The popular Austrian “Sommerfrische” is back again. Especially now, during the summer of 2020, as the travelling world still reels with the shock of the current pandemic, many people simply look to recover closer to home, and want to spend some quality travel time in peaceful, quiet, and natural surroundings. “Of which Austria has plenty, and we out here especially”, Simon Bauernhofer tells us, welcoming us to his Naturhotel Bauernhofer in the Styrian alpine upland. The small town Brandlucken, where his hotel is located, is right inside a nature park, called “Steirisches Almenland”, and both his hotel as well as the wider area are dedicated to many efforts of ensuring sustainable and ecological development. But not only that. There is room for fun and creative stuff, too! Know the high seats used during hunting in or near forests? Simon has single-handedly converted them into love nests and hideaways for his guests! He has also turned a run-down inn into a thriving grocery shop, theatre and civil registry office (the theatre, meanwhile, totals well over 600 seats and receives up to 14.000 guests a year!). So how does all of this go together, and even result in a place ideal for young families, too (my husband Georg and my young one-year-old son have also joined me on this trip)? Let me explain – and the journey begin.
Welcome to the nature park “Steirisches Almenland” (“Wow, mummy, cows, I’ve never seen the like of them before …!”) …
… and the eco-friendly Naturhotel Bauernhofer, living up to its name and delivering high ecological standards …
… this really is a region with a clean, green consciousness, and I’m happy to recommend it for your future travels here.
A word about sustainable development:
Our host Simon Bauernhofer recommends us to visit several of his regional business partners, among them the nearby distillery Graf.
It is not far from where we are in the Styrian “Almenland” to Sankt Kathrein am Offenegg, indeed a lovely drive through the densely forested alpine upland northwest of the Styrian capital city Graz. The Graf family welcomes us to their distillery and explain that in order to produce their high quality spirits from local endemic produce, such as pear or berry varieties, they need about 35-40kg of fruit in order to make one litre of schnaps! What they don’t harvest themselves, they buy within a 20km radius from their property, fulfilling strict Slowfood criteria in the process. After our guided tour, we are invited to harvest and taste some cherries from their orchard. They are simply delicious, and Liam just loves this new summer flavour, while we indulge in a spirits’ tasting ourselves.
Recommended: Visiting Graf Distillery as part of the nature park “Steirisches Almenland” …
… our guided tour allows us to really appreciate the flavoursome brandies and distillates …
… thank you, too, for inviting us to taste cherries fresh off the trees!
I don’t know about you, but I’m loving the cultural landscapes we see around here …
… and in case you go hungry, about 200 metres from the distillery, there is a perfect inn waiting …
… full of traditional Austrian flair: Landhotel Spreitzhofer, offering great regional cuisine and even adapting to serving a very tasty veggie dish for our little Liam.
Meanwhile, Georg and I still dream about their chocolate cake ..!
Worth noticing: You can also shop for the Graf distillates at the grocery shop of the Naturhotel Bauernhofer, as depicted here.
Our trip exploring the nature park “Steirisches Almenland” results in a short hike around Teichalm and its local nature trail.
Without our little Liam, Georg and I would have likely gone off on a major hike, of which there are plenty in the Almenland nature reserve. Instead, however, we tested the (stroller-friendly) nature trail leading us through an alpine moorland and slightly off the busy Teichalm lake. As for a foodie experience, we can recommend “Stoakoglhütte” (an alpine hut) near Sommeralm. It comes with a possibility to climb the nearby Plankogel summit (either before or after that delicious slice of cake ..!).
Welcome to Teichalm lake, a classic alpine destination for families and couples alike …
… it is here we find the largest wooden cow we have ever seen (Liam and his dad are impressed!) …
… a little later, we discover the local forest marshes on a secure little nature trail …
… loving to see how Liam soaks it all up!
Having arrived at the Stoakogl hut, Liam and I share a little mountain meal (goulash soup and rolls) …
… and if all of the above provides for too little adrenaline, you can try the summer toboggan at a nearby mountain fun park in Koglhof (three rides are free with the GenussCard voucher you get upon checking into your local hotel).
Environmental efforts, sustainable development, staff commitment and theatre production: Why you can also just spend some days relaxing at Simon Bauernhofer’s eco hotel.
One day after breakfast, Simon Bauernhofer sits down with us and tells us “his story”. Of how it all started back in the late 70s, when thousands of “Sommerfrische” guests came from Vienna and Graz, seeking refuge in the Alps from hot city temperatures. Thus, the old inn and farm business have been revived, and now stand as an energy-saving, Passivhaus hotel business with 58 rooms heated by a power plant using local wood chips. Guests around us are couples of all ages, as well as families with (young) children, those who love hiking, food and nature. “It is four pillars we build on”, Simon explains his philosophy, as well as his recent award of the Austrian Eco Label for tourism. “On the one hand side, we take care of our environment through reusable bottles, recycled paper, the wood chip heating facility, shared mountain taxis, e-bikes, the like. On the other hand side, we also strongly support our regional farming network, what with our local grocery shop serving as a direct point of sales for nearby farmers and producers. Add to it our deep care about our employees and their development, as well as our commitment to culture, and you get to where we stand today. The old ‘Huab’n’ inn, which you see right across the hotel, is our stage for countless theatre productions, and our theatre has turned into a hub for young, aspiring actors.” Simon Bauernhofer, we gather, could go on talking forever. So let’s add a few more images and personal impressions to his account!
Check this out: Liam feels great in a room especially designed for young kids, cleverly situated next to the main dining room.
There’s plenty of “cool” little details, such as this ice cream trolley near the reception area.
Check out (and ask for) the local “Knutscherei”: Redesigned high seats that were used for hunting, but now offer many a surprise for lovebirds.
Next to the hotel, you can shop at the so-called “Huab’n To Go”, a simple hut offering drinks and ice cream for an “honest euro” (meaning there is no staff there, it’s just up to you to pay for what you take).
At the local grocery store, I buy a hat for Georg which Simon’s wife Bianca has sown herself. Lovely!
And while my boys relax in the wellness area of the hotel, it’s finally time for a massage for mum …
… breakfast means gearing up for the day with tasty local products …
… and at a day’s notice, you can even take your favourite loaf of bread home with you.
Thank you, dear Simon Bauernhofer, for the wonderful time we spent here with you!
Last but not least, I can recommend you visit a local play at the “Huab’n” theatre: Even if you don’t understand a word of the regional Austrian dialect (sometimes even we don’t), it’s fun to watch the actors perform in traditional, Styrian comedies!
Check out all my travel pictures here:
Disclaimer: We have been invited by the Naturhotel Bauernhofer supported by the Austrian Eco Label on this trip to Styria. All opinions are my own.