A haven of rest and relaxation on Lake Wolfgangsee, Austria
If you are looking for a wonderful, relaxing holiday, the Gasthof and Hotel Fürberg on Lake Wolfgangsee is a delightful option.
The Austrians have a wonderful tradition of spending a week at wellness hotels in beautiful, natural locations around the country. The hotels offer comfortable bedrooms, delicious meals, and many different kinds of activities—from hiking, swimming and biking in the summer to skiing and snowshoeing in the winter.
This tradition is made possible—at least in part—by Austria’s employment laws, which guarantee that all employees receive 30 working days of paid leave annually. (They also have 13 public holidays. Sick leave is handled in a completely different way and does not affect the 30 paid working days of annual leave.)
In addition, Austria has a payment system that I believe is unique: They divide the annual salary into 14 payments rather than 12. In May and November, employees receive two payments, which helps them pay for holidays in the summer and for Christmas in the winter.
An abundance of options
There are so many beautiful wellness hotels in Austria that it can be hard to choose one! You basically decide whether you want to go to the Alps, to a lake, to the Danube River Valley, or to the rolling hills and vineyards of Burgenland. You also need to decide whether you want to go to a traditional Austrian establishment or to a sleek, modern one. In all cases, delightful options await you.
Lake Wolfgangsee
In our case, my husband, Gerhard, and I knew we wanted to be in the area around Salzburg (Salzkammergut) because it is one of our favorite places in Austria. We also knew we wanted to be on a lake so Gerhard could go stand up paddling. This area has several beautiful lakes to choose from; after some discussion, we decided on Lake Wolfgangsee.
Our decision was helped considerably by the discovery of Gasthof and Hotel Fürberg, which is very close to the charming village of Sankt (Saint) Gilgen. I knew I wanted to be right on the lake and that I also wanted to be in a traditional Austrian hotel, and Hotel Fürberg definitely fit the bill!
Gasthof and Hotel Fürberg
The bedroom
Our bedroom was on the second floor of a separate guest house overlooking the lake. It was decorated in a traditional Austrian style, with hardwood floors, wood furniture, and an individual comforter for each person. And of course the balcony had lovely flowers blooming on top of the railing!
The dining areas
Because the weather was warm and sunny, we were able to eat breakfast several days on the patio overlooking the lake. On cooler mornings and in the cooler evenings, we moved inside.
The Food
As you can see, the food was delicious! Fresh, local and beautifully presented.
Beginning at the top and working our way down each column, the first dish (with the red flower) is a sweet potato salad. Below it is pumpkin soup drizzled with pumpkin oil—both of which are very traditional in Austria in the fall.
At the bottom is a clear beef broth soup with ‘frittaten’—strips of crepes that are cooked, sliced thinly and added to the soup just before serving. At the top of the middle column is a crisp, fresh salad. In the middle are three kinds of fish—caught that day—in Wolfgangsee.
The third column presents some desserts! At the top is a cake made with fresh prunes. In the middle is ‘palatschinken,’ probably the most iconic dessert in Austria. It consists of thin crepes filled with something. Most often (as here), it is apricot jam. At the bottom, of course, is Sachertorte, the famous chocolate cake that Franz Sacher is reputed to have invented in Vienna in 1832 for Prince Metternich.
Things to do
The first day we were there, Gerhard went stand up paddling for almost two hours on Wolfgangsee (and came back exhausted)! I walked a couple of miles along a beautiful pathway beside the lake to the charming village of Sankt Gilgen.
Many people also rode bikes along this path. Others swam in the lake or rented boats to explore the lake. Still others simply sat on the patio and enjoyed resting in the sun.
On the second day, we got on a passenger ferry that stopped right in front of the hotel.
We got off the ferry at the village of Sankt Wolfgang im Salzkammergut. After a short walk, we reached the Schafbergbahn, which is a steam-powered cog railway that climbs very slowly to the summit of Schafberg Mountain.
The summit, which is 1,783 meters (5,850 feet) high, provides a breathtaking, 360 degree view of the Salzkammergut Mountains. You can also see numerous lakes, including Wolfgangsee, Attersee and Mondsee. (The word ‘see,’ which is pronounced ‘zay,’ means ‘lake’ in German.)
Gerhard and I (well mostly Gerhard, actually!) have hiked up mountains in Ireland and the Pyrenees and taken a cable car to the summit of the Alps that ring the northern end of Lake Garda in Italy. All of the mountain summits have been breathtaking and awe-inspiring.
But one thing sets Austria apart from all of the others: the presence of a restaurant at the end of almost every forest trail, remote lake or mountain summit! In fact, you cannot go very far anywhere in the country without coming across an establishment that provides delicious food and drinks.
So once we came to the end-of-the-line on the train, all we had to do was climb up a short, steep hill to reach at least three different restaurants! (Which we did, of course.) There we enjoyed another delicious meal while numerous large black birds flew all around us.
For all of these reasons, I loved our time on Wolfgangsee and cannot wait to return to it—and Gasthof and Hotel Fürberg—again.
Getting there
By car
Hotel Fürberg is a 3-hour drive from Vienna and a 1.5-hour drive from Munich, Germany.
If you are coming from Vienna, Linz or Munich, take the highway that leads toward Salzburg. Exit from the highway when you see signs to ‘Mondsee’ in the direction of St. Gilgen - Wolfgangsee.
Once you pass Mondsee, look for a sign that says ‘Scharfling Pass’ in the direction of St. Gilgen. After the pass, look for Hüttenstein Castle, which is a yellow castle on the left side.
After 500 meters, you will come to the fire station. Just after passing it, make an immediate left turn. Keep to the right, following signs to Gasthof Fürberg. The road will take you down a steep hill through a small forest. Once you reach the bay, turn right and you will arrive at Gasthof Hotel Fürberg.
By train, bus and ferry
You can also take a train to Salzburg and then a bus (bus line 150 in the direction of Bad Ischl) to Sankt Gilgen. (The drive lasts about an hour.) From there, you can either take the ferry to Hotel Fürberg or have the hotel call you a taxi.
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