A veritable haven at the heart of Austria

Surrounded by meadows and forests on the slopes of the Asitz mountains, the Forsthofgut Nature Hotel in Leogang, Austria welcomes its guests in an idyllic natural setting. Founded in 1617, the hotel has always been family-owned: under the far-sighted management of the Schmuck family, it has become one of the most prestigious Nature Hotels in Austria.

Its 102 rooms and suites combine tradition and modern comfort. All materials are inspired by local architecture and textiles, such as heavy loden, felt, deerskin leather, luxury wallpaper, and sun-bleached wood, sitting comfortably alongside handmade furniture and state-of-the-art technology. For guests requiring absolute privacy, the Hotel offers two Landleben chalet suites: with more than 145 m2 of living space, an open fire, a private sauna on the terrace and a bath with a gorgeous view of the mountains, these two suites are a veritable haven at the heart of Leogang’s picturesque environment.

The waldSPA an exclusive wellness concept

The heart of the Forsthofgut Hotel is the waldSPA: opened in 2016, it has an indoor woodland garden, a large outdoor sauna and a rock-framed waterfall fed by the hotel’s own natural spring. The four elements intertwine with an overarching forest theme, created with carefully selected materials from the nearby forests. Spa products made from locally sourced products complete and enrich the experience. The Forsthofgut has already received several awards for its unique wellness concept, including “waldWIESE”, a relaxing treatment taking place in a secluded woodland clearing to experience the magic of the forest.

The hotel’s food offering – ForsthofgutKUCHE – focuses on sustainable local products, most of which come from suppliers within a 50 km radius. The culinary concept relies on three gastro-themes: Alpine, Local and Vegan, bringing an outstanding variety of creations to the table. The new packaging-free buffet area features individual market-style stalls: a dairy storefront; a butcher’s shop with 100% Austrian meat; a bakery; a smoothie/coffee bar; a wine store, and a fruit stall.

Pinzgauer miniGUT the first children’s farm

Children are welcome at the Nature Hotel, thanks to a carefully curated offer: a children’s club, offering supervised lunch and dinner as well as a buffet filled with nutritious, healthy food that children can harvest and prepare themselves from the hotel’s vegetable and herb garden. Pinzgauer miniGUT – the first children’s farm of its kind – offers the Hotel’s youngest guests the opportunity to feed and care for animals, as well as enjoying a playground, deer park, and aqua-play area on the edge of the forest. With a ski school only 150 meters away and a ski trail running past the hotel, the Forsthofgut is a holiday paradise for kids of all ages.

Business travelers looking for a relaxing work environment can enjoy the Forsthofgut’s panoramic meeting rooms, bathed in natural light with grand views of the Steinberg mountains. waldZEIT means they can combine their working stay with yoga, deer feeding, or individual training in the woods.

Surrounded by forest against a backdrop of mountains, the Hotel’s lake is a magical setting for celebrations and weddings. Whether it’s a carriage ride or marriage in the chapel, the Forsthofgut Nature Hotel is where dreams of a romantic party at the heart of nature come true.

And to enhance and add value to an already full package, hosts Christoph and Christina Schmuck used the lockdown as an opportunity to invest on their exquisite retreat, in pursuit of their vision of perfect synergy with nature and optimal well-being.

The renovations include the new waldSPA Lakehouse, a haven of natural light and pale wood. This adults-only sanctuary overlooks the hotel’s beautiful pool and includes a Japanese-theme restaurant, new spa features, an onsen-style pool and three exclusive garden loft suites.

“It’s not about being the biggest, fastest or tallest,” says Christoph Schmuck. “It’s about our guests. We want them to feel special and to take away an enduring memory of contentment.”