A new wellness resort set in the mountains of South Tyrol in Italy is set to open this May, with a storied past and a focus on wellness.
In the mountains of South Tyrol above Brixen, in 2020 the impressive Hideaway FORESTIS is taking shape at eye level with the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Dolomites. This historic building looks back on a long history and will be a private refuge for its guests.
It was whilst seeking a site with a unique mystical aura in the mountains of South Tyrol for the construction of a sanatorium for lung disease sufferers that the Plose was discovered, with the architect Otto Wagner entrusted with its design and construction. Pure spring water, superb mountain air, the mild, saline climate and an above-average number of sunny days provided ideal conditions for regeneration and healing. The early death of the architect and the turmoil of the First World War meant that the project was carried out on a more modest scale as a »historic
timber house« with two wings. Until 1922 it served as a refuge for war veterans.
In 2007, after falling into disuse for several years, the building was discovered by the South Tyrolean hotelier Alois Hinteregger among wild, unkempt hedges on one of his many walks on the Plose. Fired by his passion for this place, which is one of the most stunning natural phenomena in the world and often referred to with some justification as »the gateway to heaven«, he succeeded in breathing new life into the historic building and then opening it as a hotel in 2009. And a decade later a new chapter is beginning. In May 2020 the FORESTIS will open, a refuge that reflects and will continue to draw on the four natural elements inherent in this place throughout its philosophy and architecture.
For guests, the FORESTIS is intended to be a private refuge in which they find balance and relaxation. »We want to offer our guests personally chosen experiences that move them and continue to resonate with them when they are back home again,« say their future hosts Stefan Hinteregger and his partner Teresa. After completing their studies the couple consciously travelled to unique spots around the world and experienced what travellers today most appreciate. An attentive old-school service which achieves a connection with the destination, people, local culture and nature and activities and experiences that touch heart and soul, making the break from routine an experience.
FORESTIS will only have suites created almost exclusively from local materials and which afford every guest a view of the stunning mountain scenery of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Dolomites. Nature will also play a key role in the design and offer of the FORESTIS Spa. With regard to the culinary offer, the hosts and their head chef Roland Lamprecht will offer a unique forest cuisine which is attuned to the health of the human body. Numerous products are sourced from farms and producers in the immediate vicinity. The FORESTIS is the first 5-star hotel in the Eisack Valley to offer an extensive range of curated activities year-round and a ski-in/ski-out experience into the Plose ski area in winter.
