Posthotel Achenkirch

Austria may be known for its alpine scenery and world class skiing but it is also known for having some of Europe’s best spas. Just south of the Bavarian border and about a half hour from Innsbruck, is the small village of Achenkirch. It lies just a few kilometers from the northern edge of Lake Achensee, which is the largest mountain lake in the Tyrol region of Austria and totally surrounded by mountains.

Achensee, Austria

That is where you will find Posthotel Achenkirch, a wonderful five star spa resort which is  dedicated to the wellbeing of its guests.

Posthotel Achenkirch

Posthotel Achenkirch Is In The Center Of Town

Posthotel Main Building

Click on any photo to enlarge and see a slide show.

Compared to the other spa hotels my husband and I have stayed at over the years, the Posthotel Achenkirch is different in that it is a resort for adults. The hotel considers itself a retreat for wellness, rest, relaxation and tranquility, so no children under 14 are allowed. The owners want you to enjoy a peaceful environment so that you can recharge your body during your stay.

If you are arriving by car like we did, after checking in, you drive your car into their underground garage where your luggage will be unloaded and your car parked. Parking is free and upon  your departure, the car will be given back to you washed. We were happy to be given a tour to acquaint us with the hotel before heading to our room. The resort is large and consists of eight buildings connected by indoor passages designed like village streets with lamp posts, directional signs, fountains, flowers and lit candles everywhere.

The Reception Area Of The Underground Garage Where Luggage Will Be Unloaded And Then Your Car Parked For Free

The Underground Garage

The Hotel Bus In The Underground Parking Garage

Passageways Look Like Village Streets

Old Post Carriage In One Of The Passageways

Click on any photo to enlarge and see a slide show.

The Posthotel Achenkirch is a blend of relaxed country charm and elegance…warm woods, stone and wood floors, crystal and iron chandeliers, a mix of contemporary and traditional furniture, velvets and leathers, and colors of subdued blues, grays, and browns. The wood and white plaster dining rooms have brown plaid carpet and are set with all white linens and white draped chairs. There is a punch of red plaid on the upholstered chairs in the winter garden dining room.

The Large Sitting Room/Lobby

A Mix Of Contemporary and Antiques In The Lobby/Sitting Room

Warm Woods, Velvets And Leathers

Another Of The Dining Rooms

The Winter Garden Dining Room

Click on any photo to enlarge and see a slide show.

We were very happy with the room category we had selected. We had a very spacious junior suite with a lovely sitting area with a flat screen TV, a beautiful marble bathroom with a large soaking tub and a separate walk in shower, his and her’s vanities, one with a TV hidden in the mirror, a separate toilet room and there was a nice balcony looking out at the mountains, the little St. Anna chapel and the local parish church.

The Sitting Area Of Our Junior Suite

Our Junior Suite

Junior Suite

The Bathroom With Another Vanity On The Other Side Of The Tub

Looking Out At The Hotel Complex From Our Balcony

the St. Anna Chapel Seen From Our Balcony

Click on any photo to enlarge and see a slide show.

The hotel is one of the leading spa resorts in Europe. The water and wellness worlds that make up the spa are huge. At 7000 sq. meters, the spa is one of the largest in the Tyrol region of Austria.  There is an incredible variety of indoor and outdoor pools, saunas, steam baths, an yin yang pool outdoors where you can switch from cold to warm water, a woman’s only section in the spa, 35 treatment rooms as well as rooms for napping and reading.

One Of The Outdoor Pools

Yin Yang Pool

Indoor Pool

Sauna

Click on any photo to enlarge and see a slide show.

In the underground sauna area, there is also an area designed as a sunken temple with a round meditation room. A Shaolin monk from China stays at the hotel six months of the year to teach guests how meditation helps with your health. They also have their own acupuncture specialist at the spa.

For those looking for something more active, you can sign up for daily fitness classes such as yoga, tai chi, Pilates, and Nordic walking. The resort also has tennis courts and its own 9 hole golf course, horse stables and indoor and outdoor riding rinks. The owners of the hotel have the largest private Lipizzaner stud farm in Europe, with 40 white stallions. They are the breed of horses closely associated with the Spanish Riding School of Vienna, Austria. You can sign up to take riding lessons on one of the horses or perhaps just enjoy a carriage ride pulled by Lipizzaners around the surrounding area.

Visiting The Lippizzanners

This Lippizzanner Is Warm Inside The Stables On A Rainy Day

If The Weather Is Nice, A Carriage Ride Would Be Memorable

Click on any photo to enlarge and see a slide show.

This is another resort where all your meals are included in the price of the room. There is a large buffet breakfast, a light lunch of soups, sliced local hams, cheese, salads and fruits, teas and coffees served with pastries in the afternoon and a dinner in the evening. You can order à la carte or have a meal off the buffet that usually is prepared around a different theme each evening. The meal includes a salad, dessert and cheese buffet (one evening was a special cheese night with 74 different cheeses, both local and from other regions of Europe.) There is also a spa menu and many of the products are raised and grown on their own organic farm, one of the largest in the area.

Pumpkin Soup, My Favorite Fall Soup

Delicious Main Course

We Had These Almond Cookies Every Night With Ice Cream, Delicious

Cheese Course

Part Of The Cheese Course Selection

Click on any photo to enlarge and see a slide show.

****

During an afternoon drive through the most southern part of Bavaria a couple of years ago, my husband and I crossed over the border into Austria and discovered the little village of Achenkirch and drove right past this resort without knowing how lovely it was. I’m happy to say that we can now add it to the wonderful list of spa hotels that we have stayed at. If you want to relax and escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life, I believe you would truly enjoy the Posthotel Achenkirch. The hotel is sophisticated and luxurious and yet relaxed and informal, making for a perfect holiday.