Out into nature.

Summer, the way it should feel.

Barefoot across the meadow, coffee in hand, nothing but open space ahead. Then off you go: find a summit, wander through the forest or simply stay lying in the grass. The day ends on the terrace, barbecue in the air and the last ray of sun on your face.

Hikes up the Hirschberg, over to Schönebach or all the way to the Ifen
Gravel tours, mountain biking and road cycling
Outdoor pools in Mellau, Bezau & Schoppernau

Mountain panorama seen from Damüls © Lukas Holland - Damüls Faschina Tourismus

Winter, the way it should be.

Out early into the crunching snow, laying the first track, on touring skis, a sledge or on foot. Red cheeks, clear thoughts and silent forests during the day. And in the evening? Back into the warmth, fire up the sauna, stretch your feet out by the tiled stove and listen to the snow fall.

Ski tours & snowshoe hikes on the Hirschberg, starting right at the house
Ski areas Damüls/Mellau and Diedamskopf within 15 minutes
With good snow: the „Hütten“ practice lift is 100m away

Hiking starts at the front door.

You do not need to drive anywhere to set off. The Hirschberg rises directly behind the house, and paths lead from there in every direction: across meadows, through forest, up to the Vorsäß settlements and alpine huts that put out a plate of food in summer.

If you want to go further, the whole Bregenzerwald trail network is in front of you: easy valley loops for an afternoon, long ridge walks for a full day, and everything in between. The cable cars in Bezau, Andelsbuch, Mellau and at the Diedamskopf take the first climb off your legs if you like.

Hirschberg: the house round, straight from the door
Schönebach: a Vorsäß at the head of the valley, a good full-day target
Kanisfluh: the landmark peak above Mellau and Au, demanding
Hoher Ifen: a striking plateau on the Kleinwalsertal border
Mellental, the Hochtannberg pass and the Lechtal for longer tours

Through the forest on two wheels.

The valley roads are well surfaced and quiet, the forest tracks run for kilometres up the slope. Road, gravel and mountain biking each find their own version of this valley. The passes around it, Hochtannberg, Furka and Faschina, turn a day loop into a real task. If you prefer it gentler, ride the cheese road and stop at every dairy. E-bikes are available in the neighbouring villages.

If you would rather collect than suffer, ride the cheese road and stop at the dairies. And if you only want a short loop, take the valley cycle path: flat, shaded and always along the water.

Road: the Hochtannberg, Furkajoch and Faschinajoch passes
Gravel and mountain bike: forest tracks up to the Vorsäß and Alpe
Easy going: the valley cycle path along the Bregenzerach
E-bike rental in the neighbouring villages

Water, pools, cold plunges.

The Bregenzerach and its tributaries are cold, clear and easy to reach in many places. After a long tour, ten minutes in the stream and your legs come back. If you want it warmer: the open-air pools in Mellau, Bezau and Schoppernau open in summer. And Lake Constance with Bregenz is around an hour away, good for a day trip with a swim and a festival backdrop.

In high summer a shaded stream bed is often worth more than any sun lounger. Bring shoes with grip, the stones are slippery, and take your time getting in. Afterwards even lukewarm water from a bottle tastes like something special.

And when it rains?

Rain is part of the Bregenzerwald, which is why everything is this green. There is room enough in the house: the tiled stove, the sauna, the reading corner, the big table for a long breakfast and the yoga room under the roof.

Outside, the Werkraum in Andelsbuch, the Frauenmuseum in Hittisau, the Angelika Kauffmann Museum in Schwarzenberg and the Wälderbähnle in Bezau are all worth the trip. There is more on the Surroundings page, and the Holiday house for groups page explains how to plan all this with a larger group.

Outside with kids.

Children need no programme here, they need the door. Meadow in front of the house, forest behind it, a slope for sledging in winter. With good snow the "Hütten" practice lift is a hundred metres away, which is about as close as it gets. In summer the open-air pools in the valley fill a whole afternoon, and the cable cars in Bezau and Mellau carry everyone uphill without complaint. Up on the alpine pastures there are animals to see and usually something to eat.

Days when nothing has to happen.

Not every holiday day needs a summit. Some of the best days here consist of a long breakfast, a short loop across the meadows, an afternoon with a book on the terrace and an evening in the sauna. The Bregenzerwald makes that easy, because nothing shouts for attention. And if you do want something: the dairies, farm shops and cafés in the neighbouring villages are minutes away, and nobody is rushing you.

That is exactly what the house was built for. The tiled stove takes its time, so does the sauna, and the view from the yoga room changes by the hour. Stay a week and after two days you notice the calendar has gone quiet.