A Retreat into WALD.WEIT - Rheingau Review

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WALD.WEIT
*Where the Forest Breathes and the Vine Whispers

High above the Rheingau valley, somewhere between the sacred silence of the forest and the poised rows of Riesling vines, lies WALD.WEIT, a sanctuary designed to hold you.

The architecture emerges as a tribute to nature, shaped by its rhythm and presence. A rhythm of vertical wood, floor-to-ceiling glass, and gentle curves echoes the tall stillness of the Hahnwald that surrounds the property. Every line seems drawn from the land.

WALD.WEIT Rheingau Hotel & Retreat, Lobby
seen Tim Karapetian

WALD.WEIT Rheingau Hotel & Retreat
Architecture

From our first step onto the elevated plateau near Kiedrich – a town that feels too poetic to be real – WALD.WEIT invites breath, real breath. That kind that expands your ribs, your pace, your presence.

The hotel’s design speaks in quiet textures. Neutral tones, tactile materials, and forms that feel shaped by the land itself. Inside the WALD.WEIT Suite, nature enters fully—through floor-to-ceiling windows, through the scent of wood, through stillness that fills the room like light. Every surface feels deliberate and every detail rests. Beds are oriented toward the treetops, terraces suspend you above the canopy, and silence is full of birdsong and stillness.

Then there’s the spa. Panoramic rooftop saunas, the hands of a massage team whose intuition needs no words, and treatments that seem to tap into the landscape’s own wisdom. Inhale fir, exhale fatigue. The upcoming 6,500m² spa extension promises an infinity pool that slips into a natural swimming pond, a body of water that mirrors sky and self.

At WALD.FEIN, the restaurant, the forest arrives again, but this time as flavor. Chef Falk Richter distills the region’s essence into each course, foraging aesthetics into the plate: fermented cauliflower, gold trout with dandelion and topinambur, and venison with birch bark pasta. Each ingredient local, each dish a dialogue. We sipped Robert Weil’s Riesling as a continuation of the story outside. With 300 labels to explore, each bottle unfolds its own complete tale.

Robert Weil Riesling at WALD.FEIN Restaurant

WALD.WEIT Rheingau Hotel & Retreat
seen Tim Karapetian

WALD.WEIT Suite
seen Thomas Ott

WALD.WEIT Suite
seen Tim Karapetian

WALD.WEIT Suite
seen Tim Karapetian

WALD.WEIT carries its strength in the quiet continuity between indulgence and intention. Sustainability lives in every layer, from the geothermal system beneath the earth to the timber sourced from local forests, from smart automation that regulates warmth and light to architectural decisions rooted in ecological responsibility. The result is a place that speaks fluently in the language of longevity, where the air feels as considered as the materials, and where presence becomes part of the rhythm.

Beyond the retreat, the landscape opens into centuries of cultivated beauty. A forest path leads to Kloster Eberbach, where stone and silence hold Gothic history with grace. Further through the valley, the Weingut Robert Weil invites you into a world where Riesling is understood and where the process behind every vintage is shared with the joy, passion, and precision it deserves. A visit here is essential, as an immersion into the aesthetic and spirit of the Rheingau.

Time at WALD.WEIT stretches gently and days move between walking trails and mountain paths, between spa rituals and quiet forest air, between meals that nourish and views that still the mind. The garden welcomes you back after movement, after discovery, and after reflection. There’s only a returning to something grounded, deliberate, and whole.

This place resonates and every detail, from architecture to atmosphere, extends an invitation to dwell in balance—with the land, with time, with yourself. Enjoy your stay!

visit WALD.WEIT Hotel Website www.wald-weit.com
follow on Instagram @wald.weit.retreat


all images (c) WALD.WEIT

DAS.GOLDBERG Hotel - Bad Hofgastein Review

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A Family Journey to DAS.GOLDBERG
*Where Silence, Stone, and Sky Gather

Above the rooftops of Bad Hofgastein, DAS.GOLDBERG rests on a plateau that opens wide to sky and valley.

The air holds a kind of hush, broken only by the movement of fir trees and the sound of water from the natural lake below. Stone, glass, wood, and gold-toned light structure this place, a rhythm that repeats across its suites, pathways, and spa.

