Thanks to Astrid’s years of TLC, this stunning 16th century manor house in the south of the island of Rügen, close to the Hanseatic town of Stralsund, has been restored to its former grandeur. On the approach, the striking white build stands proudly amongst the greenery. It's a remote and idyllic place surrounded by parkland and water that are visited by all kinds of birds. Geese, grey herons, great egrets and ducks, plus cranes stop here every spring and autumn. In the morning the deer come to the house, approaching through the ancient fruit and nut trees.

Just thinking of the surroundings is enough to make you feel at peace, but inside the manor, you’re treated to modern, bright apartments, with simple furnishings and hand-picked antiques, old books and little peculiarities. Each is spacious, and comes complete with a sleek kitchen and spoiling marble bathtub. It’s hard to believe that, just a few years ago, the building was a total ruin. But perhaps better still is that each apartment has its own view of the ground and water; the manor is, in fact, at the heart of the shallow seawater bay that is the “Üselitzer Wiek”.