A miracle of the past, a place of longing of the present: Hotel Klosterbräu in the Tyrolean mountains combines history, luxury, sustainability and family. For me, the most fascinating thing about this hotel is the sense of well-being it exudes. Something you don’t find very often these days.

Once upon a time there was a miracle…

It all happened in what is now the village of Seefeld, Austria. In the 14th century, the feared robber baron Oswald Milser ruled here. He was notorious for robbing travelers of their money and imprisoning those who did not pay until they died without bread or water.

On Maundy Thursday in 1384, the tyrannical knight came to the parish church in Seefeld. During the Catholic ritual, he demanded the largest wafer for himself and refused to kneel. The floor gave way beneath him, pulling him down like quicksand. He screamed for help, but only when the priest removed the wafer from his mouth did the ground stabilize. Eyewitnesses also reported that the wafer turned red and dripped like blood.

The wicked knight then repented – and Seefeld became a place of pilgrimage. The “miracle wafer” has been considered a relic ever since, and the “pilgrimage to the Holy Blood” continued until the First World War. In order to accommodate the pilgrims, the monastery of the Augustinian monks living there was extended with a hostel for pilgrims. This is the cornerstone of the history of today’s hotel.

From monastery and brewery to 5-star wellness hotel

In 1809 the Augustinian monastery, which also had its own brewery, was abandoned (secularized and closed). Later it was auctioned and bought by the Seyrling family from Seefeld. This is the beginning of the story of the Seyrling family, who are now the 6th generation of owners of the hotel (the 7th generation can be found in the hotel’s children’s club).

Eight family members are involved in various aspects of the hotel. Regular guests appreciate the continuity and family feel. At Hotel Klosterbräu, you will always meet the owners personally and be greeted by the same faces each time you visit. This creates a very different atmosphere than at hotels with constantly changing staff. The Seyrlings don’t (just) have a job here, they have a home to which they invite you.

Alois and Agnes Seyrling are managers and hosts with a heart. Parents of two children (Margarita and Luis), they are the picture of perfection. Alois loves to interact with guests and tell stories during long evenings in the wine cellar. She is in charge of the children and family program and supervises the housekeeping.

Special features of the hotel

The Hotel Klosterbräu is a 5-star luxury hotel – but very different from the luxury complexes of international hotel chains.

History and modernity meet here. There are old vaulted cellars as well as modern suites. International cuisine and gastronomic trends are combined with traditional regional ingredients and dishes. The former monastery bell hangs above the heated outdoor pool (which, by the way, all guests swim around as if it were about to fall on their heads).

What else you will find:

• In addition to the large outdoor pool with its beautiful sunbathing lawn and mountain panorama, the wellness area also includes an indoor pool and sauna area, the highlight of which is certainly the hand-carved wooden sauna.
• The former brewery was reactivated in 2014, and since then the hotel has been brewing its own beer, which flows from a beer fountain in the spa area.
• The hotel has its own vegetarian farm from which some of the food is sourced.
• The hotel has its own petting zoo with dwarf ponies, goats, cows and rabbits – a highlight for children.
• There is also a kids’ club for children and parents can also request a babysitting service.
• The hotel has several restaurants and dining venues, including the Romeo and Juliet Balcony for romantic moments.
• Guests can enjoy a wide range of activities, including guided hikes and yoga led by Laura Seyrling-Rieß.

Once you’re at Hotel Klosterbräu, you don’t really need anything else. The hotel is your vacation destination – maybe you’ll take a hike in the beautiful natural surroundings to enjoy the wellness and food even more afterwards.

Sustainable engagement

The world is still in order here. That’s what you experience as a guest. Fresh water comes from the faucet, healthy food from the region ends up on your plate. The Seyrlings are aware of these privileges and are socially and environmentally committed.

They rely on renewable energy and a modern energy-saving system from Siemens, promote e-mobility, and help their guests travel by train. The Seefeld ICE train station is only 3 minutes away from the hotel, and if you arrive by train, you can borrow an e-bike for free during your stay.

The Hotel Klosterbräu sets new standards with its nature rooms. The wood for the floors and furniture comes from the hotel’s own forest, and the walls are plastered with clay. Attention has also been paid to small details, such as lampshades made of hay flowers from a Tyrolean company.

For example, the hotel has a social commitment to Global Family, allowing people who have experienced serious illness, hardship, or violence to stay with them free of charge. (Read more about this in this article). The hotel also takes responsibility for its approximately 100 employees, organizing in-house training in the “Think-YOUNIQUE philosophy,” which teaches sustainable and ecological behavior.

Thanks to its sustainable efforts, the hotel is a member of Green PearlsⓇ and one of the few places in the world where you can travel sustainably.

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