Water is the defining element at Hotel Bad Schörgau in the South Tyrolean Sarntal. Since the 17th century, guests have been coming to the “Bauernbadl” to enjoy the healing powers of the fresh spring. Hotel Bad Schörgau is located just a quarter of an hour north of the bustling city of Bolzano, nestled in a spacious high valley with gentle slopes that reveal breathtaking views of the towering mountain peaks beyond. The air here is filled with the scent of the Sarner pine, which plays a significant role in the lives of the people, even making its way into the cuisine and beverages.
This brings us to the unique concept of Hotel Bad Schörgau, which I had the pleasure of experiencing over three days.
The team, led by the charismatic spa director Milo, uses the region’s spring water in state-of-the-art hydrotherapy equipment and treatments to cleanse and detoxify both body and mind. Milo honed his craft in Merano at the famous Hotel Palace under Henry Chenot, combining the latest scientific findings with the healing touch of an experienced therapist.
In harmony with the clear mountain air, the warmth of the rustic wood-fired sauna, and the culinary delights, I found myself achieving a near “total renewal” of my body in a short period. The hotel, with its 22 rooms, offers the treatment over 5 and 7 days as well. If only I had more time to spare!
Even in this brief stay, I gained insight into the house’s philosophy, where one individual plays a special role as the visionary and creator of this wonderful place. Gregor Wenter is the creative mind behind the concept. He had already established an impressive career as a television chef when he had to navigate the family-run hotel through troubled waters.
The sudden death of his father in the midst of the hotel’s renovation took everyone by surprise, leaving a gap that Gregor had to fill with energy and good ideas. He continued to expand the hotel according to his father’s plans, creating modern rooms in pleasant beige and brown tones in the new building. The spa, opened in 2017 with the latest technology, retained the old bathing tubs in enchanting retro treatment rooms, and the outdoor facilities, saunas, and relaxation areas were made unforgettable with many special details.
But it is especially in the gastronomy that the visionary hotelier set standards that have made Hotel Bad Schörgau renowned far beyond the borders of South Tyrol. In the early years, the restaurant’s refined dishes centered around regional products like the Sarner pine, earning it a Michelin star. In recent years, however, a completely different concept has made Bad Schörgau popular with both gourmets and health enthusiasts.
Together with the creative chef Mattia Baroni—formerly an IT specialist!—Gregor offers a cuisine that blends ancient circular economy techniques with new flavor experiences for discerning gourmet friends. The secret is fermentation. Everything in the house is utilized, and there is virtually no food waste. Mattia and his kitchen team transformed the former star restaurant at Hotel Bad Schörgau into something entirely new, rooted in principles that have existed for centuries.
The menu at the “La Fuga Experience” in the in-house restaurant “Alpes” reads like a theater piece in several acts, where guests are both spectators and connoisseurs. It’s a good thing that chef Mattia prepares many dishes right at the table, answering questions about ingredients and preparation methods.
The “Fast Salami,” for example, is aged in garum for two months before being dried. The king oyster mushroom with black garlic is served with a spray of 3-year-old porcini garum. The fettuccine with spring spinach owes its flavor to asparagus garum. Even the delicious sourdough bread is made with miso from old bread.
It quickly becomes clear that garum and miso play a special role at Bad Schörgau.
Gregor and Mattia have even established the “Garum Project” with a research laboratory in Bolzano, reviving the ancient condiment sauce once used by the Romans, now serving as a salt and seasoning substitute with special positive effects on the body.
Dishes with fermented ingredients like garum or miso are particularly easy to digest and healthy for the gut flora, thus complementing the detox treatments from the in-house spa from within. All products, such as garum, miso, and kombucha, are made in-house. The fermentation and transformation process by the microbes sometimes takes years.
As a small treat, later in the evening, the “SCOBY Hotel”—a large jar containing the symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast that creates the elixir of kombucha—takes its place on the table, replacing even the finest red wine.
However, the wine list is also impressive. Here too, Gregor Wenter goes beyond just the “organic” label, supporting regional winemakers who use traditional cultivation and production methods, offering his guests “pure wine.” The glass of kombucha before bed is said to naturally counteract the effects of overindulgence in wine. The bacteria then consume the sugar from the wine, ensuring a clear head in the morning.
This clarity is much needed for exploring the wonderful mountain landscape, which invites all kinds of outdoor activities. My hike took me along an enchanted forest path, where one could easily imagine a hobbit behind every tree, leading to the so-called “Steinerne Mandln,” a mountain summit covered with hundreds of stacked stones, their origins shrouded in myth and mystery. Are they waymarks? Built out of boredom by shepherds or wanderers? Or do they point to a cult site where, over 500 years ago, witch dances and ritual meetings were held?
Later, Hotel Director Wenter offered me a better explanation. Centuries ago, wise women would meet at the summit once a year to exchange knowledge orally, as these so-called witches could not write. In memory of the most famous “witch,” Theresa, Wenter named his in-house natural cosmetics line “Trehs.” It seems there is no fear of wise women and unconventional methods here. I will surely return to this wonderful place.
Mehr Informationen gibt es hier: https://healinghotelsoftheworld.com/ und hier https://www.bad-schoergau.com/
