Edition 1 / 2022
Time to celebrate!
Whether it’s majestic air shows, spectacular cultural events or exceptional hotels and restaurants across Europe, life has wonderful surprises in store for us. It is once more time to celebrate!
Grand Est Mondial Air Ballons Festival
Grand Est | France
What started off as a small bet 30 years ago is today the world’s largest gathering of hot air balloons. Every other year, half a million spectators from around the world gather to marvel at the colourful air balloon spectacle in the Lorraine Regional Natural Park. The majestic air show, at which hundreds of hot air balloons rise up into the air, is open to the public free of charge and does not require prior registration.
Next date: July 2023
Address: Aérodrome de Chambley Planet’Air,
54470 Hagéville, France
The Venice Biennale
Venice | Italy
The Venice Biennale has been one of Europe’s most renowned cultural events for more than 120 years. The motto of this year’s 59th International Art Exhibition is “The Milk of Dreams”, reflecting the subject of a book by the surrealist Leonora Carrington, which describes a magical world in which everyone can change and metamorphose. The 213 artists taking part in the show also address current topics in their work such as the preservation of our planet, peaceful coexistence and a life without our species. For the first time, the show is being curated by a woman, Cecilia Alemani.
Currently on from 23 April to 27 November 2022
Address: Venice, Italy
The historic Romantik Hotel Villa Margherita is situated only a few kilometres from Venice and offers the ideal base for exploring the region.
Discover the hotel
Flaming mountains
Ehrwald | Zugspitze, Austria
You know the longest day and shortest night have arrived when the Tyrol side of the Zugspitze Mountain is illuminated by a very special light. Blazing fire sculptures appear as soon as dusk falls – and they do so in time each year to celebrate the summer solstice in June.
Next date: 24 June 2023
Address: Ehrwald, Austria
The next Kitchenation
Viktoria Fuchs | Romantik Hotel Spielweg, Münstertal, German
Traditional and cosmopolitan, wild and established – in her cooking, Viki Fuchs fuses flavours that do not initially seem to belong together.
She is head chef at Romantik Hotel Spielweg, a property that has been in the Fuchs family since 1861. Here, tradition meets the modern age as Viki’s culinary talent is #wildstyle. She serves octopus with boar and turns it into dim sum or creates a venison vitello. She is an exciting modern-day cook.
Viktoria Fuchs has spent time in the kitchen of the Romantik Hotel Spielweg since she was a small child. That was when her father, Karl-Josef Fuchs, was head chef. Since then, she has taken charge of the pots and pans and continues to prepare traditional regional cuisine with game from the hotel’s own hunting grounds. But as a cosmopolitan young chef, she gives the dishes her own twist: Southeast Asian spices and techniques – all served up with home-made bread as well as fruit and vegetables from the Black Forest. Her style of cooking is a reflection of her personality – warm, cheerful, grounded and extremely cosmopolitan.
“My cooking can be defined as a lovingly put together ‘mishmash’.”
Nordic cheese revolution
Tingvollost | Norway
And the award for the best cheese goes to … Kraftkar from Norway.
If you had to name the best cheese in the world and were thinking of cheese from France, Holland or Switzerland, you would be miles off. At their farm dairy in Tingvollost, Norway, the Waagen family produces a range of white and blue mould cheeses. Among them is the winner of the best cheese in the world, “Kraftkar”.
The cheese, whose name translates as “strongman”, has a delicate note of sweetness.
See how the cheese is made at the farm dairy.
Romantik Hotel Angvik Gamle Handelssted | Angvik, Norway
In the immediate vicinity of the dairy that produces the world’s best cheese is the Romantik Hotel Angvik Gamle Handelssted. Its idyllic location right on the banks of the Norwegian fjords with their high mountains and waterfalls is unique. For head chef Maciej K., the world champion cheese is, of course, a welcome and popular addition to the hotel menu. It is frequently served as part of the 5-course menu which guests can enjoy while overlooking the water.
If you want to explore the fjords around the Hotel Angvik Gamle Handelssted, you will not regret visiting the nearby Eikesdalsvatnet lake. You can take a kayak out on the narrow inlets to see how they snake their way through the surrounding mountains and discover the fascinating scenery. Norway has more than 1,700 fjords along its 57,000 km-long west coast – a relic of the Ice Age.
A real ‘Romantik’
Herrmann’s Romantik Posthotel | Wirsberg, Germany
It is 50 years since the association of Romantik Hotels came into being. The Posthotel in Bavaria was one of the first three establishments that continue to define the Romantik DNA until this day.
