Less than two hours from Vienna, in the middle of the Pöllau Valley Nature Park, you may find the organic spa resort Hotel Retter. It’s a place I consider to be among Austria’s top organic spa resorts. “Dear Ulli, tell me again: How do you do it? How do you run a hotel of this size and still exude this sense of personal care and welcome in every part of the hotel?”, I ask the owner, Ulli and Hermann Retter, in mock amazement (I’ve known for quite some years now; both being extremely present, committed and open-minded, always happy to let me in on their “secrets”.)
Just how this family-run hotel, including now well over 130 employees, maintains their 100% organic promise is something you ought to truly check out when next in Austria, or Styria, for that matter.
Welcome to the organic spa resort Retter! What a wonderful way to start the day: swimming into sunrise …
… after entering the brand new “Wald.Sein” spa area.
Our rooms and the 100% organic promise.
Arriving here, we are welcomed by the peace and quiet of the surrounding area, as well as the good smell in our room (and throughout the hotel) before heading out for our first delicious dinner. During the day, a sumptuous salad, soup and cake buffet is provided (which you can enjoy even in your bathrobe), provided you are still hungry or hungry again after the delicious organic breakfast buffet!
The organic food and drinks at the Hotel Retter are so delicious that you will never lose your appetite. I would come back again and again for the food alone … Be careful, the following pictures sure are appetising!
Happiness starts over fresh local breakfast delights here …
… continuing over this colourful lunchtime salad …
… and cake buffet!
I just love it to know that everything we eat or drink sourced from 100% organic ingredients.
A view into our room at the organic spa resort Hotel Retter.
Bio | Organic | Spa with wellness area “Wald.Sein” and “Bewusst.Sein”
Since the last major expansion of the spa area, almost all visitors are drawn directly to the new wellness realm Wald.Sein. We can already hear and feel the forest on the way there and playfully test or expand our knowledge of it. I love the name “Zwitscherei” (Twittery) for the cosy new spa café right next to the Work.Well rooms – if you like, you can take your laptops or mobile phones there with you on a workation.
Those who prefer to be offline can chill out one level further down without any digital devices, with a view of the natural pond, the outdoor pool, the new sauna area and the forest behind the hotel. One of my most memorable experiences was seeing the sun rise over the outdoor pool at 7.00 a.m. – wow !!!
Wald.Sein wellness area at the Hotel Retter early in the morning …
… and just while the sun is rising …
… I take a photo of the frozen nature pond outside …
… while happily slipping into the hot thermal pool moments later for the actual sunrise ..!
Work.Well peace and quiet in the morning …
… more of it during the afternoon …
… and don’t you like it late at night, too? You can stay at the spa until 10.00 p.m.
Guided tours & workshops at the organic Retter BioGut estate and shop.
At certain times during the week, public guided tours and exciting creative workshops, such as zero waste, bread baking or Advent wreath making, are offered at the Retter BioGut estate and shop. The Retter BioGut and its organic shop are just a few steps away from the hotel and are worth a visit for all the delicacies that are freshly produced here every day: Bread, pastries, spreads, jams, gin, herbal teas, ice cream and much more!
To set the mood during the tour, there is a very interesting film “How it all began” highlighting the family history of Ulli and Hermann Retter, followed by a tour and tasting of the many local products. Although I have spoken to Ulli Retter personally many times, the film is a really interesting and good addition to all her stories!
Checking out the organic farm shop at the Hotel Retter with my sons …
… we love the tasting that follows …
… as well as getting to know organic baker Gerhard and his colleague, the young baker in the BioGut bakery. What we eat at the hotel is produced fresh here every day – mmmh!
Hotel Retter with kids: Kids’ spa area, games, visiting sheep & chickens!
Although the organic spa resort Hotel Retter caters mostly to adults, you can also enjoy your time here with children. In addition to (board) games for adults in the entrance area, there are also games for children; including a separate children’s playroom where the hotel’s first sauna was once located.
During the normal opening hours of the “Bewusst.sein” wellness area (from 10.00 a.m. to 7.00 p.m.), children are also welcome at the outdoor and indoor whirlpool; the “bubble bath” is an absolute hit with our children.
Outside, we stroke the house cat Moritz, make a few first snowballs and walk less than five minutes to the hotel’s happy chickens and Shropshire ‘lawnmower’ sheep. Liam is thrilled: So many chickens and sheep here!
Around the organic spa resort Hotel Retter …
… we meet the local free-range chicken, who lay their eggs for our breakfast and food …
… greeting the Shropshire sheep with a view over the Pöllau Nature Park valley.
Back at the hotel, it’s playroom time…
… as well as playing several board games perfectly suitable for kids too!
House cat Moritz: We love to follow suit.
Looking to summer: A girls’ trip to the Hotel Retter.
I have also been a guest at the organic spa resort Hotel Retter with friends, most recently during the summer months. Cosy, long evenings on our balcony, chilled sparkling wine in our room, wellness on the summer meadow by the new natural pond … and the delicious 100% organic meals did us a world of good.
Check out what this place can look like during the summertime.
A view to the new wellness areas at the organic spa resort Hotel Retter on a late summer morning.
The new Work.Well rooms with my laptop …
… and here’s a view of the wellness area bar …
… garden wellness dreams, here we go!
Wouldn’t you like it out here, too?
More personal travel tips for exploring Eastern Styria.
Fancy a trip to Eastern Styria? The following blogs posts can help you with your planning:
- Top accommodation tips for visiting Eastern Styria: Hotel Waldhof Muhr and the Retter Bio Natur Resort.
- Steirisch aufRETTERn: A Slow Food Festival Experience at the Hotel Retter in Styria!
- #Babymoon bliss at the Hotel Retter in Styria, Austria.
- #Babymoon bliss reloaded: Hotel Retter in Styria, Austria.
- Slow Trips: Experience people and culture in Eastern Styria.