Winter brings the snows of fairy tales to create a different beauty to the rich greens of summer. With open fires to be fuelled the hotels proximity to the motorway link to Berlin makes it a natural choice for a city dwellers weekend hideaway (rollover the image for winter)

:: Panoramic Views

•  RECEPTION DESIGN MAKES THE MOST OF THE TWO STOREY SPACE OF THE ORIGINAL 19TH CENTURY INTERIOR. IN THE WINTER A LOG FIRE BURNS HERE. •  FROM RECEPTION TO THE LOUNGE THROUGH THE CONSERVATORY TO THE TERRACE. THE SPACES HAVE ORIGINAL ART WORKS SCATTERED THROUGH THEM - MANY FOR SALE •  THE TERRACE IN TURN GIVES VIEWS ACROSS THE UNSPOILT COUNTRYSIDE SURROUNDING THE HOTEL, AND TO THE GOLF COURSES

Hotel groups such as Rezidor SAS are making rapid strides in developing the tourist infrastructure throughout Eastern Europe – Rezidor plans a massive expansion with four new Radissons under construction in Poland alone this year, for example. Here in Mecklenburg, they are beginning to see their investments mature as operational units. In Fleesensee they have joined with other investors to develop a resort complex, with a riding school, four PGA championship level golf courses, fitness centres and easy access to the lakes of the national parklands in the Region, Fleesensee being the largest of these.

The region is noted for its woodlands, and the many freshwater lakes. Over wintering birds, such as up to 10,000 cranes, make it a paradise for bird watchers. Deer, wild boar and, if the roadside signs are to be believed, wolves also roam the forests. All this less than an hour and a half’s drive north of Berlin.

Woodland and wildlife succour city dwellers, whilst service levels in the hotel massage the body. Welcoming fruit bowl in the room, whilst the selection of teas available for guests would disgrace many British hotels with proud traditions of afternoon tea.Luxury bathrooms also pamper the body.

Creating new hotels in Eastern Europe is not just a question of developing properties. There are enormous issues involved in staffing and training those staff. With generations unused to tourists, nor experienced as tourists themselves, the conceptual gap to be covered in achieving the requisite service levels is not insignificant. Manager Karl Foerster is rightly proud of the standards reached by his staff at Fleesensee, which compares well with golf/resort hotels in other parts of Europe, where similar though lesser problems pertain.

Fleesensee achieves a good balance of friendliness and effectiveness. The setting is idyllic in summer, and one is tempted to return in the snows of winter to enjoy the log fires and the glorious landscape views that surround the hotel. The building, originally built in the mid eighteenth century as a private house for a coal mine owner, has been sympathetically restored and extended to create interiors that have considerable visual interest and charm through the sensitive re-use of original features. These are all complimented by the contemporary additions, with new rooms being generous in scale and having luxury marble bathrooms.