Bergschlössl

Saint Anton is one of Europe’s legendary ski resorts. If you are an ardent skier, you couldn’t ask for a more desirable location than the Bergschlössl—at the foot of the mountain, between the ski school and the lift. To add to the perfection, after a day on the slopes, your last run brings you to the door of the hotel where you put your skis in your private locker and leave your boots on a rack to dry. Summer is lovely too. The Bergschlössl back is on a lovely meadow that leads up to the hills where walking trails beckon. Originally the house was built as a toll station, collecting taxes from the trade over the Arlberg Pass. Later it became a private home, which your charming young hostess, Johanna Moosbrugger, inherited from her grandmother. Growing up in a family of hoteliers (her family owns the splendid Post Hotel in Lech), it was a natural transition to turn the home into an intimate deluxe hotel. Although the town of Saint Anton has many modern buildings, the Bergschlössl exudes a cozy, old-world charm throughout, enhanced by many antiques. Each spacious, beautifully decorated guestroom displays its own personality. Some have fireplaces, some kitchenettes, others tiled ovens. All have well-appointed bathrooms with whimsical tiles skillfully hand-painted by Johanna in the old Delft technique. One of my favorite guestrooms, Erker-Zimmer, is especially romantic with a sitting area tucked into the tower.

The Bergschlössl in St. Anton is a veritable piece of old Austria, constructed in 1905/06 by the Imperial Railways as a customs and excise office.

After the demise of the Danube Monarchy, today’s Bergschlössl served as the practice of Dr. Hans Schalle, a renowned physician of his time, and later as a family-run guesthouse.  Since then, it has remained in the care of the Moosbruggers, a family of hoteliers whose empire also includes the world-famous “Post” in Lech and the outstanding winery at Schloss Gobelsburg in Lower Austria.