, I haven’t had a headache since.
It was intense. Really intense. It was also one of the best massages I’ve ever had. She clearly knew what she was doing, and I appreciated that she focused on what my body actually needed rather than simply giving me a relaxing massage.
Also a small, but important detail I have to mention: when you arrive, you’re given a spa bag with slippers and the most comfortable bathrobes. Seriously, I wanted to take mine home.
A Little Warning About German Sauna Culture
Now, one thing worth mentioning, particularly for anyone who isn’t familiar with German spas. Much of the sauna area is nude, and nobody is shy.
Even after more than twenty years living in Europe, I still haven’t quite got used to this particular German tradition. You can absolutely cover yourself with a towel, but don’t be surprised if you’re the only one doing so.
Consider yourself warned!
We Ate Really, Really Well
I wasn’t sure what to expect from the food at Bollants, but I was pleasantly surprised by just how good everything was.
The hotel places a strong emphasis on locally sourced ingredients, and the quality really comes through.
We enjoyed the changing three-course dinner menu on both evenings, and both meals were fantastic.
One night, we started with smoked salmon, followed by pork cheek and finished with berry cheesecake. The following evening, we had a silky pumpkin soup, beef with pumpkin gnocchi and a wonderful cake for dessert.
The portions were generous, the ingredients were fresh and everything was beautifully prepared.
We also had lunch one afternoon at the Linden Bar & Lounge, where I ordered a salad that I’m still thinking about. It sounds ridiculous to be raving about a salad, but the ingredients were so fresh and the dressing was absolutely delicious.
Breakfast was equally good, with a huge selection of quality ingredients and plenty of choice.
And I particularly appreciated that breakfast was served until 11am during the week, and even later on weekends. When you’re trying to relax and move a little more slowly, having to rush downstairs before breakfast finishes is the last thing you want.
The One Thing I’d Love to See
If there’s one thing I think would make Bollants even better, it’s a fine dining restaurant. The food we had was excellent, so this certainly isn’t a criticism of the restaurants that are there. But when we go away for a romantic weekend, we love to get dressed up and enjoy one really special dinner.
Interestingly, Bollants used to have a Michelin-starred restaurant called Jungborn, which closed in 2025. Given the setting and the quality of the food we experienced, I’d love to see something like that return. Fingers crossed!
The Rooms
We stayed in one of the recently renovated, more contemporary rooms, and it was lovely. Comfortable, nicely finished and very peaceful. It had everything we needed and was a wonderful place to come back to at the end of the day.
When booking you should be aware that Bollants has several different buildings, some historic and others more modern, so the rooms vary quite a bit in style. Personally, I love staying in older buildings with character, so I’d be just as happy to try one of the more historic rooms next time.
A Few Things Worth Knowing
We seemed to be the only English-speaking guests during our stay, and not everyone on the staff spoke English. That said, we managed perfectly well, and everyone we encountered was genuinely kind and helpful. It wasn’t an issue for us at all, but it’s something to keep in mind if you don’t speak German.
I’d also recommend booking spa treatments in advance, especially if you’re visiting over a weekend. If you can, stay at least two nights. There’s so much to enjoy here that I think one night would feel a little rushed.
Why I’ll Be Back to Bollants Spa im Park
What I loved most about Bollants was that it gave us exactly what we needed, without us really having to plan anything. We spent plenty of time relaxing, swimming, eating and wandering around the grounds. But as two entrepreneurs, we also had some work to do, and we found ourselves having some of our most productive and creative conversations in ages.
Sometimes getting away from your usual surroundings is exactly what you need to think clearly again. In between all of that, we had time to reconnect, enjoy each other’s company and simply be together without the usual distractions of everyday life.
Two nights and three days felt like a proper escape, and I came home feeling both rested and inspired. The fact that somewhere this lovely is just two and a half hours from Luxembourg makes it even better.
I already know I’ll be back.
The CSL Edit
Where: Bollants Spa im Park, Bad Sobernheim, Germany
Getting there: Approximately 2.5 hours by car from Luxembourg City
Best for: Romantic weekends, wellness escapes, a few days away to recharge or simply getting out of your usual routine
What I loved: The peaceful grounds, outdoor heated pool, unforgettable massage, fantastic food and all the thoughtful little details
Good to know: Adults only (16+), dog-friendly in designated rooms, traditional German nude sauna culture and a largely German-speaking clientele
Book: Bollants Spa im Park
I was invited to experience BollAnts Spa im Park as a guest of the hotel. All opinions are my own. This article contains an affiliate link.
