Between Water and Forest – A Visit to the Canow Inn
Just 2 hours drive from Berlin, the Gasthaus Canow, accommodation by the water - on the beautiful Mecklenburg Lake District. The journey takes us out of the hustle and bustle of the big city, along country roads, through small villages, past lakes and into the small idyllic village of Canow. I am warmly greeted by host Lea, who is standing behind the counter and making coffee. The entrance area of the guest house is also a café and the smell of freshly baked cakes is in the air. I immediately feel comfortable and welcome.
A former wheelwright's shop is given new life
The building dates back to the 1860s and was renovated with great effort and attention to detail by the host couple Lea and Auriel in an ecologically sound manner. They put their heart and soul into this place, and the guests can feel it. They spent almost two years renovating the dilapidated guesthouse, which was formerly a wheelwright's shop and wood workshop, themselves - a lot of learning by doing. Parts such as the old floorboards are now the counter and the partition walls of the toilet. Reusing as many things as possible was a completely natural process during the renovation.
During this time, the couple lived with their first child in a trailer on the property. The apartments are on the first floor and are stylishly minimalist and furnished with wooden furniture. All of the furniture and furnishings are being used again. In the common area, there is a kitchenette and several places to sit around the fireplace. The sun shines on me through the large windows.
First course at the campfire
Something very special awaits me in the evening. I am one of the first guests to take part in one of the pop-up November dinners. An idea that was born to pamper guests with highlights in the cold winter months. It starts outside with a delicious welcome drink around the campfire. The evening is ushered in by Auriel and the two cooks Marieke and Ronja, who briefly introduce themselves. The first course is eaten directly by the campfire: a delicious vegetable broth with semolina dumplings and herb oil. It warms me from the inside. The temperature on this first Saturday in November is just above zero degrees, which is why I head to the inn with the other guests afterwards.
Pop-Up November Dinner
The dinner is inspired by the Mecklenburg Lake District and all products are regional and seasonal. The small dining room has been quickly transformed into a classy dinner restaurant. The second course is home-baked sourdough bread and whipped butter - a dream for any bread lover like me. Next there are linseed crackers with quark and beetroot carpaccio, followed by a lamb's lettuce with kohlrabi, quinces and chopped hazelnuts. It continues with my favorite course of the evening consisting of fresh kale on an onion cream with red wine reduction surrounded by brown butter - heavenly. Next comes stuffed pasta with potatoes, plums from the garden and oyster mushrooms. To round off the evening there is a rye financier filled with caramel with quinces and cream. What a successful and delicious evening. With my cheeks warmed by red wine, I finally fall into bed tired and satisfied.
Tickled into the day by the sun
The next morning I am woken up by the bright sun shining cheerfully into the room through a gap in the blinds. The beds are really very comfortable, I slept better than I have in a long time. After a hot shower I go down to the dining room, from where I can already hear the babble of voices and the clatter of dishes. A delicious breakfast awaits me, consisting of fresh rolls and croissants, eggs, cheese, homemade jam and pear and cinnamon porridge. And of course freshly brewed coffee. Well fortified, I can now start the day.
Accommodation on the water - Directly on the (small) Mecklenburg Lake District
Lea gives me the tip to take a walk around the Trünnensee. I set off in a good mood. The road soon becomes a track and to the left and right I see nothing but fields and meadows as far as the eye can see. The sun is shining brightly from the sky and the birds are chirping. It is so quiet. I don't see anyone. The path leads through a forest and ends at the lake. There are trees with golden yellow leaves all around the lake - the whole ground rustles and the sun's rays shine through their branches.
chat with homemade cake
After a good three hours I'm back at the accommodation by the water and treat myself to a piece of the homemade Linzer Torte. The café becomes quieter and Lea and Auriel find the time to sit down with me and chat. Funnily enough, they met in a café in Berlin Prenzlauer Berg. Both working in the catering industry, the desire to have something of their own soon takes shape. It's now been three years since they opened the inn - how time flies.
Both seem to be in harmony with themselves and the place they have created. Of course there are stressful times, especially in summer, but at the same time they enjoy it a lot. I notice the passion and commitment with which they run the inn and that is certainly one of the reasons for the many regular guests who keep coming in and with whom they have a quick chat. At the moment the two are trying what I think is a remarkable self-experiment: they live in the country and have done away with their cars. With the lack of infrastructure (apart from the school bus, there is only a call bus), their own business and three children, I am completely fascinated. They say that it is actually not a problem. They do a lot of things with their cargo bike.
Bye and see you soon
As the sun sinks, I am drawn outside to the water once again. I am rewarded with one of the most beautiful sunsets I have seen this year. The sky is lit up in all colors - what a perfect farewell. Later that evening, I cook myself some curry in the communal kitchen and then sit down in front of the fireplace with a book and let the evening come to an end. The next morning, I set off back to Berlin feeling completely relaxed. On this short trip, I was able to really recharge my batteries and gather new energy. I will definitely be back soon. Great accommodation by the water!
© Photos: Clara Sprich, Gutshaus Canow
Clara Sprich
Clara discovers accommodations for Good Travel and shares her experiences there. Growing up in a sustainability-conscious environment, she developed a keen interest in conscious and ecological travel at an early age. With a degree in geography, she is particularly passionate about the future of tourism – from both an ecological and social perspective.
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