Goldene Rose Karthaus - Gentle Traveller

Nestled in the rural landscape of South Tyrol, with the three-thousand-metre peaks of the Ötztal Valley and the Dolomites on the horizon, lies Hotel Goldene Rose Karthaus in the Schnalstal Valley.

Cozy bedroom with a sloped ceiling, wooden beams, and soft lighting, featuring a double bed and bedside tables.

The location

The fresh mountain air feels palpable in front of the building, while the sound of the Karthaus bells echoes through the air. The hotel sits in the idyllic village of Karthaus in the Schnalstal valley, surrounded by delicate green larch forests and glaciers.

Outdoor dining area with wooden tables and chairs, adorned with flowers, near a charming building in a sunny setting.

Backstory

Silence, enjoyment, and contemplation form the core of the hotel’s concept, inspired by the local Carthusian monks. For three generations, Goldene Rose Karthaus has been run by the Grüner family. Once a guesthouse, it has been transformed into a place that now combines tradition with understated, refined luxury.

Charming hotel "Goldene Rose Karthaus" with snow-covered surroundings and festive decorations. — From up here, guests can enjoy views of glaciers, lush green alpine meadows and the Schnalstal valley.

Apart from the Goldene Rose Karthaus, the family also owns a 125-year-old mountain hut called ‘Schöne Aussicht’ with adjoining igloos, a small toll house and the Spazio AWE (a newly built minimalist wooden building).

Signage for "Small Luxury Hotels of the World" and a "Michelin 2025" plaque at Goldene Rose Karthaus. — A special stay in the heart of the Dolomites.

Portrait of a smiling man and woman, both dressed in elegant attire, against a wooden background. — Stefania & Paul Grüner.

Architecture & interior

Warm wood tones prevail in the interior, forming the backdrop for modern Alpine-style furnishings and décor.

Deluxe room with wooden decor, a bed with decorative pillows, and a chair; luggage and clothing on the floor.

At Goldene Rose Karthaus, the focus rests on simple designer pieces and carefully selected patterns. The beds are equipped with high-quality mattresses and elegant bed linen.

Modern bathroom featuring a wooden vanity, large mirror, shower area, and neutral tones, part of the Grand Deluxe Room. — Warm wood and grey shades…

Cozy superior room with wooden paneling, a double bed, bedside tables, and a seating area, featuring warm lighting. — …set the tone for the interior.

The hotel’s junior suites have their own sauna, as does the penthouse suite, which offers views over Karthaus from its roof terrace.

Cozy hotel room featuring a neatly made bed with decorative pillows, soft lighting, and a green side table.

The bright Grand Deluxe Rooms offer an elegant and spacious retreat, featuring a king-size boxspring bed, a generous desk, and a refined seating area designed for comfort and relaxation. Flooded with natural light, these rooms create a warm and inviting atmosphere, while offering beautiful views of the Karthaus mountain range.

Modern hotel room featuring a wooden decor, two chairs, a small table with champagne, and a cozy bed.

Modern bathroom with a white sink, wooden cabinetry, and large mirror, illuminated by natural light through sheer curtains.

Every room features a minibar with a selection of local products, as well as a kettle for preparing tea from the curated assortment provided. The bathroom includes a rain shower and exclusive products from the hotel’s own GLACISSE line, ensuring a consistently refined and indulgent experience throughout.

Cozy hotel room featuring a bed, wooden accents, a small table with wine and snacks, and large windows with curtains. — Modern interpretations of Alpine patterns add accents.

Cuisine

Goldene Rose Karthaus offers a refined interpretation of Alpine cuisine, rooted in South Tyrolean tradition and enriched with Italian influences. The menu features a diverse selection of dishes crafted from high-quality, regional ingredients, combining authentic flavors with a touch of sophistication while remaining pleasantly down-to-earth.

Cozy restaurant interior with wooden walls, gray curtains, and tables set with white tablecloths and wine bottles.

The dishes are designed to provide nourishment, after all, anyone who is active in the mountains between steep climbs and high altitudes needs a lot of energy.

The Mediterranean-inspired cuisine is made with local ingredients: dairy products from nearby farms, fresh game from the forests of the Schnalstal valley, organic vegetables from the hotel’s own garden, and wild herbs that grow in the surrounding meadows.

A person in a blue apron holds a wooden crate filled with fresh chanterelle mushrooms, draped with a light blue cloth.

Elegant dining table set with white tablecloth, glassware, and decorative plants, in a warmly lit restaurant.

When it comes to culinary delights, the day at the Goldene Rose Karthaus starts with a breakfast that’s served personally. In the afternoon, one can enjoy a selection of teas and homemade cakes, and in the evening, foodies can treat themselves to a gourmet dinner.

Cozy restaurant interior with wooden walls, tables set with white tablecloths, and flowers in vases, illuminated by pendan...

Brunch spread featuring croissants, French toast with strawberries, fruit, and drinks on a table with flowers.