The country hotel in Upper Franconia has been family-owned since 1869 and has been a veritable institution in the green Franconian countryside for more than 150 years. The four-star hotel offers the ultimate in luxury with its own distinct ambience in an idyllic nature setting.
Two restaurant concepts – the “AH – Das Bistro”, which serves up innovative regional cuisine, and the gourmet “Restaurant Alexander Herrmann” by Tobias Bätz (2 Michelin stars) – round off the overall concept. Under the motto “unrestricted regionality”, locally grown exotic ingredients open up almost endless culinary possibilities.
“The ‘Romantik Posthotel’ has always been a part of my life. For many years, I thought ‘Romantik’ was a clearly and universally recognised term relating to hotels. The word ‘Romantik’ contains a significant promise – whether in a relationship or in a promotional message. But the primary purpose of a hotel is not only to communicate a sense of ‘Romantik’ but also to feel it. The power of this feeling is what makes Romantik Hotels so unique.”
Alexander Herrmann
Four generations of passion – The Sackmann family
Romantik Hotel Sackmann | Baiersbronn, Germany
From a simple family home to a 5 star PEARLS by Romantik Hotel: in 1927, Christian and Friederike Sackmann began running a small guesthouse with a café which, years later, has become a destination renowned across Europe.
As head chef, Jörg Sackmann, grandson of the founders, even won a Michelin star for the family-run hotel. But there are many other things that make a visit worthwhile. The hotel facilities include a wellness area and spa and are still run along traditional lines to this day. After more than 90 years, the Hotel Sackmann continues to be owned by the family, with great-grandson Nico as the young head chef and Daniel Sackmann leading the management team. Professionalism, commitment and a great deal of passion are the lifeblood of the Sackmann family.
Today, we celebrate Hotel Sackmann's 95th anniversary!
How a game of cards determined the lives of four generations
Schmidt Family | Schweizerhof Flims, Switzerland
The Belle Époque hotel in Flims not only has a moving family history but was also the warm and loving home of the composer Arthur Schmidt (1909–1947) and of his son, actor and film director Daniel Schmid (1941–2006).
It all began in 1869 with a game of cards in a small inn. Since the widow Schneider, who owned it, had died childless, her guesthouse was auctioned off among the locals. The great-grandfather of the current Schmidt family, Walter Candrian from Sagogn, won the card game. Together with his wife, he extended the guesthouse and opened a number of other hotels. The current Romantik Hotel Schweizerhof was only built in the summer of 1903 by their daughter Mengia Schmidt-Candrian and her husband Daniel. They had it erected on top of a rock where they used to go courting. Twice a week, there were dinner dances, conjurors wove their magic and guests could call on the services of bridge, tennis and dance coaches. Among the many renowned guests were Albert Einstein and King Albert of Belgium. Over the period of the two world wars, the hotel business in general came to a standstill. But the Schweizerhof also managed to make it through the dark times – not least because of the people who dedicated their lives to it with passion and commitment. They included Arthur Schmidt, one of the founders’ sons. He was not only a hotelier and ski instructor, but also a great entertainer and composer. In 1941, his sons were born: the well-known film director Daniel Schmid and his brother Rudolf came into the world on the first floor of the empty hotel in what was then room 11 and is today room 106. The Schweizerhof was home to both of them and a place where their family history has strong roots. Although Daniel spent most of this time on the world’s film and opera sets, the Schweizerhof always had a special place in his heart. Today, the family hotel is run by the fourth generation of the family: Christoph Schmidt (son of Therese and Rudolf Schmidt) and his wife Sandra. Yet as a senior host, Therese still continues to look after the well-being of the guests.
Frisian Freedom
Borkum and Juist | East Frisia
Islands with healing power: the sound of the sea, dunes and no cars as far as the eye can see.
Mornings cannot get much more pleasurable than waking to the sound of clopping hooves at seven in the morning. That is everyday life on Juist, for transport here is not by car, but by horse. And nobody misses the car when they are here on holiday. Instead, there is just the endless horizon, the sea, the wind and the reeds. Not to be missed is a walk across the mudflats – preferably, with mudflats guide Heino, who has many great stories to tell. And to get a real sense of the fine, almost white sand on this North Sea island, you are best off going barefoot. A free massage for your feet!
The Romantik Hotel Achterdiek awaits you with a view of the tidal flats right behind the dyke.
Discover the hotel
Culinary delights from the sea await you on both islands – slowing down and indulgence are both on the menu here.
