Stiftung Ferien im Baudenkmal
Stiftung Ferien im Baudenkmal is a Zürich-based Swiss non-profit foundation, founded in 2005, that curates approximately 60 restored historic buildings across Switzerland and Liechtenstein as unique vacation rentals, reinvesting rental income into further heritage preservation under partnership with Schweizer Heimatschutz.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2005
- HeadquartersZürich, Switzerland
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Stiftung Ferien im Baudenkmal does
Stiftung Ferien im Baudenkmal is a Swiss non-profit foundation (gemeinnützige Stiftung) headquartered in Zürich that preserves endangered historic buildings by converting them into vacation accommodations. Founded in 2005 under the initiative of Schweizer Heimatschutz (Swiss Heritage Protection), the foundation curates and manages approximately 60 heritage properties across Switzerland and Liechtenstein — ranging from a 1348/49 timber farmhouse (Buochholz) to 19th-century villas, medieval chapels, baroque castles, and early industrial structures. Each property is carefully restored in partnership with specialist architects and cantonal heritage authorities, then rented to guests as unique overnight stays, with rental income reinvested into further restoration work.
The foundation operates a direct-to-consumer booking model through its multilingual website (ferienimbaudenkmal.ch), supported by the e-domizil AG reservation platform, Shopify for merchandise, RaiseNow for donations, and Wallee for payment processing. Beyond core vacation rentals, it generates supplementary revenue from commercial shooting-location rentals (CHF 1,500 half-day, CHF 3,000 full-day), event and workshop venue hire, gift certificates, and a limited-edition merchandise line (kitchen towels) co-developed with Hochschule Luzern. Customer segments include individual cultural travelers, corporate retreat organizers, media and film productions, members/donors, and gift certificate buyers. The organization runs with a lean staff of 6 under Managing Director Christine Matthey, and the foundation explicitly states that it does not generate significant financial profits, operating instead as a sustainable-financing vehicle for Swiss cultural-heritage preservation.
Stiftung Ferien im Baudenkmal firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Stiftung Ferien im Baudenkmal
- Legal name
- Stiftung Ferien im Baudenkmal
- Website
- https://ferienimbaudenkmal.ch
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2005
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Stiftung Ferien im Baudenkmal is a Zürich-based Swiss non-profit foundation, founded in 2005, that curates approximately 60 restored historic buildings across Switzerland and Liechtenstein as unique vacation rentals, reinvesting rental income into further heritage preservation under partnership with Schweizer Heimatschutz.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Stiftung Ferien im Baudenkmal industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Heritage Vacation Rentals
- NAICS
- Historical Sites (712120), Historical Sites (71212), General Rental Centers (53231)
- SIC
- Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Historic & Heritage Homes (THAMAAAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Cultural Heritage Institutions (Archives, Historic Houses, Monuments Foundations) (THAJADAI), Historic Inns & Heritage B&Bs (THAGAHAC), A-Frames & Architectural Retreats (THAMADAE)
Keywords
Where Stiftung Ferien im Baudenkmal is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Zürich
- HQ country
- Switzerland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Stiftung Ferien im Baudenkmal business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Infrastructure, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Vacation rental income: The foundation's primary revenue comes from renting out restored heritage properties (Baudenkmäler) as vacation accommodations. Properties are booked via the foundation's website, with booking processing handled by e-domizil AG. Rates vary by property, season, and group size. Part of the rental income is reinvested into restoring further heritage buildings.
- Donations and charitable contributions: As a non-profit foundation (gemeinnützige Stiftung), Stiftung Ferien im Baudenkmal is financed through donations (Spenden). Donations can be made via an online payment form powered by RaiseNow AG. The foundation also sells gift certificates (Gutscheine) for vacation stays.
- Shooting location rentals: Commercial photo, film, and content productions can rent heritage properties as shooting locations. Half-day rates start at CHF 1500, full-day at CHF 3000, with additional costs for unavailable rental periods. Non-profit organisations and students receive individual arrangements.
- Event and workshop venue rentals: Selected heritage properties offer event spaces, workshops, and retreat facilities for additional fees. Commercial event users pay surcharges on regular rental prices, revenue shares per participant, or contribute through communication and visibility arrangements.
