Wellness and Sustainability Shine at This Historic Eco-Resort in the Austrian Alps

10.12.2024 - 21:45 / matadornetwork.com

I arrived at the airport in Houston, boarded my flight to Munich, whisked across the Atlantic, hopped into my cab bound for Austria, and just like that – though after twelve hours of travel – I was at the gates of Der Stanglwirt. A 400-year-old “biohotel” in the heart of the Austrian Alps – only closing once, for the COVID-19 pandemic, in all its years of operation – Stanglwirt comes with many surprises, not least of which is how easy it is to reach despite existing a continent away. Nearly every major American city has direct routes to Munich courtesy of United Airlines, and after landing, the resort is only an hour-long shuttle ride away, with the ride arranged by the property.

Sustainability and harmony with nature are the core values of Stanglwirt, which was immediately apparent upon setting foot inside. A fresh scent of wood greeted me in a massive lobby that towered several floors above, where all perceivable surfaces – floors, walls, ceilings, check-in desks, the bar, and even the very frames of the elevators themselves – were dominated by a pervasive timber aesthetic, the wood for which, I learned. was all harvested from surrounding forests. As I marveled at this interior, I couldn’t help but imagine how cozy it must be in the winter months, picturing the currently silent fire pits roaring against the frosty backdrop of drifting white snow through the windows.

My daydreaming was cut short by the sensation of a key card entering my hand, and I began the journey to my room on the opposite end of the complex. I don’t use the word “journey” lightly – with its four centuries of additions, Stanglwirt seemed to have endless corridors, each containing charming discoveries that made me all too happy to get lost exploring them. Over the next several days I regularly fought difficult temptations to not follow beckoning side paths, though I often gave in. On such occasions, I encountered a bar, a library, a cigar room, a gift store, outdoor gear shops, a horse-riding rink, an arcade, a children’s nursery, swimming pools, a giant open-air patio, an enormous spa area, two restaurants, and a well-equipped gymnasium lined with images of occasional guest Arnold Schwarzenegger. There were also fitness classrooms offering yoga, pilates, and much more.

Photo: John Sizemore

I could only give the spa a precursory glance on this initial trek with belongings in tow, so I chucked my stuff in my room and decided to go check it out. Taking a back entrance directly underneath me, I walked a long carpeted hallway with soothing lounge music and a pleasurable citrus aroma, both increasing in intensity as I followed them towards the gentle sound of trickling water.

On arrival, the full breadth of the spa became evident, which was