My First Impression: Have I walked into Wes Anderson’s The Grand Budapest Hotel?
Established in 1908, Parkhotel Holzner is an alpine institution in Soprabolzano, Italy. It has been owned by the same family for over 100 years and is currently run by the fourth generation of the Holzner family. The hotel offers dramatic mountain panoramas and views of the Dolomites, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
The Art Nouveau touches are very much in evidence the moment you step inside the alpine hotel. The original lamps, Thonet chairs, and furnishings all evoke a very Grand Budapest Hotel vibe. You won’t fail to miss the architectural highlights like floral curves and distinctive wood panelling.
Rooms: Delivering modern comforts in a traditional setting
The hotel offers 53 well-furnished rooms and suites. They also offer a holiday house “Maria Schnee”, which offers 2 rooms and plenty of space for some alpine relaxation. There have been plenty of renovations in recent years. They completed a major extension in 2018 with new suites and spa facilities. The Latemar family suites were renovated in 2022, whilst the Nostalgie double rooms were fully renovated in 2023. The latter includes furniture from the original founding period, which makes the stay particularly unique and charming.
Verdant greenery enthusiasts should consider booking the Garten junior suites. You will get a well-portioned bedroom along with a cosy living space and a private sun terrace. The latter leads onto their 10,000m² well-manicured park and views of the majestic South Tyrolean mountains. They focus on using local materials for the rooms, and you will notice the wooden floor is made of local ash. You will also find a walk-in shower and a bidet. Toiletries are from the renowned Alpine brand, Trehs.
Parkhotel Holzner’s Food & Drink: Putting sustainability at the heart of their menus
The local tourism board should be awarding Parkhotel Holzner for being such a great ambassador to the alpine region. They pride themselves on offering around 400 South Tyrolean wine labels, most of which are found in their fine dining restaurant, 1908. For their efforts in promoting local wines, they were awarded the Wine Culture Prize of the Province of South Tyrol in 2013.
Likewise, for their food offerings, the focus is on low-mileage produce. There is a strong focus on regional and seasonal products. They have a very plant-forward menu and are looking for a reduction of meat and fish on their menus. The eclectic offerings include artichoke soup and tirtlan, which is a traditional, deep-fried pastry typically stuffed with spinach and ricotta. At breakfast, you will discover that their bread is from the Hackhofer bakery, which has been around one year longer than the hotel and is situated merely 300 metres from the hotel. They take huge pride in promoting the local small-scale economy.
Parkhotel Holzner’s Location: A hiker’s paradise in Soprabolzano
There is no shortage of outdoor activities to enjoy at Parkhotel Holzner. Tennis plays a huge part in the hotel experience, and they’ve had tennis courts around since 1935. However, I would highly recommend exploring the over 300 kilometres of hiking trails that traverse the Ritten Mountain. It can be from an accessible level, sauntering through the vineyards in the valley, to more challenging routes leading to the Rittner Horn. The summit is at an altitude of approximately 2,260 metres.
You can also use the historic Ritten Railway, which is directly outside the hotel, and it is five stops to Klobenstein, the ideal starting point for your hike. The hotel can provide maps for your hikes, or you can join their complimentary guided hikes at certain times during the day. They can provide hiking sticks, hiking backpacks, and refillable water bottles. You will also receive the RittenCard, which is included in your room rate. The cards include free public transport in the South Tyrol region, free entry to around 80 museums in the region, as well as other benefits.
Visit Highlight: A tasting menu that will dazzle the senses
Their gourmet, fine-dining restaurant, 1908, is a not-to-be-missed gastronomic feast. They’ve been winning accolades aplenty, including being named “Top 5 Restaurants in South Tyrol”. Head chef, Stephan Zippl, grew up in Lengstein in Renon. It is a charming, secluded little village, not far from the resort and is a part of one of their guided hikes. He knows the fields and meadows intimately, hence it is no surprise to find sorrel, wild garlic, mountain pine, juniper, fir, and wild strawberries appear on his menus.
There are numerous iconic dishes by Stephan. One is the 100% Aspinger. All the ingredients from that dish come from nearby Aspingerhof Farm, where they grow over 800 old vegetable and fruit rarities. This preservation of diversity has led to countless gourmet restaurants knocking on their doors, and not just 1908. Another iconic dish is their tripe course, which highlights their focus on minimising food wastage. It is finely chopped and flavoured with the delights of tarragon, shallot, shiitake, and raisins.
With around 400 South Tyrolean wines on their menu, taking the wine-pairing option is highly recommended, and you will most definitely discover some hidden gems during the tastings.
Final Thoughts: Breathe in the charm of the Dolomites
The Parkhotel Holzner has one of the finest wellness spas in the region. You will notice an abundant use of glass, which connects the outdoor beauty with your wellness experience. The spacious panoramic sauna is not to be missed. The multi-sensory sauna ritual, Aufguss, takes place at 6 pm daily at this sauna. There is a Finnish sauna in the spa garden. In addition, they have both an indoor and an outdoor pool that are heated to 30 C° all year round. There is something incredibly magical about swimming outdoors in the alpine landscape and breathing the crisp, clean air.
There are also whirlpool benches, hammam, bio sauna, numerous treatment rooms, and a family-friendly wellness area. It is the kind of perfect location, you just want to relax in for the whole afternoon. Whether it is a gourmet, wellness, or an action holiday you are looking for, Parkhotel Holzner offers it all.
Getting there
SkyAlps offers the only route from the UK directly into the heart of the Dolomites, Bolzano. SkyAlps operates up to three times a week on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays from London Gatwick to Bolzano from €148 each way.
Book your stay at Parkhotel Holzner and experience it for yourself.
Looking for more countryside content? Why not check out my articles on the Black Forest.
