Our philosophy:

"Pamper yourself naturally with the sun in your heart"

Naturally

We act intuitively, but to the best of our conscience
It is a matter of course for us that we make everything possible for our guests within reasonable and feasible limits
Naturalness and resource conservation are very important to us in all areas - sustainability is a top priority for us
We also focus on natural, regional and seasonal preparation in the kitchen
Respect for nature and people is very important to us
We always consider added value and the natural cycle
For us, naturalness means a holistic view of body, mind and soul
We value natural openness and humanity

Pampering

We pamper you at all levels
Service with heart in all departments of the Sonnentau
For us, pampering means thinking in a guest-oriented way

With the sun in our hearts

Being a host is our passion and our passion
We are open and warm-hearted
At the Sonnentau you will find a cheerful and familiar atmosphere
You can feel the "warmth" here
This is our home - here the world is still in order
Nostalgia and tradition are part of us, but we combine tradition with modernity

Our values: reliability & balance

We deliver what we promise
Honesty is very important to us
A balance of give and take is not only important to us with our guests, but also when working with our partners and colleagues
Our range of services scores with continuity and quality, whether in the wellness area, in the rooms or with our food

The Sonnentau: History with timeline

1970 is the year where it all began ... where Maria and Raimund Goldbach established the Café - Restaurant Sonnentau with a bed and breakfast. Since then the Sonnentau has continuously expanded, adapting to changes and modernizing.

» Read more about the hotel in our timeline

Our chronology

2021 - Exchange woodchip heating, switching to renewable energies

2020 - Breakfast buffet relocated to the room ‘Hohe Rhön’ to be complacent with Covid-19 regulations. The beer garden receives roofing for the cold season and is now referred to as the ‘Freiraum’. The administration receives an extension providing more work space. Cogeneration units installed in order to provide energy efficient heating.

2019 - Modernization of the room amenities

2018 - Renovation and modernisation of the front office and the check-in-area. Renovation of one room into a junior-suite. Optimizing the secureness and fire protection.

2017 - Modernization of the rooms in guesthouse "Arnika"

2016 - Modernization of the bathrooms in several guestrooms in the main building. Restructuring the guesthouses Frauenschuh und Türkenbund into 4 modern appartments for 2–4 guests.

2015: Renovation of the spa area with crystal steam bath, panorama sauna and additional relaxation room

2014: Implementation of fire prevention actions and modernization of the buffet area with lounge

2014: Smoldering fire in our spa area

2013: Remodeling of rooms into two comfortable suites

2012: Melina Goldbach is born

2011: 40 year anniversary (1971 until 2011) and new construction of the transition between core building and hotel, building of new parking possibilities, modernization of restaurant entrance and extension of the panorama restaurant

2009: First-time classification of our hotel through the Bavarian Hotel and Hospitality Union with 4 stars

2009: Mural painting in the pool area, modernization work in the bathrooms of the guest houses

2008: Wedding of Heino Goldbach and Noreen Goldbach (maiden name Waschek) and birth of son Noah

2007: Refurbishment of the hotel rooms

2006: Addition of the core building with additional 8 rooms

2005: Expansion of the spa area with outdoor Sauna, fitness room, relaxation area and ‘Balance-Point II’

2005: Fabian Goldbach is born

2004: Maurice Karlein is born

2004: Installation of the wood chip machine for heating

2003: Expansion of restaurant area through the winter garden, adding 25 more dining seats

2002: Remodeling of the bar area and construction of the new restrooms in the restaurant

1999 - Addition of spa area with creative seminar room ‘Maria’ and ‘Balance-Point I’

1999 - Josef Karlein is born

1997 - Rooms, kitchen and restaurant receive upgrades.

1996 - The main building, hotel and restaurant receive upgrades. The restaurant can now seat 70 to 80 people.

1994 - Transfer of the business and management to Sonja Karlein and Heino Goldbach

1994: First massage and beauty treatments become available

1993 - Hotel Sonnentau opens

1993 - Felix Karlein is born

1993 - Newly constructed building – separation of hotel and main building

1991 - Wedding of Sonja Karlein (maiden name Goldbach) and Erich Karlein

1991 - Gloria Karlein is born

1975 - Building of the guest houses ‘Frauenschuh’ and ‘Türkenbund’

1972 - Twins Heino and Fred Goldbach are born

1971 - Opening of Café-B&B Sonnentau

1970 - Maria and Raimund Goldbach with their daughters Silvia and Sonja started building the Café Sonnentau

What does ‘Sonnentau’ mean?

The ‘Sonnentau’ is not only a fascinating plant but is also the inspiration for the name of our hotel. The ‘Sonnentau’ or in English the sundew, prospers gloriously in the quiet marshlands in the Rhön. Previously voted flower of the year, the sundew is not only nice to look at but also possesses a healing property which aids in relieving breathing problems. Early in the morning when you wander along the trails of the marshlands, you can see the dew pearls on the petals glistening in the morning sun.

Sustainability in the hotel

When you think of sustainability, the first thing that comes to mind is correct waste separation. Of course, we pay attention to this in our hotel: We separate waste into organic, plastic and paper waste. But that's not all...

Waste
Correct waste separation is a very important component in all areas of the Sonnentau. We also avoid single-use plastic in most places. There are shampoo dispensers for guests in the showers instead of relying on small care products. The staff also have automatic water dispensers for cleaning, from which a ready-made mixture of water and cleaning agent is dispensed, which ensures a constant dosage of cleaning agents and also saves waste thanks to the corresponding refill option on the devices. Furthermore, the Hotel Sonnentau is part of the Green Dot recycling program. Our homemade jam and homemade sausage are packaged in jars that are reusable and also part of the program.

Regionality
The jam and our own schnapps or liqueurs are also made from our own fruit, which also promotes regionality and is environmentally friendly. Many of our other foods also come directly from the Rhön. From fish and meat to flour and muesli, right through to our wine and drinks suppliers. Most of our staff come from the region and have short commutes to work. If this is not the case and also for our foreign employees, the Hotel Sonnentau provides apartments so that the new employees do not have to look for accommodation themselves and fast, short working distances are guaranteed.

Water
The Hotel Sonnentau has also paid attention to environmental friendliness when purchasing water-saving shower heads. It is particularly noteworthy that the water in our swimming pool can be reused thanks to a special treatment technology and also remains in circulation. The hotel also saves water thanks to the fact that towels can be washed as required and do not have to be replaced daily.

Energy
Our energy-efficient lamps (LED) and the photovoltaic system on the roof of the Sonnentau make an excellent contribution to sustainability. Since 2004, the Sonnentau has operated a wood chip heating system, which is only filled with wood directly from the Rhön. The wood chips come from bark beetle wood and thinning measures. The hotel also operates an energy forest - this consists of fast-growing wood, in our case poplars.

The sustainability work has been recognized for 30 years by the "Rhöner Charme" association - doing business in harmony with nature - and just recently the Hotel Sonnentau became part of sustainable travel in the Rhön.