Hotel Der Engel

Rooted in Austria’s Alpine village of Grän since 1748, Hotel Der Engel stands as a seventh-generation sanctuary where Tyrolean heritage, nature’s rhythm and contemporary biophilic design converge. This member of The Aficionados––a travel resource for those seeking lodgings that meld luxury, design and authenticity––, framed by the sweeping wilderness of the Tannheimer Valley, has evolved into an eco-conscious refuge that merges grounded luxury with high-altitude serenity.

Led by siblings Elke and Gerold Mattersberger, the hotel’s transformation embraces the ethos of The New Orgänic—a philosophy that favours restraint, tactility and purpose. Natural clay walls, reclaimed timbers, and salvaged driftwood set a quiet tone throughout, while locally sourced materials and circular building principles ground the architecture in sustainability. The recently unveiled Kräuter Suites honour wild Alpine meadows and family needs alike, each complete with compact kitchens, private saunas and balconies that gaze out to the forested slopes.

Design here is slow and deliberate. Organic tones of mushroom, oat, and honey echo the landscape, while soft bouclé fabrics, Tyrolean wools and sculpted furnishings invite ease. Timber, stone, hemp and glass layer warmth and texture in the rooms and public spaces, allowing the Alpine vernacular to breathe in a contemporary cadence.

At the heart of the hotel lies the newly constructed 8,150m² spa—a two-storey biotope where 43,000 pieces of driftwood form cocoon-like ‘nests’ for rest and reset. Local stone, toxin-free paints, and cut-out lighting evoke the forest canopy, while reclaimed spruce and thermal technology reinforce the hotel’s ecological vision. Wellness here is immersive and imaginative—a sensory landscape that soothes and revives.

Cuisine at Der Engel carries a soulful sense of place, shaped by Alpine terroir and elevated by global influences. In place of a singular restaurant, 15 distinct Stuben offer intimate dining experiences, from rustic traditions to contemporary flair. Under Gerold’s guidance — a trained hunter and local sourcing advocate—menus draw from wild foraging, seasonal produce and game brought in from the surrounding land. The result is cuisine with integrity, awarded the AMA Gastrosiegel for regional authenticity.

This member of The Aficionados’ setting at 1,100 metres offers year-round immersion in nature. In warmer months, the valley opens to wildflower meadows, crystalline lakes and over 300 km of hiking routes, while in winter, the hotel becomes a ski-in, ski-out base for snow sports and cross-country trails.

More than a hotel, Der Engel is an Alpine philosophy — where history is cherished, nature respected, and wellness shaped by design, craft and care. A true emblem of the modern mountain retreat.

Design: Elke and Gerold Mattersberger
Photography: Hannes Niederkofler, Paul Meyer, Franz Wuestenberg