We went through a bit of an Austrian phase at the start of the Summer hols… I guess it’s a little like popping to France when you live in the UK – you don’t have to go too far to find a slightly different world!
This time we had family visiting, so we gave them free reign to decide on whereabouts we should visit for a couple of days. Kitzbuhel was the popular choice, and was more than fine with the rest of us, as none of us (apart from my ski freak husband) had been there before.
We actually stayed nearby in Brixen im Thale straight from the pages of a Johanna Spyri book (except in Austria not Switzerland!). The very lovely family run Hotel Hubertus did us proud with typical flower laden balconies, and rooms filled with stylish but traditional Alpine furniture. Sadly, we managed to time our visit on a Monday/Tuesday, when the highly recommended hotel restaurant is closed. But, if the excellent and varied breakfasts are anything to go by, it’s a good indication that it’s a pretty special place to eat. Small Boy had fourths in the breakfast department each morning!!
Brixen im Thale itself has a few small Gasthofs and restaurants to deliberate over, and it’s definitely worth an investigational walk as some of the traditional wooden houses here are just stunning – and had Mr R and I peering into the windows of various estate agents from time to time!
Apart from the gloriously green mountain views, another truly special thing that Hotel Hubertus has to offer guests is its natural swimming pool – filtered and cleaned by plants instead of chemicals. This completely intrigued my Floridian Swimming Pool business owning In-Laws, who had yet to set eyes on such a thing. Somehow I am not sure it will catch on in the land of snakes and alligators, although I wouldn’t mind one with a manatee in it! The chilly weather meant that whilst we might not have been tempted for a dip, the Small People (who are used to Bavarian lake swimming) most definitely were! They loved it, especially with the odd water boatman or frog to say hello to as they swam on by.
We made it to Kitzbuhel on the second day, where we managed to catch part of the Trans Alps Challenge which coincided with the UK going Tour de France crazy. I am of the opinion that this race was of equally tough terrain however, covering 19,000 vertical metres which quite frankly sounds like hell to me! I bet the spectators in Yorkshire didn’t have any samples of wurst chucked at them by the PR cars too! We felt so sorry for the riders as they wound their soggy way through Kitzbuhel’s rain drenched streets. Infact, the weather cut short our visit and curbed our exploration of Kitzbuhel itself (you know it was really bad if an English person tells you that!), but undoubtedly we will be back to investigate another day… Perhaps when it’s all white next time? The snow stuff is beginning to appear in the shops already, so I doubt it will be that long…
Ps. Forgive the state of my pictures in this post. They were all taken just before my camera sadly conked out!
Hubertus Hotel;
Strobl Ahornweg 4
6364 Brixen im Thale,
Tirol, Austria
Email: info@hubertus-brixen.at
Tel: +43 5334 81870
Pond swimming – brave souls. I went to Austria once, I can only remember the mist.
You must go back. It’s honestly one of my fave countries now! (:
Ah you’ve taken me back to my trip to Austria last summer. The church looks so like the one we saw in Gurk.
Talking about throwing things at cyclists – did you hear about the six cyclists in a race in Norway last week who drank from bottles of laundry detergent that they were given as samples, thinking they were sports drinks?
Oh no I didn’t hear about that… Were they OK? It’s highly poisonous isn’t it?
Ah fabulous! You make it look so appealing! I’ve wanted to visit Austria for a long time but will need to remember to bump it up the list. x
It is so beautiful Michelle! People are lovely too.. Thank you xx
Looks like a cute little place! What I love about Europe is that you can be in a different country and a completely different culture in a matter of hours. Here in Canada I can drive a full day and not leave the province or fly 7 hours and not even leave the country! This is one of the reasons why I’m seriously contemplating returning to Europe :D
That is one of the things I love about Europe too Annika, although I would love to explore Canada too! :) Thank you…
We stayed for two weeks in Kitzbuhel in September many years ago and it was glorious. I can confirm we didn’t get any wurst chucked at us in Yorkshire and the sunshine was fabulous!
I am disappointed there was no sausage chucking action for you… :D Kitzbuhel is so lovely outside of winter too isn’t it? Thank you! :)
Kitzbuhel looks so beautiful. Love that first photo. How neat to swim in a natural pool. Lucky you it’s not too far. We’ve only been to Salzburg so I’d love to explore little Austrian towns like these next time.
Salzburg is lovely, as is Vienna, but the tiny towns are so beautiful! Thank you Mary! :)
Ahh, I swam in a natural pool in the Bayerischer Wald recently – it was so, so beautiful! And way more enjoyable than a chlorine filled pool.
Such a nice alternative aren’t they Rachel? Was that the beautiful English style place you stayed at? I definitely want to go there! :)
No, it was Hotel Lindenwirt (for some reason I can’t paste the link here). The English-style place *just* has a bunch of pools and a gigantic field to lie in :-)
Strange you can’t post the link, I will look it up though, thank you! (:
Too bad the weather cut your visit short of the town but hopefully you’ll get a chance to return. That breakfast looks yummy!
Thanks Jess. That’s the beauty of living where we do. Nothing is too far! :)
The son of RTFM blog works as a Ski instructor there.
Swimming with frogs – euuuuuuuuuuuuuugh ! LOL
Oh really? I might have to look him up then, wonder if he does private lessons for small people? :D And yes, we are used to them now! :D
Austria is on my list of places to take the kids for a holiday. We nearly moved there when husband was up for a job in Vienna. We were flown over for a weekend, but the job turned out to be something different to what he wanted. Shame.
Thanks Donna. Love Vienna, it’s so beautiful! x
Loved the ski-ing there and looks so lovely in the Summer. What’s the new job? Have I missed this in recent posts? Elinor x
Thanks Elinor, great isn’t it? I shall dm you, not that it’s a huge secret or anything! :D xx
Oh wow, my little boy ( and husband ) would love that pool, what a wonderful concept. xx
Thanks Emma. So pretty too. Wonder if they skate on it in the winter? :D xx
oh isn’t it green and lush x
Completely! Thanks Becky! :) x
fabulous, fourths at breakfast is always good in my book!
And mine! Thanks Emma x
Ohh the natural pool looks lovely, I have never even considered Austria until recently. Mich x
I think it might be one of my favourite countries now Mich! You should visit! :) x
That pool does look amazing and way better than any chlorine pool.Oh I hope your camera is ok now? I can’t believe you’ll be getting snow soon, just as we’re preparing for Autumn.
Thanks Aly. Great isn’t it? And now, sadly it died, but I have a new one now! :) I know, it’s not that far off. Always arrives in the mountains first though, and last year we got off relatively lightly! :D xx
I always love your photos! Laughing at the pr trucks throwing wurst – my idea of heaven!
Thanks Clare! :) x
I love this pool! What a beautiful place to swim! Soooo jealous!
Thanks Mary. Small people both heartily recommend it! :D x
Oh my goodness – I want to go there for the swimming pool alone! What an amazing trip. And you’re so right – sometimes the best trips are almost right under your nose! x
Thank you Katy. Yes, you definitely don’t have to go too far nowadays do you? :) x
To me it looks like the perfect place for a romantic retreat.
Definitely Otilia. Especially in the snow! (: x
Another fine post! Bet that writing this has taken up your four hour bavarian cleaning schedule.
I have a few saved up whilst this failed hausfrau gets used to the land of work again. I am featuring a guest post from a very fine writer later in the week! ;) x