EN 
DE 
The campsite is somewhat hidden in the heart of Jessen, but it has something special. "Loud ADAC we are the smallest campsite in Saxony with our three pitches for tents or motorhomes," says Hans John. He is co-owner of the Altjessen 57 vacation property, which not only includes the campsite, but also vacation apartments, a small guesthouse and a trendy restaurant.
Mini campsite near Pirna: The world as a guest in Jessen
Despite its somewhat remote location, the site is extremely popular with holidaymakers. Hans John proudly shows the long list of countries from which guests have found their way to Jessen so far. Almost 100 nations can be found on it. Holidaymakers come from Peru, Iran, Namibia, Estonia, Sweden, Russia and Mexico, among others. "It's really amazing. When we started, we would never have expected such great success and demand," says Hans John, looking back. He would soon like to expand the business and set up two additional camping barrels in the garden, each of which can comfortably sleep two people.
The beginning: Garage becomes guest room
It all started with the guesthouse. Next to the residential building is a small separate house, which at the time housed a garage and a workshop. The John family had the garage converted into a double room for the guesthouse. Two vacation apartments were soon added. Although the facility was initially an insider tip, word got around that Jessen was a great place to spend a vacation.
In 2019, a friend of Hans John asked if he could stay here with his family for a few days. However, everything was occupied at the time. Hans John didn't want to cancel and quickly vacated his own apartment in the main house with his wife to make room for his friend. They acquired a taste for it. "Since then, we've been staying in our mobile home, which is also on our property, in summer and winter. It's our bedroom. So we have one more apartment," says the Pirna resident with a grin.
The official campsite with three pitches was added later. What you can't see from the road is the outdoor pool with a large sand playground for younger guests and the idyllic fish pond. "We want our guests to feel at home here," says Hans John.
Jessen campsite has its own marquee
Additional events are also held on the grounds. As recently as Ascension Day, the specially erected tent was packed. Not many fewer guests come to the traditional summer festivals and the fall festival. And the New Year's Eve celebrations in Altjessen 57 are also a real party.
Trouble with the neighbors because of the noise? "No, we don't have any problems. On the contrary. The neighbors also come to our events and family parties are often held in our guest room. It fits," says the innkeeper. In general, his family business is well integrated into the village. "For example, we also sponsor the Pirna-Jessen riding and driving club," adds the 62-year-old.
Growing up in grandma's restaurant kitchen
Hans John is more or less a professional, but not from the region. He grew up in the Ore Mountains, in his grandparents' inn near Affalter. "Even back then, I loved being in the big kitchen with my grandma, but I also always enjoyed chatting with the guests," says Hans John, looking back.
After leaving school, however, he trained as an electrician. "Shortly before the political changeover, I had had enough of slitting cable ducts in the freezing cold," he says. An advertisement from a Hamburg company looking for salespeople came at just the right time. Without further ado, he moved to the Hanseatic city and studied business administration there. He worked for an insurance company on the side.
Hans John returned to Saxony in 2004 via detours to work in human resources in Dresden, among other things.
Family atmosphere at the Jessen campsite
In the fall of 2010, he had the idea of walking along the Malerweg and set off from Dresden. He stopped in Altjessen to have breakfast outdoors on a farm driveway. This stop was to change his life completely. Isa, his future wife, saw the hiker from her window at number 57 and spontaneously invited him for a coffee. This eventually turned into a wedding. "It really was love at first sight," recalls Hans John, who later moved from Dresden to Jessen to be with his sweetheart.
In 2014, the family finally came up with the idea of turning the property into a vacation home. "After all, I grew up with gastronomy, so it was only logical," says Hans John. He thinks for a moment and then says: "Being able to meet new people every day is something wonderful for me."
Presumably this is also appreciated in reverse. Because the family atmosphere means that many guests have become friends. "Just recently, we were invited to Italy by friends from Sicily who had previously spent their vacations with us in Jessen," reports the entrepreneur.
