Retired, what now? Adventure overnight stays for the adventurous

There are thousands of places to stay in Germany. In the tourist areas, hotel chains, guesthouses and holiday flats are lined up close together. You have already seen many of these hotels and want to experience something new? Want to sleep in an unusual place? You don't have to travel to faraway countries for that! Ready for a "different" place to sleep?

Is there still a free cell here? You can spend the night in the former prison in Petershagen even if you haven't done anything wrong! The listed building has several cells for two and six people, which have been renovated by a non-profit association and are now available to voluntary inmates for an overnight stay. The prison wing, renovated in 2016, was kept as original as possible, but today (unlike back then) the cells can be opened from the inside at any time. And instead of a coal stove, there is now central heating. In the morning afterwards, breakfast and endless coffee are served. For a small fee, "jail clothes" can be rented for a particularly authentic flair and unforgettable photos! Booking: rast-im-knast.com

Roam the wildlife park during the day and listen to the howling of a pack of wolves at night! In Bad Mergentheim there is the option of staying overnight in "trapper's huts" or small wolf carts. Admission to the game park and a morning snack basket are included. The wolf caravan offers a panoramic view directly at the wolf pack and an outdoor area with lounge furniture. Additional programmes such as night hikes, forest walks, sawing or archery round off the experience. Info at wildtierpark.de

Sleep like the nomads in "Kriebelland" in Kriebstein! In a 6 x 6 metre detached tree house yurt, 4 metres above the lakeshore, you can sunbathe on the round terrace, read a book in the hanging net or enjoy the lake view from the giant bed. Kriebelland is located directly at the Kriebstein Dam. From there, excursion boats sail across the Zschopau River during the day. The nearby medieval Kriebstein Castle and its museum are also worth a visit.

Alternatively, you can make yourself comfortable in a 50-year-old, lovingly furnished sailing boat (also at a height of 4 metres) in "Kriebelland"! The boats are about 12 - 14 m² in size and are connected by a bridge. On deck you can relax with a beautiful view and enjoy a cup of coffee. Below deck there are two bunks and a mini galley (coffee board). Due to the lack of space, however, there is only one shared bathroom for the boats. More information at kriebelland.de

At the adventure railway station in Schmilau, you can spend the night in converted railway carriages at a former railway station. In the themed "track builder suites" you can sleep in the jungle, Hawaii or Africa, for example. The wagons are equipped with a small kitchen and a bathroom. There is even a sauna in a former engine room next door.

Another highlight of the adventure train station is a "suitcase hotel" five metres above the ground, whose interior is designed like the inside of a suitcase. In it, the guest feels like part of the luggage. A private WC belongs to the room. Showers are available next door in the laundry wagon. From your own south-facing balcony you have a great view of the station. You can also spend the night in a "bird house" at the adventure station. The small tree house at a height of three metres is equipped with a bed and an outdoor toilet with washing facilities. You can find more information at: erlebnisbahn-ratzeburg.de

In a secluded forest clearing in the Uckermark, in the middle of nature, there are three extraordinary circus wagons. What's special about them? You can spend the night here! The comfortable dwellings with their rounded roofs are suitable for two people and are equipped with a kitchen. Forests, lakes and rivers are in the immediate vicinity. The Haussee and the Große Kronsee are within walking distance. Perfect for relaxing, hiking or cycling. Small inns and cafés in the Uckermark invite you to indulge your taste buds. Information and booking options can be found at: zirkuswagen-uckermark.de

Where once Pastor Sebastian Kneipp researched the healing power of water and founded his health teachings, an oasis of well-being has been created for those seeking relaxation. The so-called "KurOase" in Bad Wörishofen (Bavarian Forest) has a spa doctor with a health team and nutritionists who provide a feel-good stay in a Christian ambience. The monastery garden beckons with fragrant flowers and herbs. Guests are also invited to talk to the nuns and pray. Accommodation is in single or double rooms in the categories "Comfort" or "Superior". More information at: kuroase-im-kloster.de

St. Marienthal Monastery in Ostritz in Saxony's Upper Lusatia has the appearance of a castle and is located in the middle of the Neisse Valley, a paradise for hikers. Many cultural highlights of the triangle of Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic can be reached here via hiking trails or by bicycle. Among other things, the monastery offers courses in contemplation, creativity and singing. It is also possible to join in prayer and work. Overnight stays are in guest rooms, and visitors can choose between breakfast, lunch or dinner. Full board is also possible. Booking: kloster-marienthal.de

