Gisela Harrer is a globetrotter and herbalist.  She produces exquisite syrups

for mocktails – and shares her  in-depth knowledge with guests at the

Engelwirt Art Hotel  in Berching during a workshop – whilst top chef

Tommy Schäfer creates a wild herb menu to accompany them

Hamburg, 2 July 2026 – Her life story reads like that of a globetrotter: in California, she crocheted Bavarian cardigans for luxury boutiques; in Switzerland, she worked in top-class restaurants; and in Iran, she watched as the Shah of Persia flew away in a helicopter with Farah Diba right before her eyes. In Munich, she subsequently moved in circles of the aristocracy and the jet set. Then came a financial turning point: Gisela Harrer fell from her queen-size bed into the car seat, lived for months in her red VW Golf and, back in her home region of the Upper Palatinate, reconnected with her family roots: her mother had passed on her knowledge of herbs to her, so she gathered wild herbs in the meadows – and successfully sold them to Munich’s top chefs: stinging nettles to Hans Haas at Tantris, wild garlic to Alfons Schuhbeck. Today, for example, the 78-year-old woman from the Upper Palatinate creates herbal syrups for mocktails and shares her knowledge of wild herbs in a workshop (9–11 October 2026) with guests at the Engelwirt Hotel in