Der Zirmerhof

A paradise of open space and freedom was how former German President Richard von Weizsäcker described his stay at the Zirmerhof.

The Alpine hotel is an ancient farmstead from the twelfth century and has been a centre of attraction for visitors from all over the world for over 100 years. Far from the city streets, nestling in the countryside, lies the Zirmerhof, a place of retreat at 1,560 m.

Here you find true luxury: space – time – peace – simplicity – relaxation. Here, simplicity is what is unique and peace on the mountain is the real treasure. The combination of Alpine hotel, farm, vineyard and nature park is a journey through time with the beauty of yesteryear and the comforts of today.

The Zirmerhof offers an unparalleled ambience. You enter a unique realm as you pass under the gate arches. Here, you can cast off the thoughts and troubles of everyday life and give in to the beauty of the house and the surrounding area. The place radiates both magic and power.

Several hundred years of farming history lie within the beams and vaulted ceilings in the original farmhouse parlour from 1600, with its tiled stove and traditional Herrgottswinkel family altar in the cosy library and the other stylishly panelled rooms with open fireplaces.

History and tradition are quite naturally preserved and continue to be practised. It has been this way for many generations.

800 years go by pretty quickly. The history of the Zirmerhof goes back to the twelfth century. In 1890, Anna Wieser Perwanger opened the farm up to visitors. At first it was aristocrats, privy councillors, artists and scientists from Vienna, Leipzig and Berlin who discovered the healing properties of the Alpine countryside.

What were initially only a few guest rooms have today become 35 rooms and suites as well as 3 Alpine huts. Comfort has now been improved, but there is no less rural history and ambience.

South Tyrol’s Historic Hotel 2010
A NATURAL HABITAT AND ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE
The jury’s verdict: “The Zirmerhof in Radein is an object that, in its peripheral location, can itself be seen as interesting proof of developments in tourism. The establishment has remained true to itself in its extensions and alterations and there is no break in form.

The wood-panelled rooms, the rustic furniture and its integration into the green countryside give the Alpine Hotel ‘Zirmerhof’ a unique charm.”

The title Historic Hotel of the Year is awarded by the Stiftung Südtiroler Sparkasse (South Tyrolean Sparkasse Association) together with the Landesdenkmalamt (Bureau for the Preservation of State Monuments) and the Hoteliers’ and Innkeepers’ Association (HGV) to a hotel for conscious and meticulous care and for historic elements of architecture and furnishings.

Panorama Suite
APPROX. 60 M² | 2-5 PERSONS
With a 6 meter panoramic window and it’s roof-balcony this new suite at the top floor offers stunning mountain and valley views. The generous room with it’s light ambiance has two separate living areas and invites to a cosy and typical alpine stay. The over-length double beds make for a refreshing sleep.

The amount of space, the antique rustic furniture and the naturally kept wooden floors impart a stately or family-friendly holiday in the South Tyrolean Alps. The light and large bathroom, also with wooden floor, is equipped with shower, toilet and rain shower.

Veranda Suite
APPROX. 55 M² | 2-5 PERSONS
The largest and most stylish suites each have a glazed veranda and charm with their light ambience. These have either a generous room with a separate living area or two separate rooms.

The over-length double beds make for a refreshing sleep. From the top floor you can see the village of Radein, the Weißhorn and the meadows and forests of the Zirmerhof.

The amount of space, the antique rustic furniture and the naturally kept wooden floors impart a stately or family-friendly holiday in the South Tyrolean Alps. The marble bathrooms are equipped with shower, toilet and in part with bath tub.

