Winter sports and wellness in Salzburger Land

The region south of the baroque city of Salzburg is one of the most famous winter destinations in Europe: Obertauern, Zell am See, Bad Gastein - even people who are as familiar with black, red and blue pistes as highland cattle are with dog food have heard of these places. Well-developed winter sports areas extend up to 3,000 meters above sea level, with the largest around Saalbach and Hinterglemm covering 270 kilometers of pistes.

"Wiesergut" in Saalbach

In Saalbach, in the last valley of the Salzburger Land before the Kitzbühel Alps in Tyrol begin, stands one of the top hotels in the region: the "Wiesergut". The site was originally occupied by a 14th century farmhouse - the architects have designed a completely new main building in alpine style as well as modern glass and timber extensions. Travelers can relax in 24 rooms thanks to the cosy interior design: floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows, oiled oak floors and comfy beds. Some suites have a fireplace for romantic winter crackling. The region's hiking and winter sports landscape begins right next door. Hungry after a day on the slopes? The Slow Food restaurant with produce from their own farm provides a remedy.

Bad Gastein: Renaissance of a legend

Bad Gastein, Austria's "stand-up town" of tourism, is now also completely focused on winter design: 4,000 inhabitants, 8,000 hotel beds, a former imperial spa where Sisi, Franz Joseph, Bismarck, Kaiser Wilhelm and Grillparzer bathed - one after the other, never at the same time. Later, the spa patients began to arrive until the health insurance companies stopped supporting them in the 1980s.

Empty palaces, meagre offerings, faded Habsburg yellow - and just a few years ago a rebirth as a boutique hotel location. The Berlin architecture firm Westudio opened the "Comodo" in January 2023 in a disused clinic - 70 chic rooms, inspired by midcentury and enhanced with works of art. Hanging out is redefined in the lobby; guests loll around on wonderful red sofas - and forget that there is a holistic wellness spa, an indoor pool and a fine restaurant all around...