Lately, Borkum has been promoting itself as an “Island for Allergy Sufferers”, mainly because of its geographic location. Borkum lies 30 km off the mainland and thus boasts an ocean climate. After just a few days breathing the salty sea air, allergy sufferers who are here on holiday find they no longer need their asthma inhaler.
Both islands are officially recognised as thalassotherapy spas and bear the quality seal of the European Testing Institute for Wellness and Spa. In contrast to Juist, Borkum has a range of mobility options to offer, not least the island train, which shuttles back and forth between the harbour and the town centre.
Art Gallery Parkhotel de Wiemsel
B.B. King - Alfred Gockel
The centrepiece of the collection is the hyper-realistic sculpture “Reunion’’ by the Australian artist Sam Jinks. The subject of his work is the cycle of birth and death. His pieces are also on display at international exhibitions.
Parkhotel de Wiemsel PEARLS by Romantik | Ootmarsum, Netherlands
The Parkhotel de Wiemsel is a genuine insider tip. Not only is this PEARLS by Romantik Hotel located in the famous art town of Ootmarsum in the Netherlands, but it also houses its own private art collection. Here, visitors can see works by Christo, Vasarely, Warhol and many other contemporary artists. The gallery was opened in 2019 by hotel proprietor Henning J. Claassen, who has been a fervent collector for more than 40 years.
Reunion - Sam Jinks
Visual artist in Melbourne, known for his hyperrealistic sculptures made of silicone, resin, fibreglass and human hair. The theme of his works is the cycle of birth and death. His art is “irresistible, beautiful in its striking resemblance to real life” and can be seen in international exhibition.
Karl der Große - Bernhard Prinz
Draftsman, portrait painter, sculptor and caricaturist who developed his style ‘colourful, whimsical and profound’ autocratic. He
received illustration commissions for Playboy, Focus, Handelsblatt, for movies, posters, CDs and audio books, among others.
Großer Minotaurus - Paul Wunderlich
Painter, draughtsman, sculptor, graphic artist. Studies and professorship at the Kunsthochschule Hamburg. His works, mostly
lithographs, deal mainly with erotic and mythological themes in his characteristic style. He lived and worked mainly in Hamburg
and Provence.
Electricity in the blood
Philippe Kohlbrenner | Switzerland
Necessity is the mother of invention. Young Philippe Kohlbrenner used to cover 300 metres in altitude on his way to work and so invented the e-bike.
If you live on a hill on the Swiss Central Plateau and have to cycle down into the valley and back up again every day, you can get tired of pedalling all the way. At least that was the experience of young technical salesclerk, Philippe Kohlbrenner. In the early 1990s, he therefore fitted a windscreen wiper and a car battery to his bike and thus gave it extra power. In 1993, the first prototype of today’s e-bike was built in collaboration with the FLYER company. Although at CHF 4,450 the electricity-powered bike was not cheap, it quickly gained in popularity.
Just 30 years later, e-bikes have become a popular mode of transport around the world. They are not only good for your health and the environment, but also take you to places that would otherwise remain undiscovered. The e-trekking bike is the best option for hilly landscapes and dirt tracks. The sporty tilt of the saddle allows cyclists to put extra pressure on the pedals. The suspension fork, a rigid, robust frame and wider tyres ensure riding is comfortable and safe even when the bike is fully laden. The ideal set-up for a long, adventurous outing!
A tour on the high plateau - Prato Piazza in the Dolomites
Cycle tour Prato Piazza | Dolomites, Italy
The differences in altitude on an e-bike tour through the Dolomites may present a physical challenge but will reward you with the most amazing views.
For a bike tour of the Prato Piazza, firstly, be in good shape and, secondly, bring a mountain bike. Or hire one. There are plenty of bike rentals at the route’s starting point in Dobbiaco. The tour is extremely scenic, with panoramic views of the craggy mountain tops of Cortina d’Ampezzo, Monte Cristallo and the Croda Rossa. Even better than a mountain bike is an e-mountain bike, as the differences in altitude along the route are considerable. Photo stops: the glittering turquoise Lago di Dobbiaco and the Tre Cime di Lavaredo panoramic viewpoint.
In addition to the rustic Alpine huts that characterise the local landscape, you will also come across an odd cow or mountain goat. But they pose little risk to cyclists. The tour has a spine-tingling Lost Place in store for visitors. It is the Fort Landro, built in 1880. Afterwards, the route takes you up to the Prato Piazza, the highest point of the tour. The high plateau of the Prato Piazza (2,040 metres above sea level) is an ideal spot to stop for refreshments and enjoy the view. There are four huts serving food and drinks. If you like it up here, you can even stay the night. Otherwise, hotels back in Dobbiaco offer a relaxing stay, such as the Romantik Hotel Santer.