Meadow Houses
VAIA’S MESSAGE TRANSFORMED INTO AN INSTALLATION OF ART AND ARCHITECTURE
“I welcomed the idea of building the two Case del Prato using the timber felled by the storm. The wounds produced by storm Vaia are still visible when you look around Zirmerhof and you see the empty patches of woodland. We still find it hard to believe how violent the wind of Vaia was, and how it could fell and carry away so many trees. Yet the message that Vaia left us is quite clear. It is a message that comes from a tale of climate change and that shows us how nature is rebelling against our inconsiderate actions, against those anthropogenic changes that are far from natural.” (Michele De Lucchi, June 2020)

Sommerstall
APPROX. 42 M² + 200 M² FENCED OUTDOOR AREA
As the name suggests, the Sommerstall-Alm was originally built as the summer quarters for the animals and nestles in the countryside on the edge of the forest within sight of the main building.

The hut is totally renovated and inside there are a living room with a big stove, sitting area and a fully equipped kitchen, a large bedroom and a gallery bedroom for children, a newly made bathroom with shower/WC and washbasin.

Outside leads onto the small meadow terrace with loungers, a wooden table and bench and a wonderful view of the mountain top glacier and the Etsch Valley. You get a real impression of “farming” on the Alpine pasture. Living like an Alpine dairyman after a hard day’s work: doing nothing and just admiring the view!

5 minutes away from the Zirmerhof in a magnificent location with living and sleeping areas for a maximum of 5 persons. Use of the Wellness facilities and half-board, B&B or à la carte in the main Zirmerhof building.

Enjoy the cosy Sommerstall in the winter period wih self catering.Intermediate cleaning upon request and extra payment.

Gourmet holidays in South Tyrol
HANNA PERWANGER’S FAVOURITE DISHES
Being at one with nature and enjoying the good things in life have always belonged together. The Zirmerhof’s kitchen has always taken these two principles to heart. To be rooted to the soil and to use the best and freshest produce from our own farm; and in so doing, to perfect the simple with refinement.

The kitchen continues in the tradition of Hanna and Rosl Perwanger, who treated their guests to South Tyrolean favourites. Excellent cuisine and produce from our own farm are part of the recipe for the Zirmerhof South Tyrolean Restaurant’s success.

This has been rewarded with entries in the most famous restaurant guides. Just as the cuisine inspires, so too does the ambience. Dine in the Riese Grimm Saal (Giant Grimm Hall) with stylish furniture and paintings by Ignaz Stolz or in the “Stube 1600”, or on summer days, on the sunny terrace with a view.

A wine tour to the South Tyrol
THE REAL DEAL IN HOSTORIC VAULTS
For wine connoisseurs the cellar holds over 250 selected wines and two dozen Grappas and Aquavits. Amongst the wines is the PINUS Gewürztraminer from the Vineyard, which belongs to the farm.

Fermented, bottled, racked or put into cartons, the wine finds the best conditions to develop in the cellar with its 500 year old walls. The cellar is not only for storage, but also a place for socialising with aperitifs, tastings and the opportunity to buy home- and farm-made produce as well as other selected specialities.

Wellness hotel in the Dolomites – South Tyrol
HEALTHY IN THE FRESH ALPINE AIR
The Wellness facilities and pool have the unique Zirmerhof signature: light spaces nestle inside the hill. The south-facing glass front opens up a wide and weightless view. Specially selected materials such as pine and larch, natural stone and loam rendering give the facilities their unique character.

The 200m² interior with its various chill-out rooms and snugs with open fires invites you to relax. The Finnish sauna with a view and a renovated herbal steam room allow you to recover and while away the time after a day’s hiking.

South Tyrolean hotel with swimming pool
WATER … AND NOTHING BETWEEN US AND THE HORIZON
The infinity pool with its panoramic view measures 12 x 6 m. The water temperature is a cool 22°C in summer, in spring and autumn a comfortable 27°C and in winter a warm 30°C.

The pool is ecologically heated with wood from our own forest. A large, covered lounge area with larch wood grating invites you to while away the time.

Wellness holidays in South Tyrol
GLACISSE
The valuable minerals from the glacier, with the unique active substance provide moisture, simultaneously ensuring that the moisture is stored in the skin for an extended period of time, so that the skin remains firm and elastic. From facial care to face and body packs for sports enthusiasts.

