Tucked above the Etschtal valley in Dorf Tirol, Farnhaus is more than a place to stay — it’s a home shaped by care, creativity, and a deep sense of welcome. Run by Franziska and Stefan, the space brings together two beautifully complementary worlds: Franziska’s eye as a freelance photographer and Stefan’s background in gastronomy. Together, they have created a place where guests from around the world are invited not just to visit, but to revive and blossom. In this interview, they share the story behind Farnhaus, the spirit that defines it, and the simple joys that make their work so meaningful.

heiter: The two of you run "Farnhaus", a beautiful holiday home housing two stylish individual apartments for guests. Overlooking "Adige Valley" in Northern Italy, you're close to nature and only a stone's throw away from picturesque Merano – which is an unbeatable combination. What else awaits your guests at Farnhaus, and what makes their stay unique and unforgettable?

F&S: At Farnhaus, our guests find a place to breathe, arrive, and truly feel at ease. Here, tranquility, nature, and a breathtaking view over the Etschtal valley come together with a modern, stylish atmosphere. We are far enough removed from everyday life to fully let go — yet close enough to reach everything with ease. This balance is something we cherish deeply.

heiter: You opened up "Farnhaus" back in 2022 but the building has existed and been part of your family way longer than that. Can you tell us a little bit more about its history and what led you to turning it into what it is today?

F&S: Where Farnhaus stands today, there used to be a large meadow filled with ferns. On this very spot, Stefan’s parents built a guesthouse that always remained in family hands and, for many years, was a place of gathering and connection. In 2021, we decided to rethink this place — without losing its history. This is how Farnhaus came to be: a place that still preserves our roots while continuing to bring people together.

heiter: Let's talk about the apartments. How many people can stay there and what do they offer? Also, what was important to you when choosing the interiors for them?

F&S: Farnhaus is home to two individual apartments, each accommodating two to three guests. In designing the spaces, we placed great emphasis on natural materials, clean lines, and timeless elegance. It was important to us that the rooms feel light and open, while still offering a sense of comfort and warmth. For us, design should feel inviting, convey warmth, and never feel distant. A particular highlight are the spacious terraces with stunning views across the entire valley. We have consciously chosen not to include a television — our view is the most beautiful cinema.

heiter: Why do you love what you do or in other words, what's the best part of running "Farnhaus"?

F&S: The most beautiful part of our work is witnessing how people find calm here, regain their energy, and enjoy this place just as much as we do. Every stay brings its own little story — and being allowed to be part of that fills us with joy.

heiter: Alto Adige is renowned for its stunning landscapes, traditions and cuisine. What are your top tips for anyone visiting the area?

F&S: South Tyrol is incredibly diverse. We especially recommend a hike along the Merano High Mountain Trail — the views there are incomparable. For food lovers, a visit to a traditional mountain hut to enjoy regional dishes is well worth it. And for those drawn to culture, a stroll through the old town of Merano, with its wide selection of museums and exhibitions, is an absolute highlight.

heiter: Last but not least, what are the things that make you feel heiter (joyful)?

F&S: There are many things that make us feel joyful. We feel happiest when spending time with family and friends, outdoors in nature or at home, sharing meals and celebrations together. And the many encounters with our guests are also what bring us great joy.

Discover more information on “Farnhaus” and how you can visit Franziska and Stefan here.

Interview: Katharina Geissler-Evans, heiter

“Toulouse has a special place in my heart as I first visited the city in the South West of France during my honeymoon. One year later, when my husband and I travelled to different cities across Europe to decide where to move next, we spent one month exploring the city during the summer. I recently went back to attend a creative retreat nearby and spent a day strolling across the now familiar streets, revisiting my favourite spots.”

Contributor Veronica Ferrari takes us around her heiter places in Toulouse, exploring different neighbourhoods of France’s Pink City.

Carmes

An elegant area near the central Place Capitole, Carmes is a maze of old streets and historical buildings that converge around the Carmes covered market. A walk down Rue Pharaon and Rue de la Dalbade is the perfect way to admire the surviving medieval buildings and peek inside the open gates of hidden “hôtels particuliers”.

Galerue des Arcades on Place du Capitole featuring paintings by artist Raymond Moretti

Maison Pillon in front of the market is an elegant and delicious bakery where to taste traditional French pastries, including some flavoured with crystallised violet, one of Toulouse’s specialities.

If you are visiting on a hot summer day, the Italian deli next door, La Dolce Vita, makes an incredible homemade gelato under the name La Golosa.

The nearby green areas, Jardin de Plantes and Grand Rond, offer a shady respite to enjoy your treats on the grass during the warm months. In colder months, the Café du Quai makes a great stop for a coffee and cake break.

Capitole & Arnaud Bernard

The city centre of Toulouse spreads between the quartiers of Capitole and Arnaud Bernard, with Place du Capitole at its centre. Stroll down the paved Rue du Taur, mingling with locals and students from the nearby university, until you reach the square of the Basilica of Saint-Sernin and the archaeological museum Saint-Raymond.

