If you have been advertising for Franziskaner Weissbier for many years, you should actually know what the phrase “Auszeit” means. However, the chalets of the same name in Hüttschlag, Austria, raise the meaning to a new, unequally higher level. After the sunny start in Munich, the sky becomes more and more cloudy and the first spring clouds bear witness to upcoming heat storms.
Who can cheer me up now? Well, maybe Christina, who welcomes me at the front desk in the reception. „Welcome to Chalets Auszeit. How was the ride?“. Either she was not outside for a long time, or she just wants to smile my wrinkles away. 5 minutes later I have to admit that beautiful weather is almost out of place here.
The six chalets offer an alpine luxury of the top class. I live in Chalet “Weinschnabel” directly on the small lake, which is actually a refreshing pool. And then Christina starts with her introduction to the premises. Everything is served by tablet computer. „If you click on it, the light goes on. So you leave water in the outdoor wellness tub. And so you start the sound system. As far as understood?“ Actually yes, I think. Until the next morning at 5 o’clock where the beats blow through the whole chalet. There was probably a gap in the communication chain. So better watch out, because Christina just disappears a whole Picture Frame to make a TV emerge. Champions League final should be safe. „There is already a snack in the fridge waiting for you and a bottle of sparkling wine“. But it goes on, always on. On the ground floor there is a kitchen with a rustic seating area and a wine cabinet. „The jams are homemade. You can take them with you“ says Christina.
The living room hugs me with an open fireplace. On the ground floor there is also a guest room so that a total of 4 people can stay here. The upper floor is opened with an open bath (tub plus shower), only to be detached from the master bedroom.
And I know that now many of you will say: „What? Downstairs there is only a sun terrace with mountain view?!?“. I agree. To prevent this, the balcony above is also with mountain view. The plan for the next day seems clear. First it goes to the pool, no into the pine sauna, nonsense on the e-bike or perhaps still into the feel-good tub? The decision is taken from me, because there is a big breakfast box directly in front of the chalet door. This is served in the room and includes a whole buffet of breads, the most delicious cheese and ham combinations, buttery croissants, self-made eggs, muesli variations and salmon with mustard dill sauce.
Movement is now distressed and Christina has the right tip in stock. „Just drive the 8 km to the end of the valley to Gasthof Talwirt and from there it is a 2 ½ hours walk up to the Schödersee. May be that the lake is already dried out“ „What?“ The dissolution comes immediately: „The Schödersee is just filled during thaw and after strong rainfall with water“. So let´s leave and hurry. The first section to the Ötzlsee still runs smoothly through meadows and pastures, past ancient farms and the refreshing Kreealm waterfall.
Afterwards we continue along a thundering brook to the picturesque Schödertal. Sometimes the path is a little bit slippery, so Mountain boots are mandatory, sophisticated climbing talents however not. After a good 2 hours I´m at the magnificent Schödersee. It is located on 1,440 meters and the start for a variety of alpine hikes in the National Park Hohe Tauern.
But I do not want my hosts, the couple Prommegger to wait. After all, there is an outstanding dinner in the restaurant Auszeit-Alm. I learn that already the Austrian Politician, Sebastian Kurz, visited this place and that the chalet village was 90% loaded in the first year. The concept of the individual class, there are almost as many employees as guests, seems to go up. „Who once was a guest, always comes back“ confirmed me Rupert Prommegger and there is really nothing to add. Next morning, Christina says goodbye with a food package of deer sausage and a bread loaf. „A safe journey home and please visit us again soon“. I’ll do it for sure, but I’m still open for a detour. About 30 kilometers north of Hüttschlag, lies the Hochkönig, the highest mountain peak of the Berchtesgaden Alps.
A picturesque valley and floodplain landscape, which is dominated by the triumphant peaks of the almost 3,000-meter high mountain range. I park my Audi at the Arthurhaus in Mühlbach and after 30 minutes I reach the intermediate stage of the Mitterfeldalm where I already reserve the Kaiserschmarrn for the return trip. The hiking trail to the peak is described as long, exhausting, but scenic. And even if I can not manage the 1,600 height meter, I try at least half to be allowed to strudge through untouched snowfields. The sweat runs down my face in cascades, but the loneliness of the brutally beautiful mountain landscape pushes me ever higher up.
Maybe at the end 500 meters are missing, but first spring clouds remind me of the words from the Internet community. As soon as the weather changes, the tour turns into a „black beast“ and you should better reverse. In addition, there is still a Kaiserschmarrn waiting for me at the Mitterfeldalm.
This article was published with the friendy support of Auszeit Chalets.
Read also my article about the Draycott Hotel in London.