Take time to unwind, enjoy yourself and relax with cosmetics from Southern Tyrol! Treat yourself to the luxury of our Glacisse cosmetic. You will be carried away into the world of grooming and sensuality by the caring attention given to you by our enthusiastic beauticians!

Facial Ritual
Welcomed with a glass of Gewu?rztraminer Pinus. The facial ritual begins with a footbath. It helps you relax and brings inner harmony, during which a hand massage takes place. With warm aroma compresses and the invigorating aqua spray the skin is gently cleansed.

The peeling prepares the skin for the concentrated serum and the nurturing mask. The draining facial massage stimulates the connective tissue and lymph flow. The day care strengthens the radiant skin for another day.

ALPINE MESSAGES
Enjoy the quintessence of active ingredients from the Alps, of personalized massage techniques and of the traditional cupping practice.

These massages follow a precise procedure aimed at boosting intense detoxication, regeneration and relaxation. A full body massage lasts 50 min., a back massage 25 min. Consult our qualified staff!

Herbal pouches massage – natural power of herbs
This herbal pouches massage is a powerful and intensive full-body treatment with precious natural oils, select herbal blends and unique combinations of active components.

The herbal stamps are patted over your body intensively, with gentle pressure. This stimulating technique and the herbs used help to relieve stress, while the finest aroma massage oils bring you vitality. Start off balanced and full of energy!

Full body aroma salt scrub – intensive tenderness
This full-body scrub with aromatic massage oil and salt from the Dead Sea supports the rejuvenation of your skin, promotes tissue metabolism, and makes your skin silky smooth. For an intense, fresh feeling. | with partial massage 50 min | with scrub or bath 50 min

For a deeply moisturized skin with apple and rose hips – sweet allure
Pamper your skin with a fruity and sensual beauty bath. Apple extract is rich in vitamins, minerals, pectin, and waxes – the perfect active ingredients to care for demanding skin.

In combination with precious rose hips, it considerably improves the skin’s well-being and significantly reduces drying. Your skin will appear smoother and more supple. | with partial massage 50 min

Cultural holidays in South Tyrol
ART TELLS A STORY
Art and culture are cultivated at the Zirmerhof. The renowned artist Ignaz Stolz (1868-1953) from Bolzano painted the Wandfresko der Heiligen Drei Könige (Three holy kings Fresco) and the five-part oil on canvas series featuring the Legend of the Giant Grimm in the Riese Grimm Saal (Giant Grimm Hall). The family owns several more paintings by the artist.

The German lyricist and poet Eugen Roth visited the Zirmerhof several times during the winter from 1954 onwards and dedicated some “Ein Mensch” (“One Man”) poems to the house. The alert observer will come across a wide variety of works by local artists of the last few centuries.

Natural science models from 1900 by Robert and Reinhold Brendel can be seen in the PINUS Wine Cellar. These are in a collection of all kinds of rare plant groups featuring 200 listed objects. Works of the South Tyrolean sculptor and painter Wilhelm Senoner will bring you from the pool right into nature.

Grünweinhof Residence
TUSCANY ON THE SOUTH TYROLEAN WINE ROUTE
A stone’s throw away from the Zirmerhof vineyard lies the vineyard village of Pinzon. The village, an architectural ensemble with a very special appeal, is surrounded by the Pinot Noir vineyards and offers views across the South Tyrolean lowlands to the Meran Mountains.

The romantic village square with its old fountain creates a magical atmosphere. A scene with mythical creatures on the walls of the historic building and the beautiful Stephanskirche church with its renowned Hans Klocker altar opens up to the observer.

The Grünweinhof Estate stands palatial and sedate in the vineyards above the village. The first chronicled mention of the imposing court is from 1431. A quite wonderfully idyllic place! Welcome to South Tyrol’s Tuscany!

