Goldener Ochs

For some places, a couple of centuries here or there don’t make much of a difference. Over the years, they seem to have exerted the same magical pull on the arts and culture. Bad Ischl is certainly one of those places. Writers have felt just as much at home here as painters, philosophers, composers—and imperial royalty. They have all cherished the charm of this Austrian spa town. Sisi and Franz, one of the world’s famed enduring loves, had their summer residence here. Arthur Schnitzler loved the place and dreamed up and wrote poetry about various women here, and Franz Léhar actually sat in the spa town’s most beautiful hotel: The Goldener Ochs. Who knows, maybe it’s where he composed a few bars of his operetta “Viennese Women”. The Goldener Ochs opened 230 years ago, and three years ago Verena Schweiger, a lover of art and culture, took over the hotel from her parents. She has brought a fresh impetus to the premises and extended the historical old building with a new building, the Traunvilla. She places great importance on giving the Goldener Ochs not only style, but soul. Everywhere, there are objects with stories to tell; in the hotel reception, a Thonet bench from the 19th century welcomes guests whilst the lounge area is decorated with old ceramics. The period wooden floors and imperial era antiques have now been joined by design classics from Ettore Sottsas, &tradition and Hay. Biedermeier chairs sit in cheerful dialogue with lights by Louis Poulsen and Flos. The walls bright with Farrow&Ball colors or elegant wallpaper designs are just as suited to the historic wood furniture as to the clean lines of modern tables and benches. Sitting majestically on the river, The Goldener Ochs also exudes a certain elegance from the outside. But the pleasures here are not only in the aesthetics, guests can also enhance their physical well-being: With a light-flooded exercise room, sauna area, pleasantly heated swimming pool and its own brine nebulizing system, the hotel also rates as an inviting place to relax. In the evening, guests meet in the “Arthur Schnitzler Bar” in the main building, styled with salon culture in mind—of course, the complete works of its namesake are available here. He surely would have loved to visit this place.

WHAT WE LIKE MOST:

• The skillful blend of old and new
• A waterside location with views of the Traun, Bad Ischl and the mountains
• Soaring, five-meter high ceilings in the new building—where better to clear your head?
• The commitment of the manager to bring together people from the worlds of art, literature and music in the Goldener Ochse, as has been happening in Bad Ischl for 230 years
• The water or mountain views from all of the rooms in the new building
• Negroni on tap, craft lemonades and the complete works of Schnitzler in the Arthur Schnitzler Bar! A good book and a drink—the perfect combination!
• The extensive spa area with spring water swimming pool, Kneipp bath, infrared cabins, sun meadow solarium and gardens
• The “salt bathing”: Salt water dripped over fresh brushwood from mountain firs and pines releases essential oils that, when inhaled deeply, strengthen and invigorate the lungs, particularly good for urban dwellers.
• Everything tastes so good! Genuine culinary craftsmanship and local ingredients with no pre-prepared products whatsoever. This means close to no packaging waste and a good CO2 footprint.
• The local mountain, Mount Katrin, can be reached in no time with the hotel’s own gondola and in 15 minutes you can be up in the mountains at 1,400 meters.

GOOD TO KNOW:

• A central location right by the Traun River with a view of Bad Ischl’s old town. The main building has 60 rooms and the new building 12, each with a balcony or veranda and river view.
• Not a designated spa hotel, but outstanding wellness offers
• Modern lifestyle destination with something for everyone
• Very child-friendly: Baby bed at no extra charge, inexpensive children’s meals, cozy conservatory with play corner and toys, sled rental in winter
• Kaiservilla with teahouse, Lehárvilla and Ischl town museum just around the corner
• Pretty, easy to get around small town in the midst of a great natural, mountain landscape for sports and recreation
• Freshly caught fish, freshly shot game: Local cuisine of the highest quality, since 2013 the Goldener Ochs has carried the AMA gastronomic award.
• Airports in Salzburg (one hour), Linz (90 minutes), Vienna and Munich (each a three-hour drive away). Shuttle