ALPEN TRAVEL TIPS & PICKS - AUSTRIA: Schloss Matzen - An Austrian Castle Hotel Fantasy

Romantic Schloss Matzen

Gut translates to
"The Property of"

Since my early twenties in England (working in the days of early "high tech", where I was given carte blanche to stay where I liked on business trips), I have always gravitated towards period properties, aka. classy, historic places to stay.

Twenty five years later, I still seek out those unique hotels, inns and Bed & Breakfasts which exude centuries of character and indiscrete luxury - establishments to be heard, felt and understood by those who have that rare sixth sense. I was born - for the better or worse: "one of those".



Grand entrance to Schloss Matzen

Majestic Schloss Matzen

Ex high-tech slave turned luxury lifestyle journalist, I recently just "happened" upon one of the most amazing properties in which I have ever had the privilege of residing: Schloss Matzen. This thousand year old beautifully restored and maintained castle is a one of a kind in the region. It is nestled near the ancient village of Reith in the Tyrolean Alps and at the gateway to the scenic Alpebachtal Valley (known for its beauty and great hiking and skiing). 

Furry greeter (with an Alpen Schatz Swiss Collar - go figure!)

For history buffs, the location of the castle has been documented since Roman times as the location of strategic staging posts and eventually this gothic castle which was built sometime before 1150. Read more about the fascinating history of the castle HERE.

Entrance to my chamber

My luxurious suite - named after the Countess of Yrsch

Lavishly appointed with priceless antiques, rich bed linens and plush tapestry curtains, one is shamelessly spoiled like the Lords and Ladies who once occupied the property. Indeed each one of its twelve individually decorated suites is named after one of the dynasties who ruled the region for that period starting in the 12th century.



My bathroom - fit for a Queen

Last long hallway to my room after two flights of windy spiral stairs.

The rooms have breathtaking views of the surrounding Tyrolean Alps, however they do come with a price! As in most castles, the royalty lived in the turrets and upper floors - for safety reasons, and this Castle, true to form, has no lifts or elevators.


One gets to hike through classic courtyards, up spiral stairs and along indoor/outdoor passages to get to one's room.



For me this added to the authenticity and adventure - a maze of excitement, however if one has problems climbing stairs or walking this beautiful Schloss hotel might not be for you.

Welcome to breakfast!

The breakfast room and breakfast itself is to die for.

Medieval banquet hall - breakfast! 

Breakfast buffet

My breakfast...exquisite!

Set in the medieval banquet hall, with soft classical music floating like magic through the air, one dines on fresh breads, meats, smoked salmon and cheeses...with the option to order eggs any style cooked fresh to order.



The banquet hall is adjoined to one of the most beautiful private chapels I have ever discovered on my travels. It offers one a sanctuary for personal quiescence and meditation. Amazing...spiritual...and breathtakingly beautiful.

Private chapel for meditation

Manicured gardens in which to wonder

Reflection

The castle is set on acres of meticulously maintained gardens, with its own duck laden ponds and forest with paths to be explored. An idyllic sanctuary for the romantic or those just needing a retreat from the hecticness of day to day life.

In summary, if you are searching for a once in a lifetime castle hotel experience, Schloss Matzen is my top pick. A bit pricey, however every penny is worth it to pamper one's self like a king or queen for just once in this lifetime.

Writing my travel notes from a watch tower on the grounds
 overlooking Schloss Matzen

Check out my pictures of this magnificent palatial castle and the surrounding areas HERE.

Feel free to contact me for reservations to secure a great room and a holiday experience of a lifetime. Or if you book directly, please mention that you heard about this fabulous hotel through Mary Dawn DeBriae's Alpen Tips and Pics Travel BLOG.

Schloss Matzen
Schlosshotel in Tirol
Matzen 5 / 6235 Reith im Alpbachtal, / Austria
Tel.: +43 (0) 676 4459997

www.schlosshotel-matzen.com/

Dining recommendations in the area:

Gut Matzen Restaurant - situated in what was once Schloss Matzen's stable, and inside a romantic walled floral garden on the property, the Gut Matzen restaurant offers fabulous flavourful cuisine from the region at great prices. They do have a night when they are closed so be sure to enquire ahead.

My favourite seasonal cuisine:
White "Spargel" or Asparagus with hollandaise sauce
and delicious accompaniments.

Pizerria Don Camillo - on all of my Austrian adventures, I always take time out to dine in a classic  Italiana Pizzeria, with gourmet thin crust Italian pizzas (meant for one person). These Pizzeria's litter Austria, being so close to Italy, and are always to die for in quality and flavor. Don Camillo's is a short drive from Schloss Matzen and has tasty cuisine and one can dine outside on a nice evening - my favourite style of Euro dining!

