The hotel is attractively set at the end of a private road a few kilometres south of Ilmenau. Surrounded by forest and mountains it makes for a quiet and pleasant location. There are ample walking tracks including the Goethe Weg from your door step. We walked to Kickelhahn Hill which was a short climb away through forest with a light covering of snow to an observation tower.
The hotel has a nice ambience. The room number 105 was comfortable with a view across the lawn to the mountains beyond. Furnishings were nice but the pillow was a bit lumpy. The bathroom was small with no bath and limited amenities. There were several restaurants offering a range of meals. Unfortunately we arrived too late and could only get a light lunch. The breakfast room was beautifully set out with full wall paintings of the surrounding sights such as Goethe House and Kickelhahn tower. The buffet was extensive including a good hot breakfast with DIY omelettes and orange juice freshly squeezed if you wanted it. The wait staff were efficient but uncomfortably silent. More than once we were surprised when they popped up next to us and whisked away our empty plates without a word. The hotel has ample parking and an internet terminal in the foyer.