Hospitality turned into architecture

Hospitality is something that the people of Klausen and the surrounding villages have carried within them for centuries. Their appreciation for tradition and enthusiasm for modernity is also reflected in architecturally unique hotels and accommodations.

Hardly any other place in South Tyrol has historically benefited from its location as much as Klausen. At the narrow valley between the Säben Rock and the Eisack River—where trade and travel over the Brenner Pass along one of Europe’s most important routes could easily be monitored—a toll station was established more than 1,000 years ago. The key in the town's coat of arms makes it clear: only those who paid could pass. When night fell, the city gates were closed; anyone arriving late experienced "gate-closing panic" and found comfort in one of the many historic inns.

Wealth through narrowness – the Tintorum in Klausen

When Stefan Gamper bought the former poorhouse from the 15^th century in the center of Klausen’s old town ten years ago, he mainly needed imagination to breathe new life into this symbolic place. The many tiny rooms became spacious apartments, where modern comfort blends with old-world charm. A medieval carving of a king watches over the dining table from the kitchen wall paneling, and the glass windows in the roof reveal where the Tintorum has always been at home: between the church tower, Branzoll Castle, and Säben Monastery.

Luxury of asceticism – the Briol

Higher up in the mountains above Barbian stands a house with creaking stairs, crumbling lime on thick stone walls, and wooden facades weathered by harsh winters. And yet, the Briol radiates beauty, dignity, grandeur, and self-confidence. The wind of history has swept through its Bauhaus-style rooms.

Built in 1928, it is one of the few mountain inns established between the two World Wars—at a time when “Sommerfrische” (summer retreat) meant immersion in nature, silence, minimalism, and authenticity. Simplicity has always been the guiding principle here: shared bathrooms instead of en-suites, washbasins in rooms instead of showers, laundry fluttering in the wind instead of unsightly umbrellas, and distant views from balconies instead of television. In the garden, hikers and guests sit as they did a hundred years ago, enjoying the view of the Dolomites and delicious regional cuisine.

A UFO on the edge of the Dolomites – the Freiform

Quite the opposite, yet similar in its reduction to the essentials, is the Freiform in Verdings by Martin Gruber. For this private guesthouse, the architect let his pencil dance across the paper with playful ease. The openness of the almost fully glazed Freiform is exhilarating. Here, you read, eat, and sleep outside—even when you're inside. The glass becomes a thin membrane. The architecture recedes, becoming almost invisible, allowing the overwhelming intensity of nature and freedom to flood the space. Animals appear right outside the window, a thunderstorm approaches, and behind you, the fire crackles warmly in the wood-burning stove.

With the power of the elements – Dietrichhof

The Dietrichhof above Feldthurns also plays with unusual forms. In the vast barn, Szilvia and Reinhard Rauter built four barrel-like straw pavilions, using only natural materials—straw, wood, and clay. The solitary farm is nestled in a magnificent landscape with views of the Geisler peaks on the other side of the Eisack Valley. A newly opened garden café means you don’t even have to stay overnight to enjoy the place.

Roots allow us to grow – Ansitz Steinbock

A castle-like structure in rural idyll, Ansitz Steinbock in Villanders dates back to the 15^th century. A paradise for time travelers and an important cultural site for the village. The restaurant’s excellent reputation precedes it. But good taste is found not only on the plate—it's also in the centuries-old Gothic parlor's architecture. Elsewhere in the house, history flirts with modern architecture, local materials, and exclusive comfort.

These houses are like the mountains of South Tyrol: they have seen much, rest within themselves, and change slowly. If they could, they would probably smile at us—humans so fixated on our little lives. They will outlive us in timeless beauty because their owners are doing just the right things for them.

Text: Sylvia Pollex
Photos: Thomas Rötting
Pubblication: 2025