See more of the route as well as an alternative cycle tour in the Eggental, about 100 km from Dobbiaco.
Dare to do something new and be happy.
If we know that our time on earth is limited, should not happiness come first? unfortunately, it is not that easy in these times but should still be our highest priority. Moments of happiness are not only good for our body but are also an important catalyst for a clear and healthy mind. How do you achieve that? Through relaxation and having the courage to try something new. Coach Nicole Staudinger and neuroscientist Volker Busch report on their experiences and share practical tips for a life of fulfilment.
Bestselling author Nicole Staudinger
Ms Staudinger, you are the author of six bestsellers, an entrepreneur and a TV presenter, but suffered a heavy blow when you were still very young. Are you nonetheless happy how your life has turned out?
Yes, very much so. I know, it may look different from the outside, but I would not want to do anything differently. Although cancer definitely does not make you happy, I am still grateful for the experience.
Do you believe that courage is essential for a happy life?
That depends a bit on how people define courage for themselves. I always ask myself the question, “What could possibly go wrong?” And if the answer is “you will not harm anyone”, “you will not get into debt” or “it is not life-threatening”, then I do it. If that is courage, then it makes me happier.
Nicole Staudinger and her book “Von jetzt auf Glück” (“Happiness from now on”)
Fancy a new challenge?
The Romantik Hotel Muottas Muragl has a fantastic panorama platform that is perfect for relaxed yoga or meditation sessions.
Free your mind!
Professor Volker Busch, neurologist
Dr Busch is a neuroscientist and a specialist for neurology, psychiatry and psychotherapy. One of his focal topics is concentration and relaxation in everyday life.
Dr Busch, do you manage to switch off in your everyday life?
I have to admit I have learnt a lot about the brain through my own mistakes. I take several breaks a day to switch off and come back to myself. Many good things happen in those moments. I make peace with my emotions. I discover solutions for problems, or I get creative. I call these breaks “free head spaces”. They are rare in a digital world with an information overload – and yet they are vital and beneficial.
How do you relax a stressed mind?
Things that make us happy or are stimulating without putting us under pressure or overtaxing us are mentally relaxing. So, relaxing does not mean doing “nothing”. You can be active. But the performance culture we have got used to in our jobs should not be extended to our free time. The aim is simply to “be” without feeling the need to “create” or “achieve” something.
Can we only be happy if we free our minds?
A feeling of happiness can be caused by many things. But freeing your mind is a good start. That does not mean it should be empty but free of troubling coercive thoughts. One of the things that will definitely help people to be happier is the ability to stop tormenting themselves with everyday issues and instead focus on the good things in life and find joy in simple pleasures.
Professor Volker Busch and his book “Kopf frei!” (“Free your mind”)
If you want to clear your head and leave the daily routine behind you for a short while, then a relaxing hay bath in the Romantik Hotel Turm in South Tyrol is just the thing.
Spotlight on: Vienna
Romantik Townhouse Beethoven
A brand new Romantik Hotel: the exclusive 4-star boutique hotel is nextricably linked to the cultural life of Vienna.
Do you want to live in and experience Vienna? An ideal place for doing so is the magnificent Townhouse Beethoven. Just like the city, the hotel is steeped in history. Every floor is dedicated to a special theme and offers insights into the lives of influential figures of Viennese life.
With its central location on the multicultural Naschmarkt and opposite the Papageno Gate of the Theater an der Wien, the Romantik Townhouse is only a few minutes’ walk from the opera, the Musikverein, the Museumsquartier, Vienna’s most traditional coffee houses and shopping streets.
Address: Romantik Townhouse Beethoven, Papagenogasse 6, Vienna
Butterfly House
A tropical oasis of calm and relaxation in the heart of Vienna.
If you want to escape the hustle and bustle of the city for a few hours, why not visit one of the world’s most beautiful art nouveau buildings, a light-filled oasis that is today home to more than 500 free-flying butterflies, waterfalls and exotic plants?
Address: Palm House, Butterfly House Hofburg Burggarten, Vienna
Hundertwasser House
“A house for people and trees’’, that follows no rules.
With this project, the artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser (1928–2000) not only wanted to free architecture but also people from the pressure to conform and sought to promote a modern, ecological transformation of the city by harnessing the power of nature.
Address: Kegelgasse 36–38, Vienna
Have you got the travel bug? Then discover amazing destinations in nine European countries with the digital Romantik Guide.
