Once the pleasure boats have finished for the season and the lakeside paths around Ammersee belong to walkers again, Gut Stohrerhof grows quiet. For many teams, that is exactly the right moment. Between October and April, the house in Riederau becomes a place for strategy days, away days and team retreats – no hotel corridor, no neighbouring table, and an estate that has been welcoming people since 1770.
Why the quiet season works best
In summer the lake draws people to the water. In late autumn and winter it draws them inwards. The days are shorter, the light over the west shore is clear, and in the evenings there is little to distract you. If your team wants to work on strategy, close one year or open the next, this calm offers something a meeting room in town rarely can: time that doesn’t break up into appointments.
There is a practical side, too. In the quiet season a retreat fits easily into the working week, arranged around your team’s own rhythm. You will see the price for your dates straight away in the calendar.
A house just for your team
Whether you book the Main House or the Entire Estate, you always have the place to yourselves. There is no next table, and no other guests pass through your rooms. Larger teams book the Entire Estate, and the Penthouse and the Main House are then yours alone. That changes the mood of a retreat noticeably: nobody has to lower their voice, and the afternoon’s conversations can simply carry on over dinner.
Across some 360 square metres, every part of the work has its own space. The Penthouse, almost 100 square metres, becomes a second large group room, while the first-floor living room and the ground-floor lounge, both with a fireplace, suit smaller groups and one-to-one conversations. There is Wi-Fi throughout the house, a flipchart and two large smart TVs, one in the Main House living room and one in the Penthouse. And after a long day, everyone can close the door behind them without leaving the group.
One table for everyone
The heart of the house is the farmhouse Stube. The Stube table can be extended, and with a side table up to 15 guests sit together at one long table. Breakfast happens here in the morning, notes are argued over at midday, and dinner lasts until the candles burn low.
One long table instead of several small ones sounds like a detail, but it matters. There is no head of the table for management and no corner for the quiet ones. Everyone sees everyone, everyone hears everything. Often the most important ideas of a retreat come not in the workshop but over the second coffee at this table.
The Entire Estate has two kitchens. We are happy to talk through how you would like to arrange meals before you arrive.
Thinking outdoors
Some questions are best solved on foot. The steamer pier is just 500 metres from the estate, and in November a walk along the west shore is often deserted. For a longer round, walk with your team to Dießen, past the Marienmünster and back through the village. On clear days Andechs Abbey sits opposite on the east shore, and on the best days you can see the Alps.
The estate chapel Maria Hilf belongs to this outdoor side of things as well. It is not a meeting room, but a place to be still for a few minutes – before a difficult decision or at the end of a long day.
Easy to reach from Munich
Riederau lies on the west shore of Lake Ammersee, around 40 minutes from Munich. If you are travelling without a car, take the train: Riederau station is on the Ammersee railway and served by the RB 67 regional train. That way the retreat can begin on the journey, with a view of the lake rather than the motorway.
For Munich-based companies, it is just the right distance. Close enough to arrive in the morning and be at work by the afternoon. Far enough for the office to stay at the office.
Planning your retreat
- Decide on the purpose first: strategy, annual planning, team development or simply time together.
- Build breaks outdoors into the schedule rather than leaving them optional.
- Keep one evening free of any programme, around the long table.
- Check available dates early, especially for the weeks before Christmas and in January.
We would be delighted to welcome your team to Gut Stohrerhof in the quiet season. Have a look at the calendar to see which dates are free, or read more about what corporate retreats on the estate look like. If you have questions about planning and organisation, we are always happy to help in person.
