Naturhotel Waldklause
The Naturhotel Waldklause in the Ötztal valley is one of the most unique hotels in the Alpine hospitality industry. As one of the first eco-friendly design hotels in the Alps, this 5-star hotel has been combining exceptional architecture with active sustainability for two decades.
In 2024, the Naturhotel celebrated its 20th anniversary—and looks back on a history marked by courage and pioneering spirit.
The idea: a hotel made of wood
Before the hotel was built, the Auer family ran a successful restaurant—the Waldklause—right next to the current location. The adjacent forest property already belonged to the family.
During a walk, the idea finally came about to build a hotel in this location that would blend harmoniously into the natural surroundings—made entirely of wood.
Over twenty years ago, this was an unusual decision. Sustainable timber construction played hardly any role in the Tyrolean hotel industry at that time.
“We were the first anywhere near here to build a hotel of this size out of wood,” recalls Irene Auer. “It was truly pioneering work.”
Architecture in harmony with nature
The nature hotel also broke new ground in terms of architecture. Instead of the traditional Tyrolean chalet look, organic shapes, flowing lines, and natural wood dominate. The buildings were deliberately designed to preserve existing trees and allow the architecture to blend in with the forest.
The hotel was originally planned as a 4-star superior establishment. It was only thanks to positive feedback from guests that the Naturhotel Waldklause developed into a 5-star hotel, in a completely natural way.
Sustainability as a lived philosophy
What was still unusual twenty years ago is now standard in many places: sustainable construction, regionality, and conscious use of resources.
For the Auer family, this is confirmation that they are on the right track. To this day, the Naturhotel Waldklause stands for a clear philosophy: luxury that is created in harmony with nature.
