In the Tyrolean Alps of Austria, there is a unique hotel called Stanglwirt. It is more than 300 years old and is famous for its beautiful mountain views, long family history, and strong focus on sustainability. Today, it is one of the few hotels in the world that produces almost all of its own food and energy. This rewritten article explains how Stanglwirt grew from a small tavern into an eco-friendly luxury resort.
Stanglwirt began in 1567 as a simple tavern for local miners. Later, around 1720, it became a guesthouse. Just two years after that, the Hauser family took over the property, and they still run it today. The current owner, Balthasar Hauser, is more than 80 years old, and his children continue the tradition.
When visitors come to Stanglwirt, they immediately notice something special. It is not only a hotel. As Balthasar likes to say, “It is an organic farm that happens to have a hotel.” The hotel sits on 132 hectares of farmland and fields, where cows provide milk for cheese, yogurt, and other dairy products.
Sustainable Food Production
Much of the food served in the hotel comes directly from the property or nearby farms. About 75% of all ingredients are local. During a tour of the hotel’s cheese cellar, cheesemaker Anna Aichinger explained that fresh cheese has a short life but is quickly eaten by hotel guests. She showed a creamy slice of Bergkäse, a soft mountain cheese made with raw milk and herbs.
Stanglwirt also makes its own beer, a light pilsner called Stangl, and sometimes offers schnapps from local producers. The hotel even has a restaurant where you can see cows through the windows while enjoying your meal.
Energy From Wood
Sustainability at Stanglwirt does not stop with food. The hotel is also a pioneer in renewable energy. In the 1980s, it started using a bark-powered biomass system. This was one of the first hotel energy systems of its kind.
In autumn 2024, the hotel installed a new, advanced power plant called Stanglwirt BIO-Energie, created by a Tyrolean company named SynCraft. This system turns wood chips from naturally fallen trees into wood gas, which produces heat and electricity. It also creates biochar, a material that improves soil quality. Stanglwirt is the first hotel in the world to use this technology, and today the system completely powers the entire property. The Hauser family says the hotel is now “carbon neutral and climate positive.”
Architecture Built From Nature
Wood is not only used for energy; it is used in the buildings themselves. Stanglwirt is constructed mostly with Swiss pine, a strong wood found at high altitudes. In the 1970s, Balthasar collected old or unused wood from farmers, which he reused to expand the hotel. At that time, people thought he was strange, but today reclaimed wood is considered environmentally friendly.
Inside, the hotel is decorated in a traditional Tyrolean style. Staff wear dirndls and lederhosen, and the rooms feature large windows with mountain views, handmade pillows, and warm wooden interiors.
Stanglwirt is designed to make visitors feel connected to nature. Guests can hike in the Wilder Kaiser mountains, swim in natural pools cleaned with plant-based systems, and visit the hotel’s famous Lipizzaner horses at its private riding school.
One popular experience is the aufguss, a sauna ritual common in Austria and Germany. A “saunameister” adds essential oils to hot stones and uses a large towel to push hot air toward guests. Some areas of the spa are designed for adults only and allow natural swimming.
A Modern Hotel With Old Traditions
Many celebrities have stayed at Stanglwirt, including Hillary Clinton, Audrey Hepburn, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Muhammad Ali. However, the hotel management says that visitors today are more interested in their sustainability practices than in famous guests.
At the end of a long hike, visitors often stop at a small mountain hut belonging to the hotel. Here they can enjoy cheese, sausages, and beer made either on the property or just a few kilometers away. For many guests, this experience shows how a historic alpine hotel can lead the way to a greener future.
Source: bbc.com
Vocabulary for the Article
Sustainable – something that does not harm nature
The hotel uses sustainable energy.
Biomass – energy made from wood or plants
The hotel started using biomass in the 1980s.
Organic – natural and without chemicals
The farm produces organic milk and cheese.
Farm – land used to grow food or keep animals
The hotel has its own farm.
Cheesemaker – a person who makes cheese
The cheesemaker shows visitors the cheese cave.
Altitude – the height of a place above sea level
Swiss pine grows at high altitude.
Timber – wood used for building
The hotel buildings are made of local timber.
Reclaimed wood – old wood that is used again
The owner used reclaimed wood to expand the hotel.
Renewable energy – energy that comes from natural sources
The new system makes renewable energy from wood.
Electricity – power used for lights and machines
The hotel creates its own electricity.
Biochar – black natural material used to improve soil
The system produces biochar for the farm.
Patriarch – the male leader of a family
The patriarch of the family still works in the hotel.
Tradition – an old custom that people continue
The hotel keeps Tyrolean traditions alive.
Riding school – a place where people learn to ride horses
Guests can visit the riding school.
Natural pool – a pool cleaned by plants, not chemicals
The hotel has a natural swimming pool.
Sauna ritual – a special activity in a hot room
Guests enjoy the sauna ritual every day.
Essential oils – strong natural oils with special scents
The saunameister uses essential oils on the hot stones.
Luxury – great comfort and high quality
The hotel offers luxury in the mountains.
Eco-friendly – good for the environment
Guests like the hotel’s eco-friendly design.
District – an area or part of a place
The hotel is located in a quiet mountain district.
More like this:
How Japanese “Tiny Forests” Are Spreading in Scotland (Level 3)
China’s Parade and Global Message (Level 3)
The Mexican City That Fears Big Tech’s Thirst for Water (Level 3)