Summary

In the small Black Forest village of Kälberbronn, for ten generations the Ziefle family has been running a farm with suckler cows and the traditional Hotel Schwanen. In 2014 the farm’s cattle barn was destroyed by fire. After the initial shock the family saw this stroke of fate as a unique opportunity to create the Schwanenwirts Kuhstall project. 

The family designed a restaurant which is connected to the modern free-range barn by large panorama windows. The guests can now have a clear view the cows in the barn while eating – making interesting discoveries about the life and behaviour of the animals and illustrating the relationship between food and farming. 

Results

By supporting sustainable nature-oriented tourism and gastronomy, the project seeks to raise the public’s awareness of sustainable agriculture and encourage landscape conservation through a culinary experience. 

Four new jobs were created. 

The farm is now using its own meat products in their hotel and restaurant. The cattle are slaughtered by a butcher in a neighbouring village, while the Ziefle family itself produces sausages and other products for sale in its restaurant.

The restaurant has become a tourist highlight which is well-known in the region and beyond. The project was nominated by the Baden-Wuerttemberg Ministry for the DVS competition ‘Together strong’ as the best LEADER-tourism project in the federal state.