The Seefels Castle on Lake Wörthersee in Carinthia’s south is one of those places which unconditionally, and almost uniquely, promises peace, enjoyment and relaxation.
The impressive estate on the shore of the blue-turquoise lake with its typical Wörthersee architecture could be seen as the signature motif for everything one imagines a castle on the lake to be. It can simply be described as an enchanting role model of holiday dreams come true. On perhaps the most beautiful spot on Lake Wörthersee stands the historic castle, built on a rock in 1860, and in 2022 it was restored and given a new lease of life by Helena Ramsbacher.
The clever renovation has preserved the architectural elements from the time of construction, but designers were courageous enough to create colours and shapes to give it a completely new style, with essential works carried out by contemporary artists. The result is a total work of art of a hotel that is both an inspiration and a refuge at the same time.
The white of the house goes beyond the continuity of the blue nuances of Lake Wörthersee, the green of the meadows, and the beauty of the mountain ranges. It seems almost out Carinthian nature, the beautiful overall impression includes 30,000m2 of castle garden, the heated lakeside swimming pool, the private marina for guests’ boats, the restaurants and, of course, the completely renovated rooms and suites. And there are even more good reasons for a luxury holiday at ‘Schloss Seefels’ on Lake Wörthersee: the fine sunbathing area with the comfortable loungers and white parasols, or the wooden deck around the lakeside pool – perfect places for those seeking peace and quiet.
Colours and special shapes give the 68 rooms and suites an unusual touch: more space, more colour, lots of art and design, and a high level of quality everywhere – from the hotel, the spa and the premium gym, to the restaurants and the castle bar. The luminosity of the intense colours, the selected works of art, the thoughtful details, from the tableware to the bed linen, all combine to create an almost dramatically intense hotel culture.
Also, in this fascinating retreat of Helena Ramsbacher, nothing is left to chance. This also applies to the ‘Hotel Lemongarden’ on Brač, ‘Das Tyrol’ in Tyrol in Vienna, and the ‘Knappenhof’ on the Rax. The furnishings, the art and collectible objects, the materials, the selected nuances of colour, and the equally cultivated and knowledgeable allusions, to each and every single piece in the hotel, have been cleverly put together, and in the end have only one purpose: to add beauty to the place with the lake and the mountains. The furnishings are not only beautiful, the names of the designers read like a who’s who of the interior design scene: Rolf Benz, Wittmann, Flos, Venini lamps made of Murano glass, beds by Tréca, fabrics and wallpapers by Casamance, Pierre Frey, Manuel Canovas. Add to that the crystal-clear walk-in showers in the airy bathrooms, and luxury is the new standard here at ‘Schloss Seefels’.
A veritable eruption of colours, extraordinary objects, decorative stimulants, and cosmopolitan trouvailles combine to create what can be labelled, without exaggeration, the ‘Seefels style’. Because Helena Ramsbacher knows the essence of beauty, time and again the landscape finds its way into the cosy sceneries of the interiors with 13 designs – from monochrome to botanical prints with flower wheels, cacti, butterflies and climbing flowers, to animal prints with parrots, hummingbirds and peacocks. The results give the living spaces their unmistakable character. The nine leading colours from powder pink and light blue to orange and green can be found in the bed head and in the inlays on the doors, wardrobes, desks, bedside tables and minibars. The Murano glass lamps by Venini, and the warm white lighting by Flos show all the rooms in the way their ‘creator’, Helena Ramsbacher, had imagined it, including original works of art.
And now it’s all about the kitchen art which, of course, is always accompanied by design. The day begins with a castle breakfast where guests have the choice of more than 100 delicacies – from homemade jams and the finest pastries from Carinthian bakeries, to a wide variety of egg dishes, along with many savoury and sweet compositions. Served on special porcelain, which comes from the Augarten manufacturer and was specially designed for ‘Schloss Seefels’ – as stylish as everywhere else in the house. ‘La Terrasse’ is the place to sit for dinner where guests can choose between indoor and outdoor spots and you can literally float above Lake Wörthersee with a mountain view in a class of its own. This place is not by chance the most beautiful terrace on the lake, the restaurant combining the colours of Bordeaux, chamois, pink and terracotta, and the lighting concept by Christian Ploderer, blend to create an atmosphere of noble elegance. Here you can enjoy the unique Alpe-Adriatic cuisine by certified chef, Richard Hessl, which was awarded 95 points, or four forks. Would you like another superlative? The wine climate room is not only a jewel, but also houses 700 bottles of red wine, white wine and Champagne.
And not forgetting the ‘Porto Bello’, the hotspot on the shores of Wörthersee for everyone who enjoy delicious Alpe-Adriatic cuisine and cool drinks. Maritime and Mediterranean with its light and airy white wooden architecture in pavilion style, and its own marina for motor and sailing boats, the ‘Porto Bello’ is a southern place directly on the water and a style hotspot on Lake Wörthersee.
“This is the most beautiful place on the lake with a light and airy atmosphere, avant-garde-cool ambience, and classic-creative Alpe-Adriatic cuisine with homemade pasta, freshly caught fish from Lake Wörthersee, and first-class Valentino ice cream from the Gelateria,” enthuses chef Richard Hessl.
Here Carinthia is interpreted in a modern way: from the interior to the kitchen, the colours are a homage to the Carinthian national colours: yellow, red and white. Polished mirrors bring the lake into the pavilion, with koi on the curtains and the aprons of the staff, perch on the tiles and menus. A fish scale mosaic, and the lantern lamps hovering above it, make the bar the centrepiece of the room, and a seat with a view of the lake is guaranteed. The light summer dishes are served on fine bone china from Taitù, with daisy designs on plates, chillies in bowls, and tulips blossoming in the cups. Cutlery, bread bowls and Champagne coolers gleam golden, the Murano water glasses fit perfectly with the stone tables, all proof of the unmistakable character of the entire hotel.
Merci, chérie! In the legendary castle bar, where Udo Jürgens once played the piano and distinguished guests were regular visitors, the design is elegance personified with walnut, marble, mirrors, gold leaf ornaments and a magnificent baroque chandelier. To this day, the location is a real ‘bar icon’ with exquisite Champagnes, stylish or classic cocktails, and a grandiose whisky selection with more than 60 varieties including bourbons and Irish whiskeys. A brand-new addition is the range of chocolates from the Carinthian chocolate manufacturer Craigher.
The atmosphere is beautiful and cocktails are a passion of bar manager Christoph Turian: Bellini, Fraisini, Testarossa and bottle-aged Negroni are the most popular. A hit, and the signature drink of barchef Daniel Dukic, is the homemade Vermouth Rosé. Speaking of colour, an absolute eye-catcher in the house is the ‘Pink Birkin Salon’, an ideal place for private parties and celebrations.
Many of Helena Ramsbacher’s special ideas permeate the interior and, of course, the entire art collection. The feeling that you are a guest in the very private retreat of the lady of the house, is almost perfectly interwoven with the amenities on offer, from the spa to the culinary delights, the lovingly selected activities on the lake and surrounding area. And then there is the outdoor cigar lounge with lake view; style really is everywhere at ‘Schloss Seefels’.