Time to celebrate!
Whether it’s majestic air shows, spectacular cultural events or exceptional hotels and restaurants across Europe, life has wonderful surprises in store for us. It is once more time to celebrate!
Grand Est Mondial Air Ballons Festival
Grand Est | France
What started off as a small bet 30 years ago is today the world’s largest gathering of hot air balloons. Every other year, half a million spectators from around the world gather to marvel at the colourful air balloon spectacle in the Lorraine Regional Natural Park. The majestic air show, at which hundreds of hot air balloons rise up into the air, is open to the public free of charge and does not require prior registration.
Next date: July 2023
Address: Aérodrome de Chambley Planet’Air,
54470 Hagéville, France
The Venice Biennale
Venice | Italy
The Venice Biennale has been one of Europe’s most renowned cultural events for more than 120 years. The motto of this year’s 59th International Art Exhibition is “The Milk of Dreams”, reflecting the subject of a book by the surrealist Leonora Carrington, which describes a magical world in which everyone can change and metamorphose. The 213 artists taking part in the show also address current topics in their work such as the preservation of our planet, peaceful coexistence and a life without our species. For the first time, the show is being curated by a woman, Cecilia Alemani.
Currently on from 23 April to 27 November 2022
Address: Venice, Italy
The historic Romantik Hotel Villa Margherita is situated only a few kilometres from Venice and offers the ideal base for exploring the region.
Discover the hotel
Flaming mountains
Ehrwald | Zugspitze, Austria
You know the longest day and shortest night have arrived when the Tyrol side of the Zugspitze Mountain is illuminated by a very special light. Blazing fire sculptures appear as soon as dusk falls – and they do so in time each year to celebrate the summer solstice in June.
Next date: 24 June 2023
Address: Ehrwald, Austria
The next Kitchenation
Viktoria Fuchs | Romantik Hotel Spielweg, Münstertal, German
Traditional and cosmopolitan, wild and established – in her cooking, Viki Fuchs fuses flavours that do not initially seem to belong together.
She is head chef at Romantik Hotel Spielweg, a property that has been in the Fuchs family since 1861. Here, tradition meets the modern age as Viki’s culinary talent is #wildstyle. She serves octopus with boar and turns it into dim sum or creates a venison vitello. She is an exciting modern-day cook.
Viktoria Fuchs has spent time in the kitchen of the Romantik Hotel Spielweg since she was a small child. That was when her father, Karl-Josef Fuchs, was head chef. Since then, she has taken charge of the pots and pans and continues to prepare traditional regional cuisine with game from the hotel’s own hunting grounds. But as a cosmopolitan young chef, she gives the dishes her own twist: Southeast Asian spices and techniques – all served up with home-made bread as well as fruit and vegetables from the Black Forest. Her style of cooking is a reflection of her personality – warm, cheerful, grounded and extremely cosmopolitan.
“My cooking can be defined as a lovingly put together ‘mishmash’.”
Nordic cheese revolution
Tingvollost | Norway
And the award for the best cheese goes to … Kraftkar from Norway.
If you had to name the best cheese in the world and were thinking of cheese from France, Holland or Switzerland, you would be miles off. At their farm dairy in Tingvollost, Norway, the Waagen family produces a range of white and blue mould cheeses. Among them is the winner of the best cheese in the world, “Kraftkar”.
The cheese, whose name translates as “strongman”, has a delicate note of sweetness.
See how the cheese is made at the farm dairy.
Romantik Hotel Angvik Gamle Handelssted | Angvik, Norway
In the immediate vicinity of the dairy that produces the world’s best cheese is the Romantik Hotel Angvik Gamle Handelssted. Its idyllic location right on the banks of the Norwegian fjords with their high mountains and waterfalls is unique. For head chef Maciej K., the world champion cheese is, of course, a welcome and popular addition to the hotel menu. It is frequently served as part of the 5-course menu which guests can enjoy while overlooking the water.
If you want to explore the fjords around the Hotel Angvik Gamle Handelssted, you will not regret visiting the nearby Eikesdalsvatnet lake. You can take a kayak out on the narrow inlets to see how they snake their way through the surrounding mountains and discover the fascinating scenery. Norway has more than 1,700 fjords along its 57,000 km-long west coast – a relic of the Ice Age.
A real ‘Romantik’
Herrmann’s Romantik Posthotel | Wirsberg, Germany
It is 50 years since the association of Romantik Hotels came into being. The Posthotel in Bavaria was one of the first three establishments that continue to define the Romantik DNA until this day.
