Like a fortress, the Hotel Pichlmayrgut rises in Schladming when you first see it. It gives a sense of elegance and you immediately know that a really good time awaits you in this wonderful property. We spent a wellness weekend with friends here and could hardly wait to check in at the former farm for a weekend.
The Hotel Pichlmayrgut has been around since 1117. At that time, it was part of the St. Peter's Abbey in Salzburg. Since the farm was taken over by the Steiner family in 1711, the family has strived to continue its history and operates it today as a traditional 4-star resort. The family places particular emphasis on maintaining the agricultural origin. In the organic farm next to the hotel, they keep about 90 cows, sheep and alpacas, including rare breeds such as the old Pustertaler Sprinzen cattle breed, Zackel and Walliser Schwarznasenschafe sheep. For the family business, it is important to integrate regional products and also products from their own farm, such as meat, into the hotel kitchen.
The area of the farm is huge, boredom never comes here. A large, multi-story indoor and outdoor wellness area makes spa lovers swoon. In addition to the Alpen Spa, the hotel also offers a comprehensive beauty program, a spacious children's area, a wine cellar, a two-story fitness studio, a bowling alley, a tennis and squash court and its own farm next door with organic farming. And that is probably not all the highlights. So you can spend a good time at the Pichlmayrgut.
Only a few kilometers from the hotel, the famous Dachstein mountain range awaits, whether for hiking in summer, skiing in winter or for the brave, exploring the glass Skywalk that "hangs" on a steep wall and offers a panoramic view of the Dachstein mountain range.
Culinary delights from morning to evening
The perfect morning starts best at the hotel with a rich breakfast buffet. Here, it is also worth mentioning that some products come from their own farm or from local businesses. The fruit puree made from their own production has particularly impressed me. The juice has the perfect balance between the acidity of the puree and the sweetness of the fruit. In addition, the breakfast buffet offers other culinary highlights. There are homemade jams in the flavors of apricot, plum, raspberry or strawberry, which you can also buy to take home. In addition, there is a rich selection of cheeses and sausages, including fresh Parmesan. Various and partly homemade spreads provide variety: fresh cheese balls in oil, fresh and homemade gremolata, garlic or paprika spread. Fresh and seasonal fruit and vegetables are also available. What is of course a must at every good breakfast: Delicious, fresh and strong coffee. Another highlight is definitely the self-made bread basket: In addition to the well-known Kaisersemmel, there are also many different varieties available, such as multi-grain bread, sourdough bread and simply fresh bread for cutting.
The pampering accommodation at the Hotel Pichlmayrgut allows you to start the day with an exceptionally good, rich and local and seasonal breakfast. But already in the afternoon, your taste buds are further pampered. In the cozy afternoon snack, in addition to a soup, a hot main course and for dessert, various homemade cakes and desserts are served. There is also a coffee bar with hot chocolate, various coffee and tea options, as well as fresh and revitalizing drinking water. During our stay, we were served ravioli with a fine parsley sauce as a hot main course. The food was quickly refilled and a special highlight is the location of the afternoon snack - those who want can simply walk from the spa and eat there comfortably or simply pamper themselves with a warm and comforting drink and relax.
The culinary end of the day is marked by dinner. A 6-course menu is on the program. Various appetizers in buffet form are available at the start of the menu. There are fresh salads, including homemade potato salad, numerous green salads or pre-made salads. Another selection of appetizers are small plates with cheese, for example mozzarella with fresh pesto, fine South Tyrolean salami and ham selection, fish with horseradish or antipasti.
As a third option in the appetizer, there were various soups every evening. We had Flädlesuppe and a celery soup during our stay there. Next up is the main course. Every day there are two to three different dishes available. On our first evening at the Pichlmayrgut, we had Beiried with potato gratin and bacon beans. The meat was very tender, the sauce was extremely well seasoned, the potato gratin and bacon beans perfectly rounded off the dish.
On the second evening, my choice fell on a dumpling with wild mushroom ragout. And of course, a must in such a great menu is the dessert. Here too, the Pichlmayrgut offers a consistently fine and fitting selection to round off the menu. A culinary highlight was the Spekulatius ice cream with crunch, with a small chocolate brownie garnished with a fine raspberry sauce. As the last course, every evening a cheese plate was offered for self-assembly. There were also matching side dishes such as grapes, tomatoes, cucumbers and much more. Among the cheeses were various known varieties such as Gouda, Bergkäse, Camembert, Parmesan but also unusual strong cheeses from the region. Even at dinner, the value placed by the family business on a high-quality selection of dishes is once again noticeable.
The culinary offerings at the Hotel Pichlmayrgut really leave nothing to be desired. The lovingly selected products are noticeable from breakfast to dinner. In particular, value is placed on using local and seasonal products and products from their own farm. High-quality cuisine with a sustainable aspect is at the top of the list. We not only experienced a wonderful weekend in the Hotel Pichlmayrgut, but we also came to our own satisfaction in terms of relaxation.
