Art & Relax Hotel Bergwelt

Art and Relax Hotel Bergwelt in Austria's Gurgl region is a slope-side ski hotel of alpine richness and homey boutique demure. It has everything ticked for a great ski, spa and mountain vacation in Austria – with the Tyrolean slopes of the Ötztal valley literally on the doorstep.

Inside, the familiar and homey Alpine mantra of wood meets customary stag’s head, boutique collectables and luxury soft textiles gloriously root this luxury boutique hotel into Tirol and the Alps.

There is something naturally comforting about an interior inspired by the family, resulting in an original melting pot of traditional cosiness and modern accents, heirlooms with art and a legacy of deliciousness awaiting at every dining experience. Blending seamlessly into the snowy backdrop of Austria's Obergurgl, Art and Relax Hotel Bergwelt’s dna is all about the adventurous architecture of the 60s - taking a “Bond” inspired curved chalet prose that's all frosted in snow-matching white.

This luxury ski hotel clings effortlessly to the high plateau and frames the adrenalin-spiked mountain peaks of the Tirol ayonder. Aching joints and heavy heads from too much après-ski are soothed in the slow-lane, where aficionados can relish in the fabulous boutique spa, geared for total chill-time.

A place to snug, scoop up some of the best ski in Austria and delight in staying with a resident family that bathe the hotel in natural warmth.

Whether you’ve been taking in fresh air and mountain panoramas by foot, ski, snowboard or perhaps sledge, a comfortable room when staying in the Alps is in our opinion one of life’s necessities. Luckily at Art & Relax Hotel Bergwelt, they’ve got the cosy memo locked in. In true Alpine style, beds are the focal point of the room, with neat duvets folded invitingly, some beds with curtains to draw round. Warm and stylishly comfortable, you can be snug and smug in your room or suite, whilst looking at the encircling mountains – either plotting your next adventure or simply admiring their majesty.

All of the rooms have particular features to make you feel really at home. Some suites have panoramic windows and dramatic wraparound Alpine vistas, others have open fireplaces for the ultimate in hunkering down. We like the Junior Suite with its sun-drenched south facing balcony and Tyrolean wallpapers framed by wood.

An Alpine and neighbouring French-Italian theme runs through the foodie offerings, in restaurants under the creative direction of Chef Claus Sagernik. Art and Relax Hotel Bergwelt is actually highly renowned within Austria and the ski fraternity for its food - from fine dining to casual hearty Alpine dishes. Breakfast is a feast of organic and bio produce, including a muesli and milk bar and special egg menus. There are a string of eating options at the Hotel Bergwelt too, from half-board and fixed menu to à la Carte in Bergwelt's Fireplace Lounge restaurant - an Alpine cabin styled eatery decked in rich woods. Panorama Restaurant - fine dining with, as obviously as the name suggests, stunning vistas to the mountains is decorated in a lovely warm contemporary country house style. Then there is Bergwelt's Dining Room, full of chalet chic, and of course, the well-stocked in-house wine cellars where tastings are offered. 

There is also a fabulous Après Ski bar with snug leather sofas around the fireplace and views to sink in to. In the daytime, the sun-trap terrace is a firm favourite.

A truly Alpine spa with vistas of the snow-capped mountains, complete with the highest outdoor saltwater pool in the Alps greets you at boutique Art and Relax Hotel Bergwelt. If iceman Ötzi still wandered the mountains here he would surely have tried out the spa to treat his poor freeze-dried skin.

The luxury spa is layered over 3 floors and faces the mountainside, geared to an international crowd, it has treatments ranging from the Alps to the Far East and offers a further indoor pool, jacuzzi, bio-sauna, infrared cabins, and steam and finish sauna - there are also separate facilities for the ladies, families & kids at the general Panorama Spa. Favourite treatments here are the Bergwelt Herbal Stamp Massage, the Hamam Soap Massage and the Egyptian Dead Sea wraps.  

Beauty and post-ski skin is treated by the expertise of !QMS Medicosmetics. Created by pioneer Dr. Schulte, a former Trauma and Cosmetic Surgeon turned guru of Anti-Aging-Effective Systems, !QMS uses Collagen facial care systems to scientifically-proven skin treatments - he is an award winner of the 2015 World's Best Spa Brand.

Location

The Bergwelt's location in Austria's Tirol is simply stunning and leads into the Nature Park Ötztal, with ski lifts Scheiber Rosskarbahn at the front door, giving easy access to Gaiserberglift and Wiesenlift. Village life of Obergurgl is all around the hotel, where the restaurants, bars, skiwear and boutiques snuggle together in the quiet snow.