Austria. Media News.

Dear friends of Austria and fellow travelers,

Yes, winter in Austria is about enchanting Christmas Markets, idyllic Alpine villages, and unparalleled winter sports opportunities. It is also this: The joys of winter captured in Mozart’s “Musical Sleigh Ride;” the colors of snow brought to canvas by Bruegel, Schiele and Werner Berg; a wealth of folkloristic traditions that are windows to a different time when winter was at once hard and magical; an opportunity to marvel at Alpine architecture and design with a backdrop of rugged, snow-covered peaks. Below are just a few examples of how to experience it all.

As previously announced, the former Astoria Resort Seefeld in the snug mountain village of Seefeld in Tirol is now the Alpin Resort Sacher Seefeld. We had the pleasure of getting to know the newest addition to the Sacher hotels family this past week, and let us tell you, you do not want to miss it!

With warmest regards,
Sigrid Pichler & Helen Bitschnau

Managers of Public Relations
Austrian Tourist Office New York City
sigrid.pichler@austria.info
helen.bitschnau@austria.info 
tel 212 575 7723 x 119 or x 112
www.austria.info 

Discover the myriad ways that the winter season has left its impression on all aspects of art and culture in Austria by exploring museums, attending concerts, visiting festivals, staying in an igloo, or simply choosing the right mountain-top restaurants to dine at. Here is a quick guide:

ART: Painters have always been inspired by the moody winter light, by the way snow entirely transforms any scenery. Some of the art that captures this best is housed in Vienna's most famous museums. There are many reasons to visit the Belvedere museum in Vienna, and Schiele’s “Houses in Winter” is one of them. The Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna has one of Bruegel’s most famous paintings on display: “Hunters in the Snow.” Further afield, in a charming village in Carinthia lies the Werner Berg Museum, where the melancholy beauty of winter is depicted by the reclusive German-Austrian painter. And Kitzbühel in Tirol is the home of the Alfons Walde Collection. Walde’s paintings were famous for their unique style and his focus on winter (sports) scenes in the heart of the Alps.

MUSIC: The joys and the stillness of winter were an inspiration for many Austrian composers as well. Luckily, Vienna has many concert halls and venues where you can listen to pieces of music inspired by or associated with the season. The Vienna State Opera and the Vienna Volksoper feature performances of Johann Strauss’s “Die Fledermaus,” the famous operetta which celebrates the lively ball season that has been a fixture of winter in Vienna for as long as anyone can remember. Franz Schubert’s “Winterreise” is another example of a musical piece with a wintry theme. The Konzerthaus is one of many venues which regularly feature Schubert in their program. 

ARCHITECTURE and DESIGN: Alpine Architecture, too, is influenced by the winter season: traditional alpine huts were made of wood and built to withstand and protect from the season, while modern architecture aims to magnify and reflect the beauty of the Alpine landscape. Luckily for architecture fans, these examples of modern Alpine architecture, especially the ones housed near cable car stations on mountain tops, often feature outstanding restaurants and stunning views. The Kristallhütte and the iceQ in Tirol - a James Bond location - are perfect examples, but there are many others that combine Alpine architecture and top gourmet experiences. If you are up for a very cool stay in the Austrian Alps, you may want to head over to the Igloo Village Kühtai, just outside of Innsbruck. 

TRADITIONAL CUSTOMS: In former times, the days before and after Christmas were a time when the harsh realities of bitter winters and short days fueled superstitions and brought forth many interesting customs related to warding off bad influences or chasing winter away altogether. Many of these traditions are very much alive today, such as the Krampus runs on December 5, which are held in literally every town and village in Austria but are especially popular in Salzburg and Tirol. Very similar are the Perchten runs in rural areas. For those interested in this topic, here is a lengthy and very interesting read on the origins of these customs and the differences from region to region. While these events are much tamer than they used to be only a few decades ago, they can still leave quite an impression. Finally, we can’t talk about winter traditions without at least mentioning the Christmas Markets, but we’ll save the details on that one for one of the next newsletters…

As of Mid-September, 2022, there are now three Sacher hotels in Austria. The former Astoria Resort Seefeld has been family-owned since 1950 and is located on the Seefeld plateau at 3,600 feet sea-level, a region in the proximity of Innsbruck which is known for its particularly beautiful scenery. In recent years, the spacious five-star superior hotel has been expanded and renovated with great attention to detail and in line with the highest quality standards of the Sacher group, which also owns the Hotel Sacher Vienna and the Hotel Sacher Salzburg. The Alpin Resort Sacher Seefeld now boasts a 4,700 square meter wellness area, a gourmet restaurant and 81 suites and rooms in elegant Alpine design.

“The SACHER establishments are among the few family-run luxury hotels that not only meet international standards, but help to set them and lead the way in the industry. That is why I am particularly proud today that the ASTORIA Resort, which is closely linked to my family's history, became a part of the even larger Sacher hotel and gastronomy family,” says Elisabeth Gürtler, who will continue to manage the Alpin Resort Sacher together with her General Manager Anton Gustav Birnbaum and his team.

The Sacher Brand: Since 1832, the Sacher Hotels have been a beacon of classic Austrian luxury and hospitality. Today, all Sacher Hotels, Cafés and the production of the Original Sacher-Torte are managed by the families Gürtler and Winkler. Love for detail, a family atmosphere and unfailing quality of service are the hallmarks of Sacher excellence. “These qualities have been the guiding principles throughout the renovations at the Astoria over the last few years. As a result, the resort is now a Sacher property where guests feel at home, enjoy excellent service and attention to detail during every moment of their stay,” so Alexandra Winkler, Sacher co-owner.

Seefeld, Tirol: The natural beauty of the region is a result of its unique geography: At 3,600 feet sea level, a high plateau, surrounded by majestic Alpine peaks, opens up to the sunny south. The plateau houses five idyllic villages, one of which is Seefeld. The village is a popular destination year-round, offering plenty of possibilities for outdoor activities such as cross-country skiing and hiking, as well as shopping and fine dining. It is located about a 20 minute drive away from Innsbruck and a 90 minute drive away from the Munich airport.