The history of western Austria’s Stanglwirt stretches back to the 16^th century, when a small tavern catered to miners stopping for a drink after long shifts. Today, it’s far from its modest beginnings, sprawling in scale and catering to a considerably different crowd, but you’ll still find heaps of heritage everywhere in this forward-thinking property that treasures traditional Tyrolean hospitality.

Surrounded by the Alpine slopes of Kitzbühel, you’ll find more skiers than miners frequenting Stanglwirt now. The 5-star property is a bio and wellness resort today, operating a green spa and maintaining a nearly 250-acre organic farm that supports its culinary program. The commitment to sustainability runs deep, from macro efforts like generating all of its heat from its own biomass plant and using only carbon pollution-free, hydro-powered electricity to the smallest details like using lime mortar instead of cement between timber bricks. But nowhere does sustainability come at the sacrifice of luxury.

Checking in, you’ll immediately notice the abundance of natural wood, from floors and ceilings to every piece of furniture. Eschewing the use of unsustainable construction materials, the abundance of solid wood also evokes Stanglwirt’s considerable history.

© @Stanglwirt Resort

The 171 rooms are outfitted with sheep wool rugs, while all linens, towels and upholstery are of pure cotton and linen. Even the mattresses are naturally filled with horsehair and sheep’s wool. The spa-style bathrooms are equipped with water-saving shower heads, and all of Stanglwirt’s water comes from its own spring.

In the morning, you may wake to horses grazing in the lawn beyond your balcony, or spot Stanglwirt’s sheep enjoying green roofs below the towering mountains. In summer, you can take guided evening walks into the hills to visit the property’s cattle in their mountainside pasture; year-round, you can dine with them at Gasthof Stanglwirt, enjoying regional favorites in this white-cloth restaurant as cows enjoy their own dinner from the neighboring barn, separated by tableside windows. For more interactive animal experiences, consider riding lessons at the resort’s elite Lipizzaner riding school, home to two dozen of these rare and royal horses, or take one for a trail ride.

© @Stanglwirt Resort

Whether returning from hiking, biking or skiing, Stanglwirt’s Green Spa Resort is the star of the property, with more than 16,000 square feet of indulgent treatment space surrounded by sauna and water complexes that include Europe’s largest saltwater pool, a rock crystal steam bath, a waterfall grotto and an additional 10,000-square-foot children’s water world. From relaxing on submerged bubble jet recliners with mountain views to guided sessions in the event sauna, it’s the ultimate oasis for relaxation and rejuvenation — from the day, from life or from training.

Stanglwirt is a haven for European athletes and serves as a training base for professionals of several disciplines. Home to Europe’s No. 1 tennis school, the tennis village here includes six indoor courts and eight outdoor courts. The property is also home to its own golf school and driving range. If you’re looking for some physical fitness with less of a time commitment, free yoga, Pilates and workout classes are regularly available in the handsomely equipped indoor fitness center.

© @Stanglwirt Resort

Still, a visit here is a getaway for most, and, while Stanglwirt certainly knows how to honor special occasions, each day is equally celebrated, and there’s no better space to experience the natural joy and camaraderie of the property than at Auf der Tenne, the lobby bar. This soaring pine building — a former grain and hay barn — is home to all manner of libations, from craft cocktails with dazzling presentation to an impressive spirit list, curated wines, and, of course, beer (mocktails, and plenty of other non-alcoholic options are available, too). But it’s the afterhours atmosphere of this space that best tells the story of the resort. Always crowded with visitors of all ages (even the little ones) and often enjoying live performances from the central stage late into the night, it’s a gathering place for guests of all backgrounds, coming together to appreciate Stanglwirt’s atmosphere of comfort and natural ease that otherwise exists only at home.

Bio-und Wellnesshotel Stanglwirt

Kaiserweg 1, 6353 Going am Wilden Kaiser
Austria
tel 43 5358 2000