Arrival is through a drawbridge. Inside, patterns form in a bed of sand beneath a suspended pendulum. The lobby’s air tastes of roasted beans from the in-house coffee roastery. Each object here is chosen: leather, linen, light, all part of a quiet design language shaped by Austrian hands and alpine sensibility. Our family—two adults, two children—stepped into this rhythm without resistance. Mornings began with homemade granola and spelt breads; evenings closed with five thoughtful courses and the warmth of herbal tea. In between we had slow walks through tall grass, long views from the terrace, moments of immersion in the infinity pool and whirlpool that catch the last of the sun.

The design of DAS.GOLDBERG speaks through materials, it´s aged oak, alpine wool, slate, and handblown glass. The rooms open fully to the mountains, with large windows and balconies that stretch into the air. A swing chair waits beside the fireplace, while golden accents trace through the neutral tones of each suite. The silence is soft, not empty, it´s full of breath and light.

In the spa, the hotel´s guests move through warmth and water. A golden Caldarium made of 420,000 kilograms of stone recalls the region’s history of healing and gold. A natural lake, heated by the earth, lies below. The scent of pine from the saunas and the warmth of the stone underfoot invite long pauses. Guests rest in quiet rooms lined with pine wood. There, heart and breath settle into something slower.

The philosophy of DAS.GOLDBERG carries through every detail. “Wald.Wiese.Wertvolles” is their framework. The kitchen works closely with local farmers and foragers. Grains from Pongau, herbs from the garden, trout from the hotel’s own pond. Flavors stay close to the land and a separate menu each evening opens with plant-based dishes drawn from meadow and forest.

Children move through the hotel like small explorers. The landscape offers everything, streams to follow, stones to stack, fields to cross barefoot. Indoors, the architecture holds calm, designed more for stillness than play. There is no room of noise or toys, so families who travel with very young children may find fewer structured spaces. Here, the invitation leans to wander, collect flowers and feel the shape of time unfold without schedule.

DAS.GOLDBERG Hotel, Wellness Spa
(c) Günter Standl (cropped)

DAS.GOLDBERG Hotel, Restaurant
(c) Günter Standl

The staff move with intention, gliding through the space with a presence that feels attentive and unobtrusive, shaping each encounter into something intuitive. There is a sense of ease in the way requests are anticipated before they are spoken, in the way names are remembered without rehearsal, and in the way Vera and Georg Seer remain part of the hotel’s living rhythm. They appear not as distant figures behind the concept, but as active hosts who share morning coffee, recommend walking paths, and offer small moments of connection that feel sincere.

The experience shifts with the seasons. In the colder months, snow gathers along the spa’s edge and softens the views beyond the infinity pool. Skiers arrive and depart directly from the hotel’s slope-side location, stepping into the day with no delay. Inside, the warmth of wood, water, and steam creates a kind of cocoon, while outside the world is white and still. When the snow fades and the air warms, trails open in every direction. Guests move outward into the hills, toward lakes that mirror the sky and forests that breathe in silence.

The yoga space stands with quiet dignity, shaped from darkened timber and framed by the peaks beyond. Its walls carry the weight of sun and weather, and its floor feels grounded, connected to the hillside. With each movement, the room becomes a shelter for breath and stillness. Nothing interrupts, nothing pulls the attention away.

Throughout DAS.GOLDBERG, the experience unfolds without rush. The architecture offers balance, the materials speak softly, and the food aligns with the rhythm of the day. Each element holds its place without seeking notice. There is no division between what is offered and what is needed. Families find their own pace among meadows and pine, couples sink into quiet rituals, and those traveling alone move with freedom through rooms, trails, and moments of pause. The landscape, the design, and the intention behind every detail form a complete expression of presence, not as a performance but as a way of being. Enjoy your stay!

visit DAS.GOLDBERG Hotel Website www.dasgoldberg.at
follow on Instagram @dasgoldberg


all images (c) DAS.GOLDBERG

Engelwirt Hotel & Apartments *Artful Living in Berching

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Engelwirt Hotel & Apartments
*A Space for Creativity, Comfort, and Culture

reviewed Alban E. Smajli

Berching, surrounded by rolling landscapes and historical architecture, offers a setting of quiet energy. At its center stands Engelwirt Hotel & Apartments, a collection of restored and newly built spaces developed by Stephanie and Michael Zink. Each room tells a story shaped by architecture, art, and attention to detail.