Hidden in the narrow Rue de Périgord nearby, the seventeenth-century former chapel of the Carmelitans (Chapelle des Carmélites) might not seem much from its exterior façade, but it hides an incredible space with frescoed ceilings and large-sized paintings that is nowadays used for cultural and musical events, including candlelight concerts. It’s worth keeping an eye on the agenda to see if anything is on during your time in the city.

Continuing down the road, you will reach the city’s main market, Marché Victor Hugo, where you will come across one of the most delicious secrets of Toulouse: the Paris-Toulouse® pastry by B. Authié. This is a reinterpretation of the classical French pastry Paris-Brest with a hazelnut praline cream and a violet whipped cream.

Two more former convents that the city has preserved and converted into cultural centres, the Couvent des Jacobins and the Musée des Augustins (reopening soon in December 2025), make two great spots for an artistic and historical visit. The first hosts a fun programme of creative ateliers and exhibitions around the Middle Ages, while the second is the city’s fine art museum with a collection spanning from medieval sculptures to nineteenth-century paintings.

La Daurade & Saint Cyprien

With the Garonne flowing down its middle, the origin of Toulouse’s nickname as “la ville rose”, the pink city, becomes even more evident at sunset, when the late afternoon light hits the city’s numerous terracotta brick buildings with its pinkish hues and their reflections ripple in the water, turning the river the same colour.

Having a picnic and enjoying your favourite drink on the grassy banks of the Garonne is a favourite pastime for locals and a great place to enjoy the French tradition of apéro.

Afterwards, make your way across one of the bridges, Pont Neuf or Pont Saint-Pierre, to reach the neighbourhood of Saint Cyprien on the other side of the river.

La Promenade du Charles Rose is a short pathway above the banks of the river, from which to see the water up close and the strength of the river flowing. You can also buy a drink from the small kiosk Guinguette Saint-Cyprien and enjoy the view from the chairs and benches set along the dyke.

At its back, Les Abbatoirs is a cultural centre dedicated to modern and contemporary art that focuses on innovative art trends from the 1950s onwards.

In the centre of Saint Cyprien, Cacao Fages is a gourmet chocolate shop where you can taste cacao beans and delicacies from across the world and admire the incredible chocolate statues adorning the boutique.

Stop at Hayuco Coffee Copola to pair your chocolate treats with a cup of speciality coffee.

Where to shop for unique souvenirs

Close to Place du Capitole, Rue des Arts, Rue de la Pomme and Rue Cantegril are dotted with plenty of independent boutiques where to find unique souvenirs from Toulouse and browse interesting independent brands.

Here is a selection of some of my favourite shops:

La Maison de la Violette

Violet from Toulouse is a traditional ingredient and speciality that is impossible to miss around the city. From culinary ingredients including violet liquor and violet candies to soaps, candles, perfumes and beauty products, you will easily find these traditional souvenirs in multiple shops, but La Maison de la Violette is the city’s official violet shop on board a purple narrowboat moored on the canal in front of the train station and it makes the shopping much more fun.

Maison Bleu de Pastel

Known as the “blue gold” of Toulouse, pastel is a plant with yellow flowers that has been known for centuries to give a long-lasting blue dye through a complex process. During the Renaissance, Toulouse was one of the main cities known for this dye and its merchants became rich until indigo, which is much easier to process, replaced pastel for dyeing. La Maison Bleu de Pastel sells a variety of interesting products using pastel and also has a small museum to discover more about this forgotten natural dye.

Ecume Store

Inspired by life by the Atlantic Ocean and designed by owner Aure-Line to offer a curated selection of products for both men and women, Ecume Store is an independent fashion store with a great selection of brands focused on ethics and sustainability.

Trait Papier

A stationery shop with a fantastic selection of brands of notebooks, pens, paper and art supplies, including Libri Muti and Legami, two favourite Italian brands, and the well-known Japanese brand Traveler’s Notebooks.

Les Ombre Blanches bookshop

Les Ombres Blanches bookshop spreads across a few different locations, all close to each other on Rue Gambetta, with specialised locations for travel books and cinema. The main shop at 50 Rue Léon Gambetta also has a small café inside, while the recently opened Ombres Blanches Internationale at 13 Rue Sainte-Ursule is the perfect stop for English-language books.

Chez Zel - Mode and Deco Concept Store

Chez Zel is a fun boutique mixing fashion and home decor, where Élodie et Charlotte promote local French artisans and brands, such as Le Briquetier, which relaunches the brick, symbol of Toulouse’s traditional buildings, with special quotes and personalised words.

Veronica Ferrari is a freelance writer, publishing consultant and social media analyst based in Paris. She also writes More Than Just Views, a Substack newsletter and creative corner for culturally curious wanderers filled with travel stories and musings on creativity, art, books and life abroad.

Image of the Galerue des Arcades via Unsplash, all other images by Veronica Ferrari.

A heiter getaway: meet the founders of "Farnhaus" in Northern Italy

A heiter guide to France’s Pink City: how to spend a day in Toulouse