18 new destinations on the Romantik map

Individual hotels from six European countries have joined the Romantik Hotels & Restaurants on October 1st, 2011.

From the Spanish Mediterranean islands to the German coastline and low mountain range to the alpine countries – the Romantik cooperation grows steadily, despite the up and down of the economic crises. The admission procedure is not an easy task either: Every new Romantik candidate is thoroughly checked, for all members are supposed to be committed to the Romantik values. Included are only privately-owned hotels, where individuality and regional ties play a major role, as well as culinary competence and spa offers.

With 213 hotels in 12 countries the Romantik world now covers various touristic possibilities and some of the most beautiful European regions. Whether countryside or city, mountains or seaside, summer or winter, the Romantik hoteliers with their heartfelt hospitality and local tips for sightseeing offer the perfect accommodation for each trip. If you yearn for a relaxation holiday in the green, for example in the Allgäu, a short city trip to Berlin, hiking in the mountains, enjoying the Mediterranean atmosphere in the new country hotels on the island of Mallorca or a vacation by the sea – the new members add to the portfolio perfectly:

Spain – the attractive hinterland of the Baleares

Romantik Hotel Cases de Son Barbassa

The Romantik Hotel Cases de Son Barbassa in northeastern Mallorca is surrounded by a 125,000 sqm estate with numerous almond, carob and olive trees. The picturesque hillside situation of the former fortification and the home-made olive oil are among the highlights of the hotel.

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Anticipation is rising …

While the first sight of Christmas crackers on the supermarket shelves may leave us cringing to ourselves, it’s all part of the traditional build-up. The shops are selling brightly-coloured baubles and Christmas lights, the shop windows are decorated with toys designed to tempt kiddies’ eyes and the first Christmas markets open in this month. We have put together a few tips for pre-Christmas short breaks for you.

In Engelskirchen in the Bergisches Land, the Deutsche Post opens a Christmas post office every Christmas. 150,000 wish lists from 59 different countries were received last year, with replies coming from 20 helpers, so-called “post angels”. And this all came about rather by coincidence: in 1985 the first letters “To Father Christmas” were received, and because there is no fixed address in North-Rhine Westphalia, they were forwarded to Engelskirchen. There was a manager here who replied to the letters, to spare the children from being disappointed. And at Christmas only, the Christmas post office is opened to the public, providing a glimpse behind the heavenly curtains.

Romantik Waldhotel Mangold's origins are somewhat fairytale

Leaving the Bergisch region and heading towards Cologne, the Romantik Waldhotel Mangold in Bergisch-Gladbach awaits. And – how fitting – this hotel’s origins are also somewhat fairytale. In 1925, the Hansel and Gretel forest restaurant stood on this site, a popular destination for people from Cologne including the legendary trainer Hennes Weis.

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From convents to castles – your new Romantik hosts

After introducing you to some new Romantik hotels at the beginning of October, here are a few more Romantik hosts who are looking forward to a visit from you.

Romantik Hotel Schloss Mondsee

The Romantik Hotel Schloss Mondsee lies on the shores of the warmest lake in the Salzkammergut region. Here, in the former Benedictine monastery, contemplative past meets enjoyable presence. Find yourself in the historical meditation passage, with its extraordinary atmosphere: low lighting, cool air and soft choral music in the background. All guest rooms are double-storey, with separate living and bedroom areas. The KultiWirtshaus Schlossbräu offers an excellent opportunity to make contact with the locals and to taste local specialities, while the inn’s own vineyard produces the red and white accompaniments.

Romantik Hotel Kronprinz Berlin

The Romantik Hotel Kronprinz Berlin is located in a lovingly restored Victorian-era building in Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf. The tourist-frequented city centre can be easily reached by public transport. Tea and sherry are served to guests free of charge in the lounge and library in the afternoons, fortifying them for the evening’s big-city adventures. The public and guest rooms have been furnished in the elegant Art Deco style of the 1920s. Five 100-year-old chestnut trees create a special atmosphere in the popular beer garden of the hotel.

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Additional new destinations on the Romantik map

Altaussee in the Steiermark region, Eglisau on the Upper Rhine in Switzerland, Samedan in Graubuenden, Oberstdorf in Bavaria, Montagnaga di Pine in Trentino and Schengen – these are the new destinations that have so far been added to the Romantik country map, and they are now to be joined by another three interesting places to visit:

Romantik Hotel Hornberg

Not far from Gstaad at the heart of a delightful mountain landscape, the Romantik Hotel Hornberg in Saanenmoeser-Gstaad awaits. The plentiful use of wood and its warm coloured chalet style guarantee a welcoming atmosphere and the perfect location to recuperate from the daily grind. The team in the kitchen serves light cuisine with particular attention paid to gluten- and lactose-free dishes. Enjoy cheese fondue or raclette in the rustic “Huettli” which was built in 1726, and find relaxation in the wellness area. The hotel’s really special highlight is the organic bathing lake in the hotel garden. Active sports lovers will delight in the two tennis courts and the nearby 18-hole golf course. In the winter months, the hotel offers direct access to the Alpine ski area around Gstaad and a varied network of cross-country ski pistes.

