South Tyrol hotel with one foot rooted in traditions and one in contemporary design
Weisses Kreuz / Burgusio / South Tyrol / Italy
In the small, unassuming village of Burgusio (or Burgeis in German, since this part of Italy is bilingual), there is a hotel that is everything but unassuming. It is called Weisses Kreuz and is one of those classic Alpine hotels that has undergone a kind of metamorphosis where some contemporary design elements have been added, both on the inside and the outside. It find it so fascinating to see how these traditionally designed buildings work so well with modern architectural structures. There is a cyclical movement that I truly appreciate.
The hotel is made up of three different buildings. The oldest one, Zum Löwen, dates all the way back to 1236 (and this is where our room, or suite was), the second (which is the actual, original Weisses Kreuz Hotel) is from 1871. The third and newest addition is from 2013 and is a timeless wooden structure mimicking one of the surrounding mountains.
We stayed in the oldest building in the Pfister Suite (yes, that is what it was called). More or less the entire room was made of wood but with some modern features built in like our own steam sauna, a solid black bath tub and some contemporary light fixtures. It was a great contrast to all the old, worn wood that showed the age of the building.
Why you should come here is clearly stated by the owners, the Theiner family, in their priorities. These are: pure relaxation, heartfelt hospitality and fine food & drink. Trust me when I say that you get all these three in buckets. And you get it in the most stunning surroundings possible, the Italian Alps.
Welcome to Weisses Kreuz Hotel, located in the cute alpine village of Burgusio. Or since this part of Italy is bilingual, Burgeis in German.
Our room was situated in a separate building called “Zum Löwen”, just opposite the main building, across the small square.
What you will see in this hotel is that it is a brilliant example of when contemporary design elements are brought into a very traditional looking set of buildings and it just works. Like this modern looking, exposed concrete staircase agains the old rendered wall…
…and these old wooden doors where the age really shows. Love this kind of design clash, when it is done right.
Just like the rest of the hotel, our room was an interesting mix of old and new.
As previously stated, I love myself a good design clash. Like this old, classic chair with local character and the modern bedside table and lamp.
The bathroom in our room was massive with both a shower, a bathtub and our own steam sauna.
This building is the newest addition to the outside of the hotel. It was completed in 2013. Another recent addition is…
…the outdoor infinity pool that was completed in Summer of 2022. And after a refreshing morning swim…
…it was time for breakfast. This was printed on the menu and I fully agree.
M enjoying the breakfast buffet on the terrace with a stunning backdrop and view. He is trying to decide what to have for dinner while enjoying his omelette.
The best way to digest the extensive breakfast is to go for a walk. This is me heading back towards the village…
…for a dip in the pool to cool down before it was time to…
…hit the trails. There are so many great hiking trails scattered around the valley. We decided to take one that brought us…
…to the Monte Maria Monastery. This is yet another great example of traditional design that has been complemented with newer, more modern features.
The hike continued up to the top of the mountain where we were rewarded with this amazing view. And it wasn’t the only thing we were rewarded with…
When you reach the top you deserve some classic Apfelstrudel. It never taste better than when you eat it after a challenging hike.
Back at the hotel, there was only one thing we wanted to do. To rest our tired bodies in the cool water. M is having a moment.
Ok, and another thing. To have a little nap in the spa in one of these little beds. Perfect to muster up some energy before dinner.
Dinner was served on the terrace where we had breakfast. I mean, talk about dinner with a view.
For us it was too hot to sit outside so we ate inside. M enjoying his selection from the desert buffet. The winner for me? The tiny lemon merengue pastry.
RG inside info
This place is perfect if you…
…are one of those who love the Alps. If your thing is to be surrounded by magnificent peaks while staying at a cozy, homely, robust hotel where traditions are honored and contemporary design has gently been incorporated, then this is a hotel for you.
My favorite thing about this place…
…is the food. This is one of those hotels where you get the dinner menu at breakfast and you are asked to choose what you want to have for dinner. Love that! It makes me think about delicious Italian food all day long and is a good ”carrot” when hiking up steep mountains. And in good time, you get your reward. And then some.
What not to miss when staying here is…
…enjoy the surrounding nature. And there is heaps of it. If biking is your thing there is a path that takes you down through the valley, all the way to Merano. And then you can take the train back up if you are out of energy. If you want to hike, the world is your oyster. Or at least the valley. There are countless paths to chose from. I always like to hike up to the top of a mountain. It is such a reward when you reach the peak and you can look out over the surrounding peaks.
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