In the midst of the Carinthian Nockberge mountains, the family-run 4-star hotel in Bad Kleinkirchheim welcomes its guests, which with its sustainability profile ideally represents a region that harmonizes nature conservation, economic and social development. However, the hotel GUT Trattlerhof & Chalets is much more than an exemplary eco-destination, but it is at the same time an oasis to relax, starting point for a variety of activities in beautiful nature and especially a place of culinary delights.
A house with lived tradition
The Forstnig family, the fifth generation of the Forstnig family to have lived here since 1884, can look back on a long history of their house. The agricultural property was first mentioned in a document as early as 1520, and in 1642 the owners of the time were granted the right to serve beer; later, overnight accommodations for passing carters and traders were added to the gastronomy. In 1937, the property was finally expanded into a hotel with already 60 beds. In the mid-1970s, the overnight accommodation capacities were expanded and a wellness area, the hut restaurant "Trattlers Einkehr" and even a small hydroelectric power plant were added.
History and innovation in harmony
The current host Jakob Forstnig, who has been running the house since 2010, is keen to preserve the rich history of the house and continue traditions. And so there are memorabilia in many rooms that bear witness to the exciting history of the place. Despite his awareness of history, Jakob Forstnig is also a curious innovator and pioneer who is constantly looking for ways to further develop the Trattlerhof. Proof of this is, for example, his involvement in the "Change Maker Hotels", a networking forum of visionary hosts who exchange ideas on how the guests of their establishments can spend eventful and enjoyable vacations with respect for nature, animals and people.
The fact that Jakob Forstnig is not someone who only takes on new challenges when they have long since manifested themselves as a trend or necessity is also reflected in his early and consistent commitment to the environment, for which the company was awarded the European ECO Label and the Austrian Eco-Label.
Rooms with alpine character and natural materials
The traditional four-star hotel is constantly developing. Thus, 15 new GUTshof & Sonnenschein rooms were added in 2018 as part of a "quality expansion". Currently, the hotel has 60 rooms & suites, divided into 13 categories. With sizes ranging from 18 to 70 square meters, these offer guests a variety of comforts for every requirement. For the interior design, mainly local woods and regional products were used. Larch wood, wild oak and other natural materials create a pleasant atmosphere of well-being.
A special feature is the Sunshine Suite, from whose beds you can enjoy the sunrise in the morning. In addition to two separate sheep rooms, the suite has a continuous 18 square meter balcony and a private panoramic sauna.
While the GUTshof family rooms have a separate children's room, other accommodation units can also be combined to suit guests' wishes.
Trattlers Hof-Chalets
Since December 2017, 14 luxurious courtyard chalets also complement the upscale accommodation offer. The cozy accommodation units were built near the hotel on a 7,000-square-meter area directly next to the ski slope, allowing "ski in & ski out" as well as direct access to bike and hiking trails. Each of the chalets has its own wood-burning stove as well as its own "Private SPA" including panoramic sauna and heated outdoor tub.
Enjoyable "Slow Food" culinary delights
The Hotel GUT Trattlerhof & Chalets spoils its guests with culinary delights in the hotel's own restaurant, where they can enjoy a varied breakfast buffet, an afternoon snack and a dinner with five courses and various dishes to choose from. A wide range of dishes is also available at the associated hut restaurant "Trattlers Einkehr". Since Jakob Forstnig is dedicated to the "Slow Food" concept, both restaurants primarily use regional products from local suppliers to create delicacies. This worldwide "Slow Food" movement has been advocating sustainable, regional and artisan food for 30 years now. The aim is to preserve and promote the biological and taste diversity of the regions. In Austria, the majority of Slow Food establishments are located in Carinthia, about which even a separate Slow Food guide, published annually, provides detailed information. In Bad Kleinkirchheim, too, a young team under the label "Slow Food Village" is committed to ensuring that valuable foodstuffs produced in the community and its surroundings increasingly find local buyers, for example in the catering and hotel trade. "We want to consume as much as possible all the products produced in the region here and draw attention to regional recipes - for a responsible diet and eating culture in everyday life and on vacation," say the initiators.
One establishment that implements this idea in an exemplary manner is the Hotel GUT Trattlerhof. For example, a "Slow Food" menu includes delicacies such as char tartare with fermented vegetables and smoked mayonnaise, a cold pea soup with mint and leeks, homemade beetroot gnocchi with green apple, walnuts and blue cheese, or a lemon risotto.
In addition to the farmhouse cuisine with regional delicacies, the menu also includes dry-aged beef steaks or freshly caught trout and char from the farm's own fish pond. Another highlight is the fish smoking and bread baking oven. Every month, the chef chooses a culinary focus. For example, May is dedicated to Carinthian asparagus and June to Rauchkuchl specialties. Theme evenings and cooking classes, which include a pizza baking class for children, are also held regularly.