Summer holidays in Southern South Tyrol
LISTEN TO THE SOUND OF THE MOUNTAIN …
The Zirmerhof is situated in a wonderful world of hiking, surrounded by meadows, high forest, gorges and waterfalls. A well-marked network of hiking trails leaves nothing to be desired. The Weißhorn – the southernmost peak of the Dolomites and our local mountain – is visible from miles away.

A stone’s throw from the hotel is a UNESCO World Heritage Site: the 700 metre deep Bletterbach Canyon. It gives an insight into the formation and origin of the Dolomites.

From the nearby Schwarzhorn, the Trudner Horn Nature Park, the Rosengarten, which is surrounded by legends, and the other peaks of the Dolomites invite you to hike, hill walk and climb.

A visit to the place of pilgrimage Maria Weissenstein, an Alpine pasture hike and a stretch of the European walking route E5 are also musts. Many of these destinations can also be explored on mountain bike.

Golf aficionados are inspired by the wonderful backdrop of the Petersberg Golf Club and other golf courses in Southern South Tyrol.

Winter holidays in the Dolomites
MAJESTIC SNOW-COVERED MOUNTAINS …
Wait until you see the mountains! Those looking for stylish comfort in a snow-covered landscape will find a host of options at the Zirmerhof: curling, winter hiking, snow shoe hiking, ice skating, skiing and cross-country skiing provide all kinds of sporting action.

It only takes 10 minutes using the free hotel taxi to get to the Jochgrimm Ski Resort. Here, at 2,000 m above sea level, fans of cross-country skiing will also find circuits of five to eight kilometres.

There are another 40 kilometres of cross-country skiing trails available at the connected cross-country skiing centre of Lavazé. The pistes of the Alpe Cermis and the Obereggen – Pampeago – Predazzo ski carousel can be reached by car within half an hour.

A sporting day trip is needed for the Sella Ronda and is rewarded with unique experiences and impressions.

Holidays in the Dolomites
GET BACK ON YOUR FEET
The region’s numerous excursion destinations are an attraction. The Bletterbach Canyon and Geoparc is a unique attraction in Europe. Old wall foundations at Castelfeder point to a fortification from late antiquity and a prehistoric settlement.

Visitors and observers are also rewarded with castles and palaces, a sculpture route, the Dürer Route and museums.

For example, Reinhold Messner’s MMM Firmian, the Ötzi Museum, the Museum of Modern Art, the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (Mart) in Rovereto with its Casa Depero and the Arte Sella are all worthwhile destinations and international centres of art and nature.

Along the wine route, vineyards and cellars will invite you in for viewings and tastings and the bowers of Neumarkt and Bolzano invite you to stroll and while away the day. Day trips to Lake Garda, the lagoon city of Venice, Mantua or Verona will give you a taste of the northern Italian culture and way of life.

Origin of the Dolomites
THE WORLD HERITAGE SITE A STONE’S THROW AWAY FROM THE ZIRMERHOF
When the region of Radein was still by the sea or a little under it (about 200 million years ago), corals, mussels and Bellerophon snails built the attractions of the Bletterbach Canyon.

It is because of this that you can see the geological formation of the Dolomites, dinosaur tracks and fossils as in the most beautiful textbook. The canyon is unique in Europe and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2009.

Silent Storytellers
THE BEST VIEW IN THE WORLD
That is what Josef Perwanger Senior thinks as his memories start to return, sitting on the “Almenröder bench” at Zirmerhof. As long as 35 years ago, visitors to Zirmer began donating benches in order to be able to claim a little piece of this beautiful landscape as their own.

There are now a total of 53 on the site and each year, new ones are added. It is mostly regular guests who have benches set up. They feel a deep connection to the hotel and surrounding area. It costs 500 Euros to donate a bench. Peter Lantscher is the second generation of carpenters to build the benches.

They are made of larch and each one is just as comfortable as the next. Today the Kranewitter Association takes care of the oldest benches and maintains them using members’ fees.