- Merchandise (kitchen towels and limited editions): The foundation sells merchandise inspired by its heritage properties — notably a limited-edition kitchen towel collection designed by students of Hochschule Luzern and produced by Rigotex AG. Sales support the foundation's non-profit work.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Standard vacation rental — per-property weekly/nightly rates starting from CHF 1,000–1,900 depending on property, season, and group size |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels10 records
Stiftung Ferien im Baudenkmal product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Stiftung Ferien im Baudenkmal restores and rents out approximately 60 Swiss heritage buildings (Baudenkmäler) as vacation accommodations, ranging from medieval farmhouses to baroque villas and 19th-century industrial structures. Guests book stays directly through the foundation's multilingual website, with booking processing handled by e-domizil AG. The foundation also offers the properties as shooting locations for commercial productions, as event/workshop venues, and sells gift certificates and heritage-inspired merchandise, with rental income and donations reinvested into further restoration work.
Product overview
Stiftung Ferien im Baudenkmal operates a portfolio of approximately 60 restored heritage buildings (Baudenkmäler) offered as vacation accommodations across Switzerland. The core product is the Ferienhaus-Übernachtungen rental program, supplemented by event venue rentals (Veranstaltungsräume) for workshops and retreats, commercial shooting locations, gift vouchers (Gutscheine), and a donation program (Spenden). For the 20th anniversary in 2025, the foundation launched limited merchandise including a kitchen towel collection (Küchentuch-Kollektion) and open house days (Tage der offenen Tür). The properties range from medieval structures (such as the 1348/49 Buochholz farmhouse) to 19th-century villas, encompassing various periods of Swiss architectural heritage. The foundation preserves buildings from decay and abandonment, restoring them sensitively before renting them as vacation homes, with rental income supporting further restoration work.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Vacation rentals in heritage buildings (Ferienhaus-Übernachtungen in Baudenkmälern)
Quantifiable outcome
- 60 heritage properties preserved and accessible to the public as vacation rentals
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Stiftung Ferien im Baudenkmal
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Stiftung Ferien im Baudenkmal technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration22 records
Stiftung Ferien im Baudenkmal partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Schweizer Heimatschutz (Swiss Heritage Protection)coreSchweizer Heimatschutz initiated the foundation in 2005 and maintains a close, ongoing partnership. The foundation is a project at the intersection of tourism and heritage conservation. The partnership includes shared communications, membership cross-promotion, joint publications (e.g., the Heimatschutz/Patrimoine journal), and the sale of heritage merchandise through the Schweizer Heimatschutz online store.
- E-domizil AGcoreE-domizil AG (Binzstrasse 38, CH-8045 Zürich) is the booking processing partner for all vacation rentals managed by the foundation. They handle reservation infrastructure and related data processing under their own privacy policy.
- Rigotex AGminorRigotex AG (Toggenburg, SG) is the industrial weaving partner that produced the foundation's limited-edition kitchen towel collection. Four textile designs inspired by foundation properties were produced in small runs. Students of Hochschule Luzern designed the patterns; Rigotex AG manufactured them in a Toggenburg traditional weaving mill.
- Hochschule Luzern — Faculty of Textile DesignminorBachelor students of the Textile Design department at Hochschule Luzern (Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts) participated in the 'Destination Heritage' project, designing textile collections (kitchen towels, rugs, blankets) inspired by foundation heritage properties. The initiative combined academic collaboration with real-world product development, culminating in a commercial limited-edition collection.
- Gemeinde Vaduz (Municipality of Vaduz)minorThe municipality of Vaduz acquired the Hofstätte Hintergasse 35/37 heritage ensemble after a fire in 2003, organised an architecture competition, and implemented a heritage-compatible renovation (2022–2025) with architect Beat Burgmaier. The municipality then partnered with the foundation to rent the restored properties as vacation accommodations and to use the historic barn for cultural events.
- 0815/sim Architektenminor0815/sim Architekten, led by architect Ivo Thalmann, was responsible for the restoration of the Taunerhaus in Vinelz (built ~1850), a heritage property managed by the foundation.
- Architekt Hanspeter OdermattminorArchitect Hanspeter Odermatt from Stans led the comprehensive, heritage-appropriate restoration (2025/26) of the Buochholz historical residence in Seelisberg (UR), built in winter 1348/49.
- Architekt Beat BurgmaierminorBeat Burgmaier architecture firm implemented the heritage-compatible renovation of the Hofstätte Hintergasse 35/37 in Vaduz (2022–2025), a project commissioned by the municipality of Vaduz.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Stiftung Ferien im Baudenkmal competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- The Landmark Trust: UK-based charity that rescues historic buildings at risk and lets them as holiday accommodations, the closest functional analogue to Stiftung Ferien im Baudenkmal and an established validation of the heritage-vacation rental nonprofit model.