A remarkable feature, which is not necessarily to be expected especially in alpine regions, is the excellent expertise of the house in terms of wine culture. For example, the offers of the Hotel GUT Trattlerhof include a "Winemaker on the Mountain Weekend" and regular tastings of wines from Austrian sites and the Alps-Adriatic region, whereby the special passion of the host is the still little-known local wines from Carinthia. Of course, guests receive an expert recommendation from the house's own sommeliers.
Relaxation, movement, communication
According to the motto "Close to nature", the wellness area, which was modernized in 2018, brings the forest directly into the SPA area on 1,000 square meters. The panorama sauna offers views of the meadow, stream and trees through a large window, while the natural aroma steam bath invites you to warm up and breathe deeply.
A spacious relaxation room with cuddly bunks, an infrared cabin and treatment rooms for massages, a new outdoor pool and cosmetic treatments complete this "forest wellness" retreat.
Those who want to take advantage of further relaxation offers can treat themselves to a massage or natural cosmetic treatment in the modern treatment rooms. An option for even more action is the 80 square meter fitness room with panoramic view.
In the course of the quality offensive, "the mountain lens" was also created, a new part of the building with a room for events, seminars and celebrations. The glazed circular building blends harmoniously into the existing architecture of the hotel and forms a new visual highlight that combines tradition and innovation.
Think Green! The Trattlerhof, a role model for sustainable tourism
In addition to his involvement with the "Change Maker Hotels" and his consistent use of regionally produced (organic) food, Jakob Forstnig is involved in a variety of other projects for environmental and climate protection. "As hosts and parents, we place a particularly high value on protecting our environment and preserving natural resources for future generations. It is very important to us to show our guests how much this is close to our hearts," says the pioneer in sustainability. For its eco-activities, the business has been awarded the European ECO Label and the Austrian Eco-Label, among others.
The efficient use of water and electricity, as well as the use of renewable energy, is a top priority at the hotel. The GUTshof even has its own electricity plant that generates electricity with hydropower, making the Trattlerhof 100 percent self-sufficient in electricity. What's more, additional electricity is even generated to supply other businesses and households in the village. The entire operation was already converted to regional district heating from renewable energy sources in 2014. Since then, staying at the Trattlerhof is not only CO2-neutral, but each guest also saves 58 kilograms of CO2 equivalent emissions per night with Trattler's measures compared to a reference hotel. The Trattlerhof is therefore the first Austrian hotel to issue its guests with CO2 certificates attesting to how much greenhouse gas they have saved through their vacation at the Trattlerhof. Of course, vacationers can also actively participate in the environmental program, for example, through an "environmental euro" offer. Guests who forgo cleaning their rooms receive an environmental bonus of three euros per day credited to their drinks bill at the house bar.
An important environmental measure is also the reuse and recycling of old materials. For example, not only was the wood from the old horse stable used to build a relaxation room in the hotel's forest wellness area, but the Trattlers Einkehr restaurant is also largely made of materials removed from an old farm.
Ein Eldorado für E-Mobilisten
Of course, the mobility sector also plays a central role in the sustainability measures of the GUTshof. In addition to two in-house Tesla models and a Mercedes Benz Electric Drive, the Trattlerhof also offers its guests e-mountain bikes for rent for electrifying experiences in the region. Recently, the fleet was completed with the Peugeot e-Partner panel van and is thus 100 percent electric.
Guests of the hotel can easily charge their own "electric cars" at the e-charging stations at the hotel, at the farm chalets and at the hut restaurant "Trattlers Einkehr", for the most part with green electricity produced in-house. The impressive total of 18 e-charging stations, including a public fast charger in front of the hotel, is available to them. This offer is not only available to all hotel guests, but also to external guests and locals.
Varied attractions for nature lovers
The hotel is the ideal starting point for excursions into the beautiful surroundings of the UNESCO biosphere park Carinthian Nockberge. Here, guests can go on an individual exploration tour, for example on the "Slow Trails" Zwergsee and Mirnock, or join a local and nature expert guided tour by a ranger. In addition, an annual adventure program of the biosphere park offers a wide range of activities such as summit, autumn or alpine hikes.
Excursions are also dedicated to typical botanical species of the Nockberg region, such as various wild herbs, the Swiss stone pines and the real speik, an inconspicuous plant from the valerian genus, which was already sought after thousands of years ago in distant lands as a remedy for its relaxing and at the same time invigorating effect. Today, this rarity is found almost exclusively in the Nockberge region. From July to September, its tart and spicy fragrance lies over the meadows, but it is not the flowers but the roots that are the target of the few licensed Speik collectors, who proceed carefully and sustainably with the harvest.
Their harvest may be processed exclusively by the company Speick Naturkosmetik, based in Leinfelden-Echterdingen, Germany, into various care products.
