The Vibe: Bauer Baroque

The Area: In the bucolic village of Schwarzenberg surrounded by the mountains and pastures of the Bregenzer Forest. The hotel is opposite a wonderful medieval church and offers sweeping vistas on up to the mountains. Scenic Lake Constance, Dornbirn and Bregenz are a short drive away.

The DNA: Built in 1757, the authentic Gasthof Hirschen is a boutique hotel avant-la-lettre. Behind its Baronial façade of cured timber, mandatory flowering blooms and Austrian frescos you will discover a fascinating history and an impressive art collection where rustic meets East Side Gallery. The hotel’s famous restaurants has been awarded 1 toque by Gault Millau and 89 Falstaff points. It serves regional specialities and Austrian cuisine with a contemporary twist, as well as a wide selection of fine Austrian wines in the traditional parlours, dating from the 18th century. The hotel has its own herb and vegetable gardens, smoke house and even a working dairy farm up in the Alps, where happy pigs roam and butter is churned alongside the famous Bregenzerwald cheeses. There is a garden with a sunbathing lawn, a sauna and hiking trails can be enjoyed from the doorstep. In winter a ski bus stops in front to take guests to various areas. Snow shoeing equipment and toboggans can be borrowed free of charge. Focusing on sustainability, the hotel has 2 charging stations for e-cars.  From 1 May to 31 October, the Bregenzerwald Card is included in the rate with a minimum stay of 3 nights. This card offers many free benefits and discounts, including free use of local cable cars, buses, and trains.

Suite-Me-Up: Individually furnished rooms have cosy alpine interiors with wooden furniture and floors, either located in the main building or in the Wälderhaus annex (30 m away).

Your hosts: the Fetz family

✅ free Wi-Fi • size matters: 36 rooms & suites (16-35m2) (172-377 sq ft) • hotel opened: 1757 ✅ free on-site parking • no pets allowed