The sleeping beach chair measures 1.30 m x 2.40 m, which you can book from May to September in Lübeck Bay on the Baltic Sea. As soon as the daytime guests have retired in the evening, you can retire to your beach chair alone or with your partner and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere of the falling night. The steady sound of the sea, the fresh sea air, the setting sun - simply wonderful! To sleep, snuggle into the soft blankets of your beach chair and close the weatherproof roof. The side porthole and sea view windows can also be closed from the inside.

After the morning sun has woken you up, you can have breakfast at the bakery around the corner or pick up your breakfast there to enjoy it on the beach (included in the overnight price). Public toilets and washbasins are available in the immediate vicinity of the sleeping beach chairs throughout the night. Information and booking: luebecker-bucht-ostsee.de/schlafstrandkorb

The Fischbeck farm with organic farming in Vorra (Nuremberg Land) has converted an old dairy cow and pigsty into a hotel and offers overnight stays in fragrant organic hay. During your temporary stay in the countryside, you can barbecue at the campfire, enjoy pizza from the wood-burning oven, have breakfast in the pigsty or cuddle with the cats. Of course, sleeping in the hay is not for hay fever sufferers! For allergy sufferers, a construction trailer is available for sleeping. More information at: hayhotel-fischbeck.de

Where crane operators lifted heavy loads for decades, you can now experience an unforgettable night. The converted harbour crane is located in Hamburg's Hafencity, directly opposite the famous Elbphilharmonie concert hall. The 19 m² accommodation is designed for two people and equipped with an experience shower, an espresso and minibar as well as bathrobes. After a harbour tour or an evening visit to a musical, you can sip your favourite drink on the large terrace, at the bar or in the lounge with a great view. The next morning you can enjoy a breakfast basket for a successful start to the new day. Info at: floatel.de

An overnight experience at a height of 50 metres is offered at the Via Ferrata climbing tower in Brühl near Cologne. You hang in a 1.40 x 2.20 metre tent at a lofty height on a former granary. The tent is equipped with sleeping mats and sleeping bags. Large viewing windows provide a unique view of the Cologne skyline and the Rhineland.

Although the accommodation is well secured and the organiser can be reached by radio at all times, this adventure is only recommended for physically fit overnight guests who are free from vertigo. The standard package includes ascent, supervision by a trainer and one overnight stay. The complete package additionally includes catering, nightcap and breakfast in the morning. Information at kletterturm-bruehl.de

Ship ahoy! Experience nature from a special perspective, namely from the water! Many houseboats are permanently moored at the jetty, so they are a kind of holiday home on the water. But it's much more exciting if you rent a mobile boat that you can steer yourself! When you set sail from the jetty, you will feel an indescribable sense of freedom. In the evening, you can enjoy the sunset on your floating holiday home and reflect on the day. Afterwards, let the gentle waves lull you to sleep. And where exactly can you experience this little "luxury"?

The Müritz holiday region (Mecklenburg Lake District) is the ideal starting point for a variety of tours and especially suitable for boating beginners. Budget yachts and houseboats for little money as well as superior yachts with extraordinary comfort can be rented at "Müritz-Yacht-Technik GmbH" in Rechlin. For most of them you don't need a driving licence, but a thorough briefing. While cruising rivers and lakes, you can moor at numerous harbours along the Müritz and discover great sights (or find a nice place for dinner if you want to leave the fully equipped galley cold).

Solar-powered, silent and emission-free, you can cruise the lakes of the Ruppiner Seenlandschaft in Brandenburg on a "Natura house raft". With the solar raft, which can reach speeds of up to 7 km/h, you can explore various bodies of water or travel to Lake Tornow. This lake is closed to boats with combustion engines because of its special natural and animal world. In between, you can relax on your 26 m² raft, which offers you enough space to relax, cook and a terrace for sunbathing. Information and booking: natura-hausfloss.de

An exceptional hotel will make your holiday unforgettable! In our home country, there are many special places to stay for people who are looking for something "special". So pack your bags and discover the craziest places to sleep!