The country hotel in Upper Franconia has been family-owned since 1869 and has been a veritable institution in the green Franconian countryside for more than 150 years. The four-star hotel offers the ultimate in luxury with its own distinct ambience in an idyllic nature setting.
Two restaurant concepts – the “AH – Das Bistro”, which serves up innovative regional cuisine, and the gourmet “Restaurant Alexander Herrmann” by Tobias Bätz (2 Michelin stars) – round off the overall concept. Under the motto “unrestricted regionality”, locally grown exotic ingredients open up almost endless culinary possibilities.
“The ‘Romantik Posthotel’ has always been a part of my life. For many years, I thought ‘Romantik’ was a clearly and universally recognised term relating to hotels. The word ‘Romantik’ contains a significant promise – whether in a relationship or in a promotional message. But the primary purpose of a hotel is not only to communicate a sense of ‘Romantik’ but also to feel it. The power of this feeling is what makes Romantik Hotels so unique.”
Alexander Herrmann
Four generations of passion – The Sackmann family
Romantik Hotel Sackmann | Baiersbronn, Germany
From a simple family home to a 5 star PEARLS by Romantik Hotel: in 1927, Christian and Friederike Sackmann began running a small guesthouse with a café which, years later, has become a destination renowned across Europe.
As head chef, Jörg Sackmann, grandson of the founders, even won a Michelin star for the family-run hotel. But there are many other things that make a visit worthwhile. The hotel facilities include a wellness area and spa and are still run along traditional lines to this day. After more than 90 years, the Hotel Sackmann continues to be owned by the family, with great-grandson Nico as the young head chef and Daniel Sackmann leading the management team. Professionalism, commitment and a great deal of passion are the lifeblood of the Sackmann family.
Today, we celebrate Hotel Sackmann's 95th anniversary!
How a game of cards determined the lives of four generations
Schmidt Family | Schweizerhof Flims, Switzerland
The Belle Époque hotel in Flims not only has a moving family history but was also the warm and loving home of the composer Arthur Schmidt (1909–1947) and of his son, actor and film director Daniel Schmid (1941–2006).
It all began in 1869 with a game of cards in a small inn. Since the widow Schneider, who owned it, had died childless, her guesthouse was auctioned off among the locals. The great-grandfather of the current Schmidt family, Walter Candrian from Sagogn, won the card game. Together with his wife, he extended the guesthouse and opened a number of other hotels. The current Romantik Hotel Schweizerhof was only built in the summer of 1903 by their daughter Mengia Schmidt-Candrian and her husband Daniel. They had it erected on top of a rock where they used to go courting. Twice a week, there were dinner dances, conjurors wove their magic and guests could call on the services of bridge, tennis and dance coaches. Among the many renowned guests were Albert Einstein and King Albert of Belgium. Over the period of the two world wars, the hotel business in general came to a standstill. But the Schweizerhof also managed to make it through the dark times – not least because of the people who dedicated their lives to it with passion and commitment. They included Arthur Schmidt, one of the founders’ sons. He was not only a hotelier and ski instructor, but also a great entertainer and composer. In 1941, his sons were born: the well-known film director Daniel Schmid and his brother Rudolf came into the world on the first floor of the empty hotel in what was then room 11 and is today room 106. The Schweizerhof was home to both of them and a place where their family history has strong roots. Although Daniel spent most of this time on the world’s film and opera sets, the Schweizerhof always had a special place in his heart. Today, the family hotel is run by the fourth generation of the family: Christoph Schmidt (son of Therese and Rudolf Schmidt) and his wife Sandra. Yet as a senior host, Therese still continues to look after the well-being of the guests.
Frisian Freedom
Borkum and Juist | East Frisia
Islands with healing power: the sound of the sea, dunes and no cars as far as the eye can see.
Mornings cannot get much more pleasurable than waking to the sound of clopping hooves at seven in the morning. That is everyday life on Juist, for transport here is not by car, but by horse. And nobody misses the car when they are here on holiday. Instead, there is just the endless horizon, the sea, the wind and the reeds. Not to be missed is a walk across the mudflats – preferably, with mudflats guide Heino, who has many great stories to tell. And to get a real sense of the fine, almost white sand on this North Sea island, you are best off going barefoot. A free massage for your feet!
The Romantik Hotel Achterdiek awaits you with a view of the tidal flats right behind the dyke.
Discover the hotel
Culinary delights from the sea await you on both islands – slowing down and indulgence are both on the menu here.