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For a holiday at home

Black risotto with roast squid

One of the wonderful aspects of food is that it can transport you on holiday in a culinary sense. A little savoir-vivre, a pinch of Bella Italia, a dash of Spanish temperament … Especially when the weather isn’t so good or you’re holidaying at home, “foreign” dishes can alleviate homesickness.

Herby noodles (Krautfleckerl) are a traditional speciality in Austrian and Bohemian cuisine and very easy to recreate at home. Our recipe comes from the Romantik Hotel Boeglerhof in Alpbach.

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A journey through the four seasons

The journey across the Alps down to the Mediterranean is one of tradition: during the economic miracle years, many Germans made their dream come true by heading south with their bags packed. But at this time of year, the journey also means a delightful confrontation with the seasons: while the first flakes of snow are already falling on the mountain tops, people in the picturesque valleys are enjoying a richly coloured autumn packed with enjoyment, and it’s still possible to catch some warming rays of late summer sunshine on the Mediterranean coast.

We start our journey in Oberstdorf in Germany’s most southerly district. Best known for its ski jump and ice sports centre, the location is one of Germany’s tourist magnets but also has plenty to offer when there’s no snow or ice. Discover the delights of nature either on foot or by mountain bike and hunt for the “Big Five” of the Alps with your camera. With any luck, in the area around Oberstdorf you will come across ibex, chamois, deer, eagles and marmots.

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Holiday by, in and on the lake

Do you remember the old days? When as a child in the summer you would come home from school, have a quick bite to eat and then jump on your bike and head to the nearest bathing lake. These bathing lakes have lost nothing of their fascination for adults. Whether you’re stretched out on towel by the side of the lake, on the water in a little boat or being sporty and swimming in the water – there are countless ways to spend some time in, on and by a lake. How wonderful that several Romantik hotels enjoy such a privileged location by a lake – let us introduce you to a few of them:

Romantik Hotel Jagdhaus Eiden am See

The jetty at the Romantik Hotel Jagdhaus Eiden am See, with its large, old bollard, opens onto a wonderful view over the Zwischenahner Meer lake. Located at the heart of 10 hectares of idyllic parkland, the hotel is the perfect starting point for a well-balanced holiday. Go for a bike ride in the morning and then relax on the hotel’s own beach, spend the evening indulging in culinary delights such as eel, pike or perch from the Zwischenahner Meer and then, as the crowning glory, visit the casino right next to the hotel … That’s how balanced and varied time away can be.

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Time for ice-cream

Would you ever have thought that the Scandinavians – the Finns in particular – consume more ice-cream per person than the Italians, Germans and other Europeans? Yet at the same time, the summers there are much shorter …

Delicious! Apple "kiachl" with "hollermandl" and sour cream ice-cream

In any case, the first ice-cream dates back to antiquity. However we also know that the Chinese, as well as the Romans and Greeks, enhanced glacial ice and ice from the mountains with fruits, honey or rose water. Cream chilled with ice, a forerunner of dairy ice-cream, appears in a cookery book dated 1597. It wasn’t until the 19th century that ice-cream made its breakthrough as a mass commodity with the invention of the first patented ice-cream machine and chiller by Carl von Linde.

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Romantik offers with a certain something

Book a hotel package, and you won’t be fobbed off simply with a bed to sleep in, breakfast and an evening meal. Our aim is to do something special, something unique, have some “added value”, or at least make it feel like that. Some Romantik hoteliers have already had ideas for just such packages and are offering a certain something.

Romantik Hotel Gmachl

Up to the end of September 2011, aesthetes with fine tastes and cheery social types visiting Austria’s oldest family business, the Romantik Hotel Gmachl in Salzburg-Elixhausen, will enjoy the indulgence of an extravagant additional offer. BMW is making a brand-new BWM 1 series cabriolet available to the hotel’s guests for one excursion. And the hotel will pack up a picnic full of regional delicacies from its own local butchery to take with you. What finer way to discover the world of mountains and lakes between Salzburg and the Berchtesgadener Land region.

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Summer in the city

The summer is here. Have you ever consciously enjoyed summer in the city? Beach bars with real sand on top of multi-storey car parks and a variety of events have increased the attractiveness of city centres over the summer. The air-conditioning systems of museums and shops allow visitors to recover from the heat and ice cream tastes better with a view of the skyline. Many cities also have a river or another big body of water nearby.

Romantik Hotel Schwarzer Adler

Start your summer visit to Innsbruck with a very unusual morning: from Mondays to Thursdays, Qigong fans meet at 06h30 on the large lawn in the Hofgarten for one hour of training. The event is free of charge, but a donation is welcome. The promenade concerts from 7 to 31 July in the inner courtyard of the Hofburg are also free of charge. Enjoy a balmy summer evening in an imperial environment with wonderful music from operettas to waltz melodies. The Romantik Hotel Schwarzer Adler is only a few minutes’ walk from the old town. The gastronomic history of the place began when it was a traditional pub for officers of the Klosterkaserne (Monastery Barracks) located on the opposite side of the street. In the 1980s, Werner Ultsch, the father of the current host, took over as chef and developed ‘New Austrian Natural Cooking’, which caused a nation-wide sensation and found many followers. Today, the chef is Mario Lucic, who will enchant you with “Pasture beef tartare with potato fritters, mustard sauce and Parmesan egg” or “Medallions of Tyrolean herbed pork on chorizo dumplings with spinach and mushrooms”. Delicious!

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