Lärchenhof Natur - Family Holzer

"About 30 years ago, we wanted to expand our hotel name, as there were several "Lärchenhöfe" in the area," says Kathrin Holzer, who has been in charge of the family business for 25 years. Together with friends, they considered what would fit the family and the house. Quickly, "nature" was the only option left, as Kathrin, her parents Waltraud and Günther, and her sisters Claudia and Jacqueline were known in their circle as nature enthusiasts. "Yes," laughs the 45-year-old. "For me, there is nothing more beautiful than walking barefoot through alpine meadows." Therefore, it is no wonder that since 1971, when her parents opened the hotel, many decisions have been made with consideration for the environment. From the moment of adding the name extension "nature", it became their program. "Since then, we have asked ourselves with every decision, 'What does it do to our environment?'" explains Holzer.

There are no noticeable cuts, major renovations, or signs pointing to sustainability or environmental protection at the Lärchenhof Natur. The changes occur in small ways and often quietly, being nearly unnoticeable but still having a significant impact. All renovations and additions to the house have been implemented with natural materials, particularly wood, stone, and sheep wool. "I would like a house that simply rots when it falls apart," Holzer says with a smile. She also tries to select products, producers, and craftsmen as regionally as possible. "My pain threshold is a radius of 100 kilometers." It is similar when it comes to nutrition. "We are not certified organic or strictly vegan, but we pay a lot of attention to obtaining regional, sustainably thought-out, and organically grown products. I know some producers and many farmers and I pay attention to where my products come from and how they were grown." Holzer prefers the regional cucumber over the long-traveled organic cucumber whenever possible. However, the growing conditions must naturally be right. "I would prefer if all local farmers worked organically; whether they are certified or not isn't as important to me." The breakfast buffet is seasonally stocked, almost everything is homemade; this also applies to afternoon coffee, where Kathrin's mother, Waltraud, treats her guests with her homemade cakes. In winter, when fruits are scarce, Holzer often relies on nuts and dried fruits. She gets these through her sister, who runs a nut store in Telfs – preferably organic, exclusively from Europe, and unpackaged. And the honey comes from her nephew, Ferdinand Schot. In some jars, honey even flows from the hotel garden and the immediate surroundings. Some of Schot's bee colonies live on the large, colorful natural meadow behind the hotel and enjoy what Holzer allows to grow deliciously here, just like the guests do.

Speaking of natural meadows – they are certainly a highlight, alongside the breathtaking view over the Inn Valley, at the Lärchenhof Natur. They bloom from spring to autumn in all imaginable colors. "We let nature run free here,” says Holzer. "And we only mow once." The flowers and herbs are native, self-seeding, and regulate by themselves what grows, when, and how much. Preserving this naturally given diversity is a concern for Holzer, which she would like to extend to the entire municipality. The first step has already been taken: The request for targeted planting and habitation of the traffic islands was submitted through the local association, and the municipality of Telfs has agreed. Next, a professionally sound concept is planned, which is also to include the preservation of the natural meadows and forests around the Möserer See.

The vegetable garden in front of the terrace, which also features the swimming pond and the panorama sauna, is of course mowed a little more often. Nevertheless, it is lovingly planted with native shrubs, small trees, and flowers, which not only provide guests with a feeling of being in a little piece of paradise. Many birds, butterflies, wild bees, and beetles thrive here, making this carefully preserved natural treasure even more valuable.

At the Lärchenhof Natur, not only is nature preserved, but also what has been in the family for generations. "You don't always have to buy new; we prefer to work with what we have." Together with her father Günther, repairs and crafts are undertaken. "Whether it's Easter or Christmas, the decoration is homemade; broken things are gladly glued back together, and we curiously watch what emerges." The preservation and thus the reduction has become ingrained in Holzer's very being. Yet nothing in the house feels outdated or kitschy. The conscious, reduced play with old, well-maintained lace doilies, silver plates, and a simple white candle is elegant, cozy, and calming. An atmosphere that many guests have appreciated for years and thus come back time and again.

The quiet and steady development that has always characterized the Lärchenhof Natur should continue in the future. Therefore, the hotel will no longer grow, the sauna will only be turned on upon request, to minimize the existing gap between real sustainability and luxury. In 2023, parts of the heating system were also converted to solar energy. Holzer would like to increasingly encourage guests to use public transportation. "This year we already had arrivals on foot and by bike – I would also like that," laughs the hotel manager. And she would prefer to take the entire region into a nature-oriented, gentle model of living and tourism. For this, she is committed to local politics, the Plateau Pioneers, and several associations. Some village projects are currently emerging in Mösern, and Holzer is also convinced of the path of the Plateau Pioneers: "We are all heading in a direction that makes sense and creates future." Advancing further here and bringing along many more businesses and people will be the task of the coming years.