Gourmet Pizza (Spinach, Garlic and Gorgonzola)
by Don Camillo in Reith

 
Things to do in the area:

Hiking in Alpbachtal

ALPBACHTAL - Schloss Matzen is ideally situated in touted one of the most beautiful (and believe you me, there are many of them in Austria - hard to quantify!) Tyrolean Alpine valleys in Austria: the Alpbachtal. This area has a handful of villages from which one can hike, ski, or sit and relax and enjoy the stellar views of the surrounding Alps from this region. I had a short amount of time, however plan on visiting again soon to go one some amazing hikes.


KISSLINGER KRISTAL:

Fine Austrian Crystal by Kisslinger Kristal

In the nearby quaint medieval town of Rattenberg lies one of Austria's best kept secrets: Kisslinger Kristal. Kisslinger Kristal has been making beautiful glassware for over a century in Rattenberg. Situated in the base of the "Rat Mountain" and in the caves underneath the castle, it boasts a stunning shop filled with its handmade crystal along with glass blowing and glass etching demonstrations. Alpen Schatz imports Kisslinger Kristal glassware from this special factory who etches custom Alpine designs onto the wine and beer glasses we import.

Check out pictures of their shop HERE.

 

Also see ENGLAND:  London, Oxford, Chester / IRELAND Galway / Dingle
SWITZERLAND: Geneva, Lake Geneva, Gruyers, Appenzell

AUSTRIA: Tyrolean Alpbachtal 
 

Check out all pictures of my trips on

Flickr

 

 

ME! In a pre-historic
Irish Bee Hive Hut

 

  ABOUT

ALPEN TIPS & PICKS 
European Travel Adventures

 

" Life is a book, and those who don't travel read only one page."

 

Enjoy your visit to the Alpbachtal region of Austria. Please don't hesitate to contact me with any questions when planning your own trip to England, Ireland or Europe! After living in and travelling to Europe for almost 30 years, I love to help plan and recommend as and when I can! I can even assist in bookings and being a personal guide if one likes! My trips offer a different and much more personal perspective to traveling in Europe.

Read a little bit more about me and my travel style and services HERE

Enjoy the adventure!
 

Mary Dawn DeBriae

 

European Tips and Picks -
Alpen Schatz Style

www.AlpenSchatz.com

 

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ALPEN TIPS & PICKS

ALPEN TRAVEL TIPS & PICKS: Five Paw Alpine Luxury at the SONNENALP in Vail, Colorado

Lapping it up in European Luxury - 
There's no place better than

The SONNENALP in Vail, Colorado

Reminiscent of five star European Alpine luxury, the Sonnenalp Resort in the heart of Vail, Colorado takes the cake.  With its whitewashed walls, rustic beams, rounded arches, wooden  and classic “Bauernhaus”  (farmhouse) furnishings, one feels transported right into the Bavarian Alps.

Pet Friendly staff greeting DaVinci and Valentino

Alpine furnishings
adorn the hallways

The boys, Valentino and DaVinci, were greeted with smiles and welcoming pets as we trundled into the lobby after our long drive from Telluride, Colorado. Having enjoyed living 16 years in Europe, the Sonnenalp enveloped us with relaxing warmth and Gemüetlichkeit that is standard in Alpine classic country resorts.

Impressive professional staff wearing classic Alpine boiled wool vests offered the boys treats and the Concierge generously offered to walk the pups, should we be gone for any extended period of time at dinner, shopping, hiking or skiing.

Alpine fireplaces and wooden
Schranks complete the European
look and feel

The rooms are luxuriously large, complete with wooden European furnishings, romantic balconies and warm inviting fireplaces.

The boys enjoying our spacious room

The beds are super comfortable ...

Testing out the bed. Yup! Just right!

and the bathroom palatial - complete with jaccuzi tub and separate shower and WC.

Palatial bathroom

 
  

The robes they provide tempt one to take a warm bubble bath...

 or relax in their world class European SPA.

The Sonnenalp SPA boasts an indoor-outdoor serpentine heated pool





and indoor-outdoor hot tubs.

As with all fine European SPAS, the Sonnenalp Spa is designed around the Zen of ultimate relaxation, healing, and health. It even boasts a rather large fire place with comfortable seating on which to relax in between soaks or treatments. Their juice bar offers light healthy snacks as well as signature cocktails for that romantic evening spent with one's partner. Lawrence and I spent a magical evening in the spa unwinding and dreaming of our next trip back to Europe.

The Sonnenalp is  the last Family owned and operated hotel in Vail, run by the second generation of its German founder who created the first  Sonnenalp Resort in Bavaria, Germany. Pictures of the original Sonnenalp adorn the walls of its Vail counterpart. The Bavarian Sonnenalp was founded in 1911 when an old Bavarian farmhouse was converted into the first hotel.

True to its German environmentally conscious roots, the Sonnenalp is a 100% green hotel  - in fact the only 100% green hotel in the whole of Vail Valley! 



