A labour of love on Lake Ossiach
„When we bought our former holiday home in Bodensdorf in 2018, we had no idea just how much this special place would change our lives and eventually become the centre of our lives.“
How Carinthia became our second home
From a holiday destination to a place to call home
The unique combination of mountains and lake, the stunning natural surroundings, the quality of life and the warm Carinthian hospitality captivated us right from the start. Its location in the border triangle, with its countless opportunities for active holidays, relaxation and culture, made Lake Ossiach a place to which we were always happy to return.
Our gut feeling told us: we didn’t want to experience this feeling only whilst on holiday.
A new beginning in Carinthia
In 2021, we made a decision that fundamentally changed our lives: we turned our backs on Hamburg, sold all our belongings and moved to Carinthia with our children, two horses and our dog. What had been a holiday home became our new home – Goodbye, Germany.
Here we found exactly what we’d been looking for: more nature, an unrivalled quality of life and the chance to go about our daily lives in a place where others go on holiday.
The idea behind ‘Zweite Heimat’
Shortly after we moved, we had the opportunity to purchase a beautifully situated plot of land with a stunning view of Lake Ossiach. We noticed that the tourist accommodation in the region consisted mainly of holiday flats. However, we ourselves value the freedom, privacy and that special feeling of being at home that comes with having our own house on holiday.
That’s how the idea came about to create two modern holiday homes that offer exactly what we ourselves would look for on holiday: plenty of space, high-quality facilities, peace and quiet, comfort and a home away from home.
We put our heart and soul into designing and building these two country houses ourselves. Even today, we continue to develop them further – most recently with spacious terrace canopies and a ski and cycle shed, so that our guests can feel completely at home whatever the season.
Why "Zweite Heimat"?
We didn’t take long to decide on the name. Carinthia has become a real second home for our family – a place where we’ve settled in and feel completely at home.
We would like to convey this feeling to our guests too. We hope that our visitors don’t just come here on holiday, but that they experience the special atmosphere of this region, slow down, discover new favourite spots and perhaps even develop the feeling that they have found a little piece of home here, a place they sometimes feel drawn back to.
A real family project
Jessica Payne
I studied business administration in Lüneburg, specialising in tourism management, and worked for many years for Hurtigruten, a Norwegian tour operator.
Looking after our guests is something I take very seriously – from the initial enquiry, through personal communication, right through to recommendations for excursions, restaurants and activities, I look after our guests personally.
Berrick Payne
My husband, Berrick, helps me look after the outdoor areas and with the technical aspects of our website.
I affectionately call him the caretaker of our second home, because repairs of all kinds, internet connections, TV channels and everything technical are all on his to-do list!
Lia
Our daughter Lia is currently training as a communications and media designer at CHS Villach and brings her creativity to bear on the design of our social media channels, our website and all our graphic design projects. As a creative soul, she has all sorts of projects on her to-do list when she’s not out riding or having to sort out the visitor’s tax bills.
Perhaps ‘Zweite Heimat’ will become a place you’ll always love coming back to, too!
Why not discover your second home too?
Please enquire about your preferred dates with no obligation – we look forward to welcoming you in person.