Lately, Borkum has been promoting itself as an “Island for Allergy Sufferers”, mainly because of its geographic location. Borkum lies 30 km off the mainland and thus boasts an ocean climate. After just a few days breathing the salty sea air, allergy sufferers who are here on holiday find they no longer need their asthma inhaler.
Both islands are officially recognised as thalassotherapy spas and bear the quality seal of the European Testing Institute for Wellness and Spa. In contrast to Juist, Borkum has a range of mobility options to offer, not least the island train, which shuttles back and forth between the harbour and the town centre.
Art Gallery Parkhotel de Wiemsel
B.B. King - Alfred Gockel
The centrepiece of the collection is the hyper-realistic sculpture “Reunion’’ by the Australian artist Sam Jinks. The subject of his work is the cycle of birth and death. His pieces are also on display at international exhibitions.
Parkhotel de Wiemsel PEARLS by Romantik | Ootmarsum, Netherlands
The Parkhotel de Wiemsel is a genuine insider tip. Not only is this PEARLS by Romantik Hotel located in the famous art town of Ootmarsum in the Netherlands, but it also houses its own private art collection. Here, visitors can see works by Christo, Vasarely, Warhol and many other contemporary artists. The gallery was opened in 2019 by hotel proprietor Henning J. Claassen, who has been a fervent collector for more than 40 years.
Reunion - Sam Jinks
Visual artist in Melbourne, known for his hyperrealistic sculptures made of silicone, resin, fibreglass and human hair. The theme of his works is the cycle of birth and death. His art is “irresistible, beautiful in its striking resemblance to real life” and can be seen in international exhibition.
Karl der Große - Bernhard Prinz
Draftsman, portrait painter, sculptor and caricaturist who developed his style ‘colourful, whimsical and profound’ autocratic. He
received illustration commissions for Playboy, Focus, Handelsblatt, for movies, posters, CDs and audio books, among others.
Großer Minotaurus - Paul Wunderlich
Painter, draughtsman, sculptor, graphic artist. Studies and professorship at the Kunsthochschule Hamburg. His works, mostly
lithographs, deal mainly with erotic and mythological themes in his characteristic style. He lived and worked mainly in Hamburg
and Provence.
Electricity in the blood
Philippe Kohlbrenner | Switzerland
Necessity is the mother of invention. Young Philippe Kohlbrenner used to cover 300 metres in altitude on his way to work and so invented the e-bike.
If you live on a hill on the Swiss Central Plateau and have to cycle down into the valley and back up again every day, you can get tired of pedalling all the way. At least that was the experience of young technical salesclerk, Philippe Kohlbrenner. In the early 1990s, he therefore fitted a windscreen wiper and a car battery to his bike and thus gave it extra power. In 1993, the first prototype of today’s e-bike was built in collaboration with the FLYER company. Although at CHF 4,450 the electricity-powered bike was not cheap, it quickly gained in popularity.
Just 30 years later, e-bikes have become a popular mode of transport around the world. They are not only good for your health and the environment, but also take you to places that would otherwise remain undiscovered. The e-trekking bike is the best option for hilly landscapes and dirt tracks. The sporty tilt of the saddle allows cyclists to put extra pressure on the pedals. The suspension fork, a rigid, robust frame and wider tyres ensure riding is comfortable and safe even when the bike is fully laden. The ideal set-up for a long, adventurous outing!
A tour on the high plateau - Prato Piazza in the Dolomites
Cycle tour Prato Piazza | Dolomites, Italy
The differences in altitude on an e-bike tour through the Dolomites may present a physical challenge but will reward you with the most amazing views.
For a bike tour of the Prato Piazza, firstly, be in good shape and, secondly, bring a mountain bike. Or hire one. There are plenty of bike rentals at the route’s starting point in Dobbiaco. The tour is extremely scenic, with panoramic views of the craggy mountain tops of Cortina d’Ampezzo, Monte Cristallo and the Croda Rossa. Even better than a mountain bike is an e-mountain bike, as the differences in altitude along the route are considerable. Photo stops: the glittering turquoise Lago di Dobbiaco and the Tre Cime di Lavaredo panoramic viewpoint.
In addition to the rustic Alpine huts that characterise the local landscape, you will also come across an odd cow or mountain goat. But they pose little risk to cyclists. The tour has a spine-tingling Lost Place in store for visitors. It is the Fort Landro, built in 1880. Afterwards, the route takes you up to the Prato Piazza, the highest point of the tour. The high plateau of the Prato Piazza (2,040 metres above sea level) is an ideal spot to stop for refreshments and enjoy the view. There are four huts serving food and drinks. If you like it up here, you can even stay the night. Otherwise, hotels back in Dobbiaco offer a relaxing stay, such as the Romantik Hotel Santer.