Valentino and DaVinci exploring the river bank
 behind the Sonnenalp

The resort is nestled next to the Gore River and offers ample places on either side of the river to allow one’s pup to romp and play without fear of cars or traffic. Each am and pm we took a quiet stroll on the lawns opposite the hotel , along the river leading into the core of downtown Vail with its many quaint shops and restaurants – to include the pups favourite – The Pet Boutique of Vail.

ALPEN SHOPPING TIP

The Pet Boutique of Vail is a darling pet boutique with all sorts of yummy treats and toys…not to mention their fine selection of European collars,  leashes and cowbells from Alpen Schatz! 

Getting yummy treats from
Deena, the owner

Deena, the owner, warmly welcomes people and their pets alike. In fact, Valentino and DaVinci know exactly where the boutique is, and hardly able to contain their enthusiasm, always break into a canter once we reach the pedestrian zone leading to their favourite shop.

THE PET BOUTIQUE OF VAIL
182 Gore Creek Drive, Vail, CO
970-476-0255

ALPEN DINING TIP
SONNENALP RESTAURANTS

Mouthwatering Seared Ahi Tuna Salad, warm Artichoke Dip
and scrumptious Cobb Salad

For restaurants, one need not go far. The Sonnenalp itself boasts TWO fantastic restaurants: The Swiss Chalet and Bully Ranch. At both of these fine establishments, one can dine happily with their pup in tow on one of their two outdoor patios. One evening we encountered FOUR other Bernese guests dining with their owners between both restaurants. My boys were in Berner heaven!

During my stay, I sampled both restaurants and had the most amazing traditional Swiss Fondue at the romantic Swiss Chalet and at the more rustic Bully Ranch German-style "Stube" restaurant, I savoured the most amazing Seared Ahi Tuna salad - wonderfully fresh and seared to perfection.

THE SWISS CHALET and BULLY RANCH
Both located in the Sonnenalp Resort Hotel, Vail
Reservations 970-479-5429

THE ALPENROSE

Across the street from the Sonnenalp is another great pet friendly restaurant:  The Alpenrose.  The Alpenrose is not just a restaurant, but bakery as well. Here one can dine on German-style cuisine with their beloved pup(s) in tow. The Alpenrose takes dog dining seriously as they even offer a Doggy Menu, complete with Brats and  Brotchen served on porcelain so that Fido won’t feel  left out.

THE ALPENROSE
100 East Meadow Drive, Vail, CO
970-476-8899

ALPEN BREAKFAST TIP

On our morning walk, we discovered Loaded Joe’s - a great place to get a quick morning coffee or tea and light breakfast sandwich or croissant. The privately owned cafe is situated right across the famous Covered Bridge in the Vail Village Core. It is next to a small riverside lawn complete with picnic tables.  

Loaded Joe's offers a tasty selection of breakfast, lunch and late night dining options. This quaint Vail cafe also doubles as a late night joint, offering food up until 2am when the bars have closed. Needless to say, I did not experience their late night "after hours" cuisine, but their breakfast and tea is always a perfect way to start the day, dining on one of the picnic tables with my pups, Valentino and DaVinci frolicking on the lawn and chasing Vail squirrels up the trees lining the banks of the Gore river.

DaVinci looking for Squirrels

LOADED JOE'S
227 Bridge St, Vail, CO
970-479-2883

OFFICIAL HOST HOTEL of the FIS Ski Championships 2015

President of the Vail Valley Foundation checking out
Alpen Schatz goods at the FIS Expo at the Sonnenalp

We love the Sonnenalp so much, that we have stayed multiple times, both in winter and summer.  My visit last summer, happened to coincide with an Alpen Schatz business trip to attend a Sonnenalp hosted gathering of the Who’s Who of Vail and the surrounding towns who are involved with the exciting upcoming 2015 FIS WorldSki Championships.


With the European flair of this event, typically taking place in Europe, the local organizers invited AlpenSchatz to “show and tell” its European imports in light of making custom European gifts, giveaways and souvenirs for the event. 

My pups and I exhibited our European made Alpine Pins, Hats, Steins, Dog Collars and Cowbells and strategized on how we could best customize these items for the shops in Vail to sell.

The Sonnenalp is one of the main sponsor hotels for the event, and it is no wonder with its Alpine style that it will be hosting some of the European teams competing. See our posting on the FIS Event and the Sonnenalp's participation HERE.

WOOF!
We LOVE the Sonnenalp!
It get's a FIVE PAW rating from us every visit-
Valentino and DaVinci

 All in all, our pups, my fiance, Lawrence, and I always look forward to our next visit to this delightful bubble of European luxury nestled in the heart of the bustling village of Vail, Colorado.

 The SONNENALP

European Luxury in the Heart of the Rockies

20 Vail Rd, Vail, CO

970-476-5656