- Fondation du Patrimoine: France's leading heritage preservation foundation, also operating at the intersection of cultural conservation, public engagement, and tourism. Highly comparable mission and nonprofit structure to the Swiss foundation.
- Swiss Historic Hotels: Swiss association of historically significant hotels operating as vacation and event accommodations, directly overlapping on historic-lodging inventory and the Swiss heritage tourism customer.
- Demeures de Charme: French curated network of heritage character properties offered as vacation rentals across France, comparable as a curated marketplace of historic accommodations targeting cultural travelers.
Emerging players
- Agriturismo Svizzera / Bauernhof Ferien Schweiz: Swiss farm-stay and rural vacation rental network; overlaps on rural heritage lodging and the same Swiss tourism customer but lacks the structured monument-preservation mission.
Others
- ICOMOS (International Council on Monuments and Sites): Global non-governmental heritage conservation organization; comparable as a nonprofit heritage ecosystem stakeholder, though operating in advocacy and advisory roles rather than direct vacation rentals.
- Schweizer Heimatschutz (Swiss Heritage Protection): Founding partner and closest institutional ally of the foundation, sharing the cultural-heritage preservation mission and joint communications channels; not a direct lodging competitor but the most strategically aligned organization.
Broad incumbents
- Romantik Hotels & Restaurants: Established European (incl. Swiss) collection of historic and character hotels; overlaps on heritage lodging but operates a broader commercial hospitality model rather than a restoration-driven nonprofit.
- Mr & Mrs Smith: Curated boutique and unique-stay hotel platform with a strong heritage and architectural-property category; competes for the same experience-seeking traveler via a larger commercial inventory.
Regional players
- Suisse Schöne Ferien / Original Landhäuser Schweiz: Curated Swiss rental network of original and historic country houses; overlaps on heritage vacation rentals within Switzerland but operates as a commercial intermediary rather than a preservation nonprofit.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Stiftung Ferien im Baudenkmal social profiles
Digital presenceStiftung Ferien im Baudenkmal compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Stiftung Ferien im Baudenkmal financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Stiftung Ferien im Baudenkmal leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Stiftung Ferien im Baudenkmal funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Stiftung Ferien im Baudenkmal M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Stiftung Ferien im Baudenkmal
What does Stiftung Ferien im Baudenkmal do?
Stiftung Ferien im Baudenkmal restores and rents out approximately 60 Swiss heritage buildings (Baudenkmäler) as vacation accommodations, ranging from medieval farmhouses to baroque villas and 19th-century industrial structures. Guests book stays directly through the foundation's multilingual website, with booking processing handled by e-domizil AG. The foundation also offers the properties as shooting locations for commercial productions, as event/workshop venues, and sells gift certificates and heritage-inspired merchandise, with rental income and donations reinvested into further restoration work.
Is Stiftung Ferien im Baudenkmal a public or private company?
Stiftung Ferien im Baudenkmal is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Stiftung Ferien im Baudenkmal founded?
Stiftung Ferien im Baudenkmal was founded in 2005. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Stiftung Ferien im Baudenkmal based?
Stiftung Ferien im Baudenkmal is headquartered in Zürich, Switzerland, in the Europe region.
How does Stiftung Ferien im Baudenkmal make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Vacation rental income is the primary driver. The others are donations and charitable contributions, shooting location rentals, event and workshop venue rentals and merchandise (kitchen towels and limited editions).
Who are Stiftung Ferien im Baudenkmal's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are The Landmark Trust, Fondation du Patrimoine, Swiss Historic Hotels and Demeures de Charme. Agriturismo Svizzera / Bauernhof Ferien Schweiz is listed as an emerging player. Others are ICOMOS (International Council on Monuments and Sites) and Schweizer Heimatschutz (Swiss Heritage Protection). Broad incumbents are Romantik Hotels & Restaurants and Mr & Mrs Smith. Suisse Schöne Ferien / Original Landhäuser Schweiz is listed as a regional player.
Does Stiftung Ferien im Baudenkmal have an API?
No public API is recorded for Stiftung Ferien im Baudenkmal.
What industry is Stiftung Ferien im Baudenkmal in?
Stiftung Ferien im Baudenkmal's product category is Heritage Vacation Rentals. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAMAAAJ, Historic & Heritage Homes, with a secondary code of THAJADAI, Cultural Heritage Institutions (Archives, Historic Houses, Monuments Foundations). Its NAICS code is 712120 and its SIC code is 7000.