See more of the route as well as an alternative cycle tour in the Eggental, about 100 km from Dobbiaco.
Dare to do something new and be happy.
If we know that our time on earth is limited, should not happiness come first? unfortunately, it is not that easy in these times but should still be our highest priority. Moments of happiness are not only good for our body but are also an important catalyst for a clear and healthy mind. How do you achieve that? Through relaxation and having the courage to try something new. Coach Nicole Staudinger and neuroscientist Volker Busch report on their experiences and share practical tips for a life of fulfilment.
Bestselling author Nicole Staudinger
Ms Staudinger, you are the author of six bestsellers, an entrepreneur and a TV presenter, but suffered a heavy blow when you were still very young. Are you nonetheless happy how your life has turned out?
Yes, very much so. I know, it may look different from the outside, but I would not want to do anything differently. Although cancer definitely does not make you happy, I am still grateful for the experience.
Do you believe that courage is essential for a happy life?
That depends a bit on how people define courage for themselves. I always ask myself the question, “What could possibly go wrong?” And if the answer is “you will not harm anyone”, “you will not get into debt” or “it is not life-threatening”, then I do it. If that is courage, then it makes me happier.
Nicole Staudinger and her book “Von jetzt auf Glück” (“Happiness from now on”)
Fancy a new challenge?
The Romantik Hotel Muottas Muragl has a fantastic panorama platform that is perfect for relaxed yoga or meditation sessions.
Free your mind!
Professor Volker Busch, neurologist
Dr Busch is a neuroscientist and a specialist for neurology, psychiatry and psychotherapy. One of his focal topics is concentration and relaxation in everyday life.
Dr Busch, do you manage to switch off in your everyday life?
I have to admit I have learnt a lot about the brain through my own mistakes. I take several breaks a day to switch off and come back to myself. Many good things happen in those moments. I make peace with my emotions. I discover solutions for problems, or I get creative. I call these breaks “free head spaces”. They are rare in a digital world with an information overload – and yet they are vital and beneficial.
How do you relax a stressed mind?
Things that make us happy or are stimulating without putting us under pressure or overtaxing us are mentally relaxing. So, relaxing does not mean doing “nothing”. You can be active. But the performance culture we have got used to in our jobs should not be extended to our free time. The aim is simply to “be” without feeling the need to “create” or “achieve” something.
Can we only be happy if we free our minds?
A feeling of happiness can be caused by many things. But freeing your mind is a good start. That does not mean it should be empty but free of troubling coercive thoughts. One of the things that will definitely help people to be happier is the ability to stop tormenting themselves with everyday issues and instead focus on the good things in life and find joy in simple pleasures.
Professor Volker Busch and his book “Kopf frei!” (“Free your mind”)
If you want to clear your head and leave the daily routine behind you for a short while, then a relaxing hay bath in the Romantik Hotel Turm in South Tyrol is just the thing.
Spotlight on: Vienna
Romantik Townhouse Beethoven
A brand new Romantik Hotel: the exclusive 4-star boutique hotel is nextricably linked to the cultural life of Vienna.
Do you want to live in and experience Vienna? An ideal place for doing so is the magnificent Townhouse Beethoven. Just like the city, the hotel is steeped in history. Every floor is dedicated to a special theme and offers insights into the lives of influential figures of Viennese life.
With its central location on the multicultural Naschmarkt and opposite the Papageno Gate of the Theater an der Wien, the Romantik Townhouse is only a few minutes’ walk from the opera, the Musikverein, the Museumsquartier, Vienna’s most traditional coffee houses and shopping streets.
Address: Romantik Townhouse Beethoven, Papagenogasse 6, Vienna
Butterfly House
A tropical oasis of calm and relaxation in the heart of Vienna.
If you want to escape the hustle and bustle of the city for a few hours, why not visit one of the world’s most beautiful art nouveau buildings, a light-filled oasis that is today home to more than 500 free-flying butterflies, waterfalls and exotic plants?
Address: Palm House, Butterfly House Hofburg Burggarten, Vienna
Hundertwasser House
“A house for people and trees’’, that follows no rules.
With this project, the artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser (1928–2000) not only wanted to free architecture but also people from the pressure to conform and sought to promote a modern, ecological transformation of the city by harnessing the power of nature.
Address: Kegelgasse 36–38, Vienna