The Biosphere Reserve has a broad spectrum of species, as was shown by an expert excursion during which 1048 different species of animals and plants were identified in one day alone. This diversity is extraordinarily pronounced for mountain habitats. Special features are, for example, ice-age relics among the mosses, rare fungi and the abundance of native orchids. Particularly remarkable with regard to the fauna is the Austria-wide new discovery of the rare narrow-breasted ant. Among other things, the Northern Giant Eye, a spectacular species of weaver's tail, was found for the first time in the Biosphere Reserve. Since some peaks of the Nockberge were not glaciated during the last ice age, many endemic species can be found here that only occur in this small area. For example, the Mornell's plover has an island-like remnant occurrence here outside its main habitats in the northern tundras. In addition, all native species of grouse - snow grouse, black grouse, capercaillie and hazel grouse - breed in the Nockberge.
Out of consideration for these sensitive species, nature lovers and hikers should not enter their habitats, because especially in winter, ski tourers and snowshoe hikers can cause disturbances that weaken the animals' energy reserves by frequently flying up, which can ultimately lead to their death.
Many well-known species such as red deer, foxes, chamois, jays, golden eagles and marmots can be observed in the Biosphere Reserve with patience, a little luck and attentiveness.
More vacation offers in and around the Trattlerhof
Winter sports enthusiasts will find the luxurious chalets of the Trattlerhof an ideal "ski in & ski out" destination, as they are located right next to the valley station of the ski area. If you are a skier or biker looking for relaxation after a long day in nature, you will find it not only in the hotel and the chalets, but also in the two thermal baths, the Thermal Römerbad or in the Gesundheits- & Familientherme St. Kathrein, which are located a few minutes away directly in the village.
The Hotel GUT Trattlerhof & Chalets**** is an ideal starting point for hikes and bike tours, because here guests can start hiking or pedaling directly from the hotel door. As part of the weekly program, there is also the possibility to join guided hikes and adventure tours. One highlight is the section of the approximately 750-kilometer Alpe-Adria Trail, which connects Carinthia, Slovenia and Friuli-Venezia Giulia in 43 stages.
Bike enthusiasts can also experience the region on over 750 kilometers of signposted bike routes in the "Nockbike" region of Bad Kleinkirchheim-Nockberge and Millstättersee. In summer 2019, the longest flow country trail in Europe was opened with a length of almost 16 kilometers. The entrance is located at 2,055 meters above sea level at the mountain station of the Kaiserburgbahn. Thanks to many alternative routes, the trail offers both beginners and advanced riders pure riding fun.
Horses played an important role in the GUTshof history, once as they do today. Eight school horses are employed in the stables and are available for lungeing, dressage and jumping lessons as well as for rides. The riding offers are aimed at beginners as well as advanced riders, the riding school team assesses the guest's ability and selects the most suitable horse for the individual. Advanced riders will find idyllic, quiet paths in the surroundings of Bad Kleinkirchheim, which are ideal for rides. The favorites of children up to the age of six are the ponies at Trattler's pony farm near the Trattlers Einkehr hut restaurant.
From June to September, guests of the Hotel GUT Trattlerhof & Chalets can enjoy free access to the lido at Lake Millstatt. The 20,000-square-meter natural lakeside pool is just a 15-minute drive from the hotel or chalet village. In addition to swimming, guests can also go pedal boating, stand-up paddling, sailing or surfing there. In addition, the Trattlerhof has two in-house tennis courts. Tennis instructors are available for all skill levels, and training sessions can be booked with them on request. There is also an in-house beach volleyball court and a fishing pond.
All guests of the Hotel GUT Trattlerhof benefit from mid-May to early November from the included Carinthia & Sunshine Card, which is presented to them upon arrival. The included active program of this card includes, for example, guided hikes with trained rangers, bike tours and technique training with certified bike guides, attractive discounts on thermal spa admissions, an eventful children's & family program and varied sports activities in the region.
https://www.trattlerhof.at/de/
https://changemakerhotels.com/
https://www.slowfood-kaernten.at/
https://biosphaerenparknockberge.at/
https://www.millstaettersee.com/de/info-service/kontakt/kontakt.html
https://www.badkleinkirchheim.at/de/
https://www.speick.de/de/
Text: Peter Grett
Images:
Mr. and Mrs. Forstnig, exterior view of chalets in summer, relaxation room, e-car charging, hydroelectric power plant: Peter Grett
Capercaillie logo Biosphere Park: Biosphärenpark Nockberge
View to the Karlwand and Windebensee: Heinz Mayer
Panorama Nockberge: Helmut Moik
Almrausch: Andreas Kolarik
Plant Echter Speik and cosmetics range: Speick natural cosmetics
All other images: Hotel GUT Trattlerhof & Chalets