+ Hideaway, adults-only in winter
+ Restaurant
+ Winter special “holzgauer.herd”
+ Private spa
+ 8 rooms in the main house
+ 11 lifestyle lofts
+ restored 1880s main house that kept its original charm
+ modern lifestyle lofts for guests who prefer a higher level of privacy
Holzgauer Haus
An old mountain hut with a modern twist: Holzgauer Haus is the perfect hideaway, whether you like skiing or hiking Arlberg or just breathing in crisp mountain air.
+ Hideaway, adults-only in winter
+ Restaurant
+ Winter special “holzgauer.herd”
+ Private spa
+ 8 rooms in the main house
+ 11 lifestyle lofts
+ restored 1880s main house that kept its original charm
+ modern lifestyle lofts for guests who prefer a higher level of privacy
The Arlberg, the natural border between Tyrol and Vorarlberg. Distinctive wooden houses, catching the last light 1,500 meters up. Welcome to Holzgauer Haus, part mountain refuge, part secluded hideaway – where the valley’s stress stays behind and relaxation takes the lead.
Holzgauer haus
Living in the moment
So here we are, leaning back on the wooden bench outside Holzgauer Haus, blinking into the sun. The view is simply stunning. A moment ago we were still turning over things in our minds that only matter down in the valley. Yet being up here, whatever mattered down below – gone, within a heartbeat. This moment is the real luxury.
The main building of Holzgauer Haus is untouched, original, authentic. Still, it shines with a modern spirit and design that’s actually been thought through. A dream of a retreat. A perfect hideaway for the permanently stressed city dweller.
That the old rooms feel so ahead of their time is no accident – it is our host Christine’s doing. The moment she spots us, she conjures up a snack and a glass of sparkling Pét-Nat for us. And she lets us take a peek into her philosophy as a host.
Christine spent years on the road herself, a good stretch of it in Vienna. Every place along the way left its mark on her vision of hospitality – and hence, on Holzgauer Haus. The hotel that used to be a mountain refuge took a huge step towards the future with its lofts, which now extend the main house. Lighter wood. Futuristic architecture. Beautiful details in every corner. Panorama bathtubs that need no further convincing.
Holzgauer Haus is Christine’s place, through and through. She has a way of making us feel right at home – while everything that seemed important down in the valley below stays exactly there. Small details, clean architecture and her vision of hospitality – together, they let us unwind before we even notice.
Holzgauer haus
The heart of Holzgauer Haus
The comfort of the here and now aside, Christine really wanted to keep telling a story – the story of the house she grew up in: Holzgauer Haus. She’s a women of great detail, unmistakably, and her house is full of small, lovingly curated surprises. Fresh meadow herbs and flowers on every table. The Stuben, restored and shining brightly – without losing what made them so special in the first place. The old stove, too heavy to disassemble during renovation.
So the stove stayed – and still serves as the center of it all, for guests and hosts alike. That’s how Christine intended it, and how it will stay: a stove to cook on, a place to gather around for the first meal of the day, the beating heart of the house. Where talk turns to architecture, to art, to whatever the next few days in the mountains might hold.
Sometimes we want time to ourselves – that’s what the private spa is for. We book slots for the Finnish sauna, the whirlpool, the open-air shower. And when we’re in the mood for company again, we head to the spring-water Kneipp pool outside. Either way, up here at Holzgauer Haus we have time – time for the conversations, with each other and with other guests, that everyday life down in the valley never quite makes room for.
Holzgauer haus
A place steeped in history
Holzgauer Haus has always been a mountain refuge, open to hikers stopping for an afternoon snack and overnight guests alike – and Christine wants it to stay that way. Its history as a mountain hut isn’t lost on her – maybe that’s why she kept the old dishes, still stamped with the Austria’s Alpine Club’s mark.
A place where people end up talking to each other without quite meaning to: hikers, stressed-out city dwellers, anyone just looking for a bit of quiet – all falling into conversation like it’s the easiest thing in the world. And up on the Arlberg it might as well be.
A place up in the mountains, where we meet a handful of other guests and talk about things that we tend to forget down in the valley. And where we can just sit, and watch the light move across the peaks. Mountains. Silence. Just Holzgauer Haus, and us.
The location
Holzgauer Haus is located on 1,500 meters in the Arlberg region, between Tyrol and Vorarlberg.
