Gfell

The hiking hotel in Völs am Schlern at the foot of the Schlern in the heart of the Dolomites

Hiking on holiday in Völs am Schlern. Where a deer is more likely to cross your path than a car…just like in a fairy tale.

Not far from the village of Völs am Schlern/Fiè allo Sciliar, the Hotel Gfell with its restaurant ”Schönblick” is nestled in the hillside high up on a slope, offering breath-taking views of untouched meadows and forests.

When designing the new Gfell, the greatest care was taken to expand the traditional mountain inn into a small and personal hotel without changing the unique charm of the beautiful Dolomite landscape. Andrea Mair’s dream was to combine the restaurant with a hotel, thus offering a new kind of accommodation highlighting the uniqueness of its location. The solution: building the hotel rooms and the wellness area directly into the hillside. This subterranean construction was executed with minimal impact on the environment and rather than obstructing the view of the restaurant, offers a spectacular panorama. In addition, the 50-year-old barn has been integrated into the new complex, now serving as the reception area, breakfast room and lounge.

And there it is – secluded in the middle of the Völs am Schlern/Fiè allo Sciliar Nature Park – the Mair family’s Hotel Gfell. Combining everything you could want for time away from the everyday, this is a place sought out as much by hikers and nature lovers as by gourmets and those seeking peace and tranquillity.

The Schlern-Rosengarten/Sciliar Catinaccio Nature Reserve is the oldest nature reserve in South Tyrol and we have the honour of calling it our home. The Schlern/Sciliar – one of South Tyrol’s landmarks – is within an arm’s reach of Hotel Gfell, which also offers a view of the Brenta, the Ortles and the Textel Group mountains.

We gather strength from and are inspired daily by the rugged rocks and all the surrounding nature. It is our belief that nature is the best way to nourish and feed one‘s body, mind and soul.

The entrance to the new hotel is through the barn, which, from the outside, looks traditional and old. However, when you step through the door, it opens up into a large space which is used as the hotel’s reception area, lounge and breakfast room. Light floods the space through large windows facing the valley and framed by large wooden beams.

A spectacular fireplace with modern seating that is converted into a breakfast nook in the morning and then used for the afternoon tea break. Outside, a large terrace extends outwards, revealing the unique ”Schönblick” (beautiful view) of the valley.

17 elegantly designed new rooms and suites, warm interiors, panoramic views. A fine dining restaurant featuring regional products. A cosy breakfast lounge and lobby with the charm of days bygone yet all the modern conveniences and amenities.

17 tranquil rooms and suites with views of the surrounding mountains offer you every comfort needed for an experience of ultimate relaxation. With the four walls made of natural materials and warm colours, nature itself provides a cosy and comfortable atmosphere.

Almost all the rooms and suites at the Gfell have direct access to the surrounding mountain meadows and the adjacent forest due to its south facing position. Nature is not just waiting at the front door but featured in your own panoramic window. Natural materials and fabrics, dark oak wood and stone tiles create a warm and cosy atmosphere. The open bathroom adds a unique and inviting touch.

A wooden terrace extends the living space of each room to the outside. Just a few steps further, the ”Gfell meadows” await you, the area from which the hotel gets its name.

A natural wellness area with saunas and relaxation rooms with a view of the forest, meadows and mountains. A view as unique as the Gfell itself.

Nature and our connection to it have always played a main role where the Gfell stands today. It is omnipresent not only in the surroundings and on the plate, but also in the wellness area. A retreat that offers total relaxation between trees. Our sauna with a mountain garden, which is open daily from 3 to 7 p.m., invites you to relax your tired muscles after a day in the mountains and return to yourself. In the panorama sauna with a direct view of the forest, wonderful herbal and scented infusions enhance your experience. You will never want to leave.

The wellness area offers the same view as the rooms. The lawn offers the ideal place to sunbathe on warm days while breathing in the scents of nature.

Enjoy a stunning panoramic view of the forest through large glass windows from our cosy, wood lined nooks in the relaxation room. Let your gaze wander undisturbed and simply soak in the natural landscape, from the different shades of green of the trees in summer to the snow-covered treetops in winter. Shapes from the natural surroundings are mirrored in various floral patterns in the rooms, reflecting its tradition of nature.

In our restaurant here in Völser Aicha, we cook with only the finest, local ingredients. Whatever we do not produce ourselves we source from carefully selected partners with this one goal: for you to taste the wonderful variety of South Tyrol’s specialties with every bite.