The hotel consists of 15 apartments and suites, some housed in baroque buildings from 1686, others created through contemporary craftsmanship. Guests find antique doors, preserved ceilings, and restored floors. Elements from the past continue through handpicked vintage furniture, while newer additions add depth and warmth. Materials, tones, and surfaces are arranged with calm precision, forming interiors that carry elegance and a lived-in sense of comfort.

Engelwirt Hotel & Apartments, Berching
Large Garden Apartment Engelwirt
© Erich Spahn

Engelwirt Hotel & Apartments, Berching
Balcony Room Engelwirt
© Erich Spahn

Stephanie Zink developed each interior with the hand of a designer and the eye of a collector. Her experience in fashion and material design guides the color schemes—deep red-oranges, light blues, and gentle greys—layered onto antique wood, terrazzo, linen, and stone. The furniture includes selected pieces from Moroso, Moooi, Moormann, Wegner, Thonet, and Prouvé. Lighting by Ingo Maurer and Artemide highlights artwork and architectural detail without distraction.

Each apartment holds original works by established artists such as Michael Sailstorfer, Gregory Forstner, Rinus Van de Velde, Paul Kooiker, or Matías Sánchez. Paintings, photographs, and sculptures are present in every room, hallway, and common area. Guests share space with these pieces—at the kitchen table, across from the bed, near the desk. The atmosphere reflects the Zinks’ philosophy of living with art rather than observing it at a distance.

Work-friendly amenities are built into many apartments. Desks, natural lighting, and strong connectivity allow guests to extend their stays, combining travel and work without disruption. Fully equipped kitchens support longer visits. Several apartments are maisonettes, offering additional space for writing, reading, or creative focus. Twelve apartments include kitchens, allowing complete independence.

Just beyond the hotel, the Zink Gallery welcomes visitors by appointment and is open to the public on Sundays. Located in Waldkirchen, 15 minutes from Berching, the gallery presents international contemporary artists in a building designed by Atelier Dimanche. The architects also planned the Engelwirt restoration and new buildings. Their work integrates preserved baroque elements and modern geometry with exacting continuity. The gallery also houses the Engelwirt’s own distillery, further anchoring the hotel in a world of craftsmanship and process.

Engelwirt Hotel & Apartments, Berching
Probstapartment 1
© Erich Spahn

Engelwirt Hotel & Apartments, Berching
Salon Engelwirt
© Erich Spahn

Engelwirt Hotel & Apartments, Berching
Justizia Apartment Engelwirt
© Erich Spahn

Engelwirt Hotel & Apartments, Berching
Maisonette City Wall Engelwirt
© Erich Spahn

Gallery Zink Waldkirchen
© Erich Spahn

The Engelwirt interiors speak through harmony rather than statement. The courtyard invites quiet gatherings. A café and concept store showcase regional wines, handmade soaps, ceramics, books, and specialty foods. Seasonal events and local collaborations add to the rhythm of daily life.

For those seeking focused time with teams or partners, Engelwirt offers spaces for meetings, planning sessions, and creative exchanges. The salon, the winter garden, and select apartments accommodate small gatherings. The setup includes kitchen access, regional catering, and on-site coordination. Gallery visits, cooking classes, and guided walks through Berching extend the experience beyond the meeting space.

Berching itself offers a rhythm that suits the Engelwirt mindset. Streets remain calm, the preserved town wall encircles history without excess. Music events such as the Gluck Festival, artist talks, and farmers markets draw locals and guests into quiet interaction. The nearby canal, trails, and woodlands invite stillness and movement without effort.

At Engelwirt, nothing interrupts the flow of time. The surroundings, the interiors, the artworks, and the services operate with the same intention: to provide a grounded, generous place to stay, to work, to think, to feel. Enjoy!

visit Engelwirt Website www.engelwirt.com
follow on Instagram @engelwirtapartments