A land surrounded by legends
ABOUT GIANTS, KNIGHTS AND WHITE MOUNTAINS
According to an old legend, the giant Grimm lived above Radein on the Weißhorn. He kidnapped a beautiful maiden from Eggental so as to take her to Jochgrimm as his wife. Her father called the knight Dietrich von Bern for help.

There was a furious battle and finally there was a rockfall, which buried the giant and the kidnapped daughter beneath it. The blood is supposed to have given the rocks at the foot of the Weißhorns their red colour; even today it clearly differs from the white Dolomite stone that surrounds it.

It is said that the famous area of barren land, known as the Goldplatzl will never be green again because of a curse against the cruelty of the miners.

The miners are meant to have skinned an ox alive in high spirits after finding a large amount of gold. Since then, no grass has grown on the spot where the bloody skin is supposed to have lain.

At the lower part of the Bletterbach Canyon is the Franzosenlahn. According to tradition, during the Tyroleans’ battles against Napoleon in 1809, several fleeing French soldiers fell to their deaths in the canyon.

Naturopathy since 1890
A MEADOW WALK FOR THE FIRST GUEST
Even back then the well-being of Anna Perwanger’s guests was important to her. She had a barefoot morning trail set for her first guest, Dr. Alois Wacha from Vienna. Walking in the fresh, dewy grass is still practised today.

Within 10 to 20 minutes the metabolism is stimulated and the body strengthened. Barefoot morning walks are also recommended for chronic catarrh in the nose and the upper respiratory tract. In the morning, barefoot walks are refreshing and in the evening, relaxing.

Natural attractions
AN EXPERIENCE AT ANY TIME OF THE YEAR
The countryside of Radein is far away from the hustle and bustle. The area’s centres of attraction are all natural phenomena, some millions of years old and still beautiful. Sandstone canyons, porphyry gorges, Ice Age erratic blocks and larch meadows under the southern sun.

The conditions for an extraordinary variety of flora to thrive exist due to the overlapping of different types of stone. From lady’s slipper, tiger lily and Turk’s cap to the most diverse and rarest saxifrages, you will find a unique Alpine plant world depending on the time of year and microclimate.

We are sailing …
YOUR PRIVATE SAILING BOAT
Wind in our sails! Whether on land or in the water, Zirmerhof is the ambassador of style. The Zwanziger Jollenkreuzer, that once belonged to the famous writer Thomas Mann is moored on nearby Lake Garda.

In the original 1950s version, the boat and skipper will lead our gzuests on a discovery of the most beautiful destinations. Take the opportunity to learn the basics of sailing! Type: 20er Jollenkreuzer, Year: 1950, Length: 7,75 m, Width: 2,5 m, Wood: oak and mahagoni, Sail: 30 m², Spinnaker: max. 55 m².

If you want things done right on your farm
YOU MUST BE BOTH BOSS AND THE STRONG ARM
The property encompasses 150 hectares around the Zirmerhof. The high altitude, sun and soil allow the formation of wonderful forests, meadows and pastures, where the highland cattle can move freely and the cows can rear their calves. In nature and with nature – the farm and forest are responsibly cultivated according to this principle.

“The highest trees on the Schwarzhorn …”
… CLIMATE NEUTRAL WITH WOOD- AND SUNPOWER
With regard to energy, too, the Zirmerhof attempts to complete its own natural cycles. The forest not only provides wood for carpenters, joiners and sawmills, it is also the most important supplier of energy. All buildings are heated with wood biomass.

This renewable, environmentally-friendly energy also provides hot water for the baths and the swimming pool. The 120 hectar, CO2 neutralizing forest is used according to a ten-year business plan in order to guarantee its continued existence in its current, tried-and-tested form.

Since 2011 Zirmerhof takes all the electric energy demand from its own photovoltaics panels. Doing so Zirmerhof is more than a climate neutral company. Nature thanks it every day.