In keeping with the history of the building, the hotel invites guests to embrace a slower, more mindful way of living. Surrounded by forests, mountains, and open skies, the setting creates a natural sense of calm and space—an atmosphere that reflects the quiet spirit of the former monastery.

Table set for a meal with a tiered stand of pastries and fruits, candlelight, and vintage portraits on the wall.

Seasonal culinary experiences further enrich this atmosphere: guests can enjoy a relaxed sharing menu throughout the year, while summer brings atmospheric barbecue evenings and winter is complemented by the convivial tradition of fondue chinoise.

Connoisseurs will find exquisite wines in the hotel’s wine cellar. The cool vaults of the former Carthusian monastery house a large selection of wines from local winegrowers, high-altitude wines and private winegrowers from outside South Tyrol. The hotel’s sommelier is on hand to recommend the perfect wine to accompany each meal.

Cozy restaurant interior with green chairs, wooden walls, and a fireplace, featuring tables with floral centerpieces.

Dessert plate featuring a white mousse, chocolate disc, and a purple flower, set on a white tablecloth.

Wellness & relaxation

Saunas, relaxation rooms, massages and beauty rituals are all part of the wellness offerings at the Goldene Rose Karthaus.

Wooden gazebo with two white chairs on a deck, surrounded by greenery and mountains in the background.

A long wooden walkway leads to the Karthauser Bad with a Finnish sauna surrounded by treetops, an earth sauna made of fragrant Swiss pine wood and Schnalstal stone, a heated outdoor pool, whirlpools, a sunbathing lawn for the warm months and the Gloriette, a place of tranquillity with an open fireplace and comfortable upholstered benches.

Wooden balcony overlooking a forested mountain landscape, with two people standing along the railing. — Even the walk to the Karthauser Bad spa heralds relaxation.

Two cocktails with garnishes on a table beside an outdoor pool, surrounded by trees and mountains in the background. — The hotel’s ground-level pool with a length of 9 metres.

In addition to the Schnalstal spring water, another element runs through all areas of the spa: fire. It flickers and dances under the open sky in the outdoor fireplace, provides crackling warmth in the earth sauna and bathes the Gloriette in cosy warm light.

Wooden sauna interior with large windows showcasing a snowy mountain landscape outside.

A woman receiving a facial treatment, with a hand applying a cream using a brush.

The GLACISSE Beauty & Spa Studio uses its own GLACISSE products for its treatments, which are enriched with spring water and minerals from the glacier.

Retreat on the summit

In 1896, South Tyrolean tourism pioneer Serafin Gurschler laid the foundation stone for today’s mountain hut ‘Schöne Aussicht’. It has been owned by Paul Grüner since 1999 and is now run by his son, Josef Grüner. Not only hikers are drawn to this place: films starring Hollywood stars such as Jake Gyllenhaal, Keira Knightley and Emma Watson have also been shot there.

Snow-covered mountains surround a chalet in a winter landscape, with ski tracks leading towards the building. — The mountain hut, with adjoining igloos, small Spazio AWE and Europe’s highest outdoor sauna.

Up here, Paul Grüner feels more free and inspired by the mountains. Every year, he renovates and improves whatever comes to mind: such as the three igloos where guests can stay overnight, or the conversion of the nearby customs house into additional accommodation.

Clear glacier air flows around the nose, the view wanders over the seemingly endless sea of peaks and the igloos not far from the hut. When winter settles in the mountains, the hotel prepares three spacious frosty sleeping quarters, equipped with sheepskins and warm sleeping bags.

Snow-covered landscape with a wooden hut entrance, surrounded by mountains under a twilight sky.

Dome-shaped hut with a chimney, surrounded by snow, against a backdrop of mountains at sunset.

Hot drinks, prosecco, a four-course meal and a hearty breakfast in the morning round off the icy experience. In case it gets too cold, guests can use the Finnish outdoor sauna or a whirlpool right outside the door.

Another small building was recently added: Spazio AWE, a small wooden structure that is ideal for yoga sessions, meetings, wine tastings, conversations or simply quiet moments.

Snow-covered landscape at dusk featuring a wooden hut with a sloped roof, surrounded by mountains. — Inside the minimalist wooden building Spazio AWE,…

Cozy wooden interior with two armchairs facing a large window showcasing a snowy mountain landscape. — … a large window frames the mountain landscape.

Details

Rooms

Superior (25m²)
Deluxe (28m²)
Grand Deluxe (30m²)
Junior Suite Sauna (36m²)
Junior Suite Garden View (40m²)
Penthouse Suite (68m²)

Culinary

Schöne Aussicht

The kitchen at Schöne Aussicht is open from 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. After 3:00 p.m., cold dishes and hot soups are served.

“It is not without reason that the mountain hut is called ‘Schöne Aussicht’ (beautiful view), because wherever you look, there are no limits to the view.”

Paul Grüner
Hotelier