Schgaguler

The location

Behind the Schgaguler, Mount Schlern rises into the blue sky. Below the Seiser Alm, surrounded by old houses and cobblestone streets, lies a hotel with unusual architecture. With its large glass fronts and white façade, it is impossible to miss.

Backstory

The hotel’s history dates back to 1986, when it was founded by the parents of the Schgaguler siblings. Today, the four siblings run the hotel. There were some initial reservations in the local community when the building was redesigned in 2018.

But these have now faded, as the gabled façade of the Schgaguler blends harmoniously with the existing buildings in Castelrotto. The design came from South Tyrolean architect Peter Pichler.

The siblings share the tasks at the hotel. While Tobias and Peter Schgaguler welcome guests at the reception and give them personal tips for excursions, Sister Sandra, a trained sommelier, is responsible for the restaurant. The impressive mountain photographs by their brother Martin are part of the hotel’s inventory.

Architecture & interior

Before Milanese architect Peter Pichler created the striking exterior in 2018, this site was home to a relatively nondescript hotel from the 1980s.

Today, after redesigning, the building’s gabled roof rises into the sky like pointed snow peaks. Its shape and bright white concrete façade are reminiscent of abstract ski slopes.

For cost reasons, it was decided not to demolish the previous building. Local, high-quality materials and artisanship were used, and many old elements were integrated into the new building.

Inside, the rooms are flooded with sunlight thanks to the large glass fronts. The interior is characterised by clean lines and natural materials. The rooms are furnished with light chestnut wood, stone from the Dolomites and white furniture, rounded off with shades of grey. All 42 rooms and suites have a lovingly furnished tea bar.

Reduced to the essentials, the rooms reflect the simplicity of alpine life. Floor-to-ceiling windows frame the view of the Dolomites like a picture frame.

In fact, photographs of the impressive mountain landscape also adorn the hotel. All taken by Martin Schgaguler, one of the four siblings.

The furnishings of the hotel include custom-made wooden furniture and timeless classics, such as Japanese balcony furniture, which was popular worldwide in the 1950s.

On the top floor under the gable, the suites have a ceiling height of five metres at their highest point. Some of the suites have a bathtub.

Cuisine

The culinary journey at Schgaguler begins in each room. The small tea bar is stocked with hand-picked organic herbal teas from a nearby garden. The warming, fragrant tea is best enjoyed on the balcony or terrace with a view of the mountains. Parts of the old building have been converted into a restaurant and a new bar, which now have double-height ceilings.

The Schgaguler restaurant serves internationally inspired regional South Tyrolean cuisine in cosy private rooms with subdued lighting. Its separate wooden niches are a reinterpretation of the traditional Stube, the living room of farmhouses. In keeping with the hotel’s overall design concept, the tables are covered with white tablecloths and large panoramic windows offer unobstructed views of the outside.

The kitchen team loves to reinterpret traditional dishes and combine their tried-and-tested flavours with new notes. Only the best seasonal products from the region find their way onto the plate here.

Sandra Schgaguler is responsible for the kitchen and can be found everywhere from morning to night where good food and drinks are celebrated. As a sommelier she is also happy to recommend lesser-known niche wines from the region that complement the menu. She maintains personal contact with the winemakers, always open to new discoveries.

Loden green armchairs meet natural stone, and the scent of herbal tea and espresso fills the air. The carefully selected range of spirits is rounded off by grappa from the nearby Zu Plun distillery at the foot of the Seiser Alm. The cosy hotel bar offers indoor and outdoor seating and serves warming tea in the afternoon and refreshing drinks in the evening.

Wellness & relaxation

In both winter and summer, guests can relax on the large sun terrace with deck chairs, parasols and an outdoor whirlpool, which is accessible from the wellness area and the bar.

The wellness area at Hotel Schgaguler comprises two swimming pools, various saunas and relaxation rooms. A separate room, the Melmarium, offers treatments and baths with mud, infrared light and steam.

Those who want to cool off between sauna sessions will find the ice room the perfect place to do so. Even more relaxation can be found in the wellness area with soothing massages using high-quality cosmetic products from the mountain region. And those who prefer to exercise will find a wide range of equipment in the hotel’s own gym.

Surrounding area

At an altitude of 2,000 metres, from St. Vigil to the Seiser Alm, there are eleven hamlets and Kastelruth, the main centre of the municipality. Kastelruth is named after the castle ruins ‘castellum ruptum’, parts of which can still be seen today.

In the centre of the village stands an old church with a striking bell tower dating back to the 19th century. The third highest bell tower in South Tyrol can be reached via almost 300 wooden steps as part of a guided tour. The streets are lined with historic buildings featuring ornate frescoes, some of which were painted by Eduard Burgauner, a local artist who lived from 1873 to 1913.

Activities

Several times a week, Gottfried Schgaguler takes guests on guided hikes, both in summer and winter. As an experienced hiking guide, he knows the most beautiful places.

Those who want to set off on their own are best advised to drive to the Seiser Alm valley station and take the mountain railway from there. Once at the top, there are various hiking routes to choose from.

Those who want to treat their stomachs and rest their feet along the way should choose a hike to the Gostner Schwaige, the Rauchalm or the Tschötsch-Alm. More challenging and perfect for architecture lovers is the tour via the Rosszahnscharte to the Tierser Alpl. In winter, the snow beckons outdoors: whether on the ski slopes or for cross-country skiing.

Bolzano can be reached by car in about 40 minutes. The city is ideal for city tours, relaxed shopping afternoons and cultural excursions. Bressanone, about 30 minutes away by car, also invites visitors to stroll through its cobbled historic streets.

Details

Rooms

• Gable Suite
• Loft Suite
• Family Suite N01
• Family Suite N02
• Gable Room
• Town Suite
• Garden Room
• Classic Room N01
• Classic Room N01

Culinary

• Schgaguler Restaurant
• Hotel Bar

Wellness & relaxation

• Sun deck with whirlpool
• Sauna: Bio sauna, Finnish sauna (Kelo)
• Steam & ice room
• Melmarium
• Massages
• Gym