Austria is a country filled with a fascinating history. Visitors flock to its museums, stroll along avenues and view architecture that dates back centuries. But what if travelers could start their historical adventure each morning in Austria right where they sleep? They can if they choose to stay in one of the country’s historic properties that are part of its exclusive Austria Hotel Collection. Participation in this special group of 20 properties is by invitation only with each one being carefully chosen by the Austrian Tourist Office.
Starting in the Imperial capital of Vienna, the Austria Hotel Collection offers such property choices as Hotel Stefanie. The oldest hotel in Vienna, Hotel Stefanie dates back more than 400 years. It is filled with antiques from the 17th and 18th centuries, but it was also renovated in 2016 to ensure modern amenities and conveniences. The well-known five-star luxury Hotel Sacher Wien has been run by the Gürtler & Winkler family since 1934. Located opposite the State Opera, the property boasts one of Austria’s largest private art collections with all rooms featuring individually collected antiques. It is also home to the original sacher-torte and guests can literally taste a piece of history at the famous Café Sacher.
A stay in a historic castle is possible in Salzburg at the Hotel Schloss Mönchstein, which has a story that dates back to 1350. It was converted into a hotel in 1948. With only 24 rooms and suites, this boutique five-star superior hotel sits within a 3.5-acre castle park in the heart of the city. Arthotel Blaue Gans is Salzburg’s oldest inn, with a 660 year history. Modern design and contemporary art meld beautifully within its historic building.
Outside the cities and within Austria’s beautiful Alps choices include the five-star Hotel Gasthof Post in the Arlberg region. Family owned for nearly 80 years, it is also a member of Relais & Châteaux hotels. Local antiques enhance the property’s history.
The Austria Hotel Collection continues to add to its magnificent offerings of hotels with two new properties to the group that boast their own fascinating stories to share. Innsbruck’s Hotel Schwarzer Adler has a history that goes back 500 years. It has been owned by the Ultsch family for five generations and 100 of those years. Also new to the Austria Hotel Collection is the Hotel Albona Nova, with an owner that has been running it for the last 25 years and who represents the third generation of family ownership of the property. Hotel Albona Nova is located in the ski resort of Zürs am Arlberg, and features a new spa, indoor pool, steam and sauna rooms, and an award-winning Gault-Millau accredited restaurant.