They still exist
CLASSIC HOME RECIPES
At the Zirmerhof we place great importance on natural produce and a traditional production process. We value what is natural!

The farm is the most important supplier for the kitchen and provides fresh meat, tender steaks, bacon, salted and smoked beef, home-made sausages, vegetables and herbs. All specialities are obvious temptations – for on site or to take home. This is tradition at the Zirmerhof. And has been for hundreds of years.

Docile, friendly and old as the hills
FREEDOM IN THE FRESH MOUNTAIN AIR
On the farm, the calves are raised with their mothers and thus obtain their fresh and healthy milk. The animals are free and graze for five months of the year on the forest pastures and meadows. In the winter months they are provided with hay, organic grain and fresh water; we do not use concentrated feed.

The bull (a very good-tempered young man!) stays with the cows for the entire year and keeps the herd calm. The cows produce up to 18 calves during the years. The specialities from the Zirmerhof’s highland cattle inspire ecologically-minded connoisseurs.

Cru with a view
FUNDAMENTALLY AT ONE WITH NATURE
In Montan, in the sunny Etsch Valley, the PINUS Gewürztraminer grows at 400 metres. At the vineyard, too, an eco-friendly system of farming has stood the test of time. Wire training, plenty of care during the year and hand-picking ensure healthy and high-quality grapes in the case of a deliberately low per hectare yield.

Apples, plums, apricots, quinces, pears, nuts and pomegranates grow on the farm. They are given as part of self-sufficiency or turned into delicious marmalades and chutneys.

PINUS Gewürztraminer
AN AROMA OF QUINCE
After the harvest, the grapes are taken from the exclusive location in Montan to Neumarkt for pressing in the cellars. After gentle pressing, the must is fermented in steel tanks using natural yeast and finally matured in large, used acacia barrels with extended contact with the yeast.

The history of PINUS is young. It was only in 2001 that the Zirmerhof Vineyard – member of the Freie Weinbauern Südtirols (Free Winegrowers of South Tyrol) – decided to produce its own wine.

This was a logical development as the idea of self-sufficiency plays an important role at the Zirmerhof. Skilled cellar masters create a unique single-site wine from sweet grapes.

Wine Tours
SOUTH TYROL’S BEST VINEYARDS
Many of South Tyrol’s finest vineyards can be found near the Grünweinhof Estate Residence. We will be happy to organise a wine tour you that is second to none.

We will coordinate visits to producers such as Alois Lageder, Franz Haas, Manincor, Haderburg or a few establishments of the Freien Weinbauern (Free Winegrowers of South Tyrol) and book restaurants, taxis and cultural tours.

We make it possible to get a taste of what only insiders experience. Contact us and let us know your preferred dates. We will be happy to have a personal talk about your tour. A quite wonderfully idyllic place! Welcome to South Tyrol’s Tuscany!

Green-Tourism
ZIRMERHOF’S ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL BALANCE
The Zirmerhof estate forests (app. 100 ha) do not just supply wood for carpentry, joinery and local sawmills. The timber is also our most important source of energy.

Since 2002, all of Zirmerhof’s buildings have been heated with our own biomass wood. This renewable, ecological energy is also used to heat the water in the baths and in the swimming pool.

We work with a plan regulated by the forestry authorities, which insures our forests are renewable and will be protected in the future. All in all, the forest managed under this plan absorbs 411 tons of carbon dioxide per year.

This corresponds to the quantity of greenhouse gases emitted by 263 automobiles, 15 methane gas power plants, or twelve oil heating systems. Since 2012, almost all of the electrical energy consumed at the Zirmerhof has been generated by our own photoelectric installation.

The Zirmerhof is thus one of the few undertakings in the hospitality sector which is not only climate-neutral, but has actually achieved a positive environmental balance.

Website: www.zirmerhof.com

Rooms: 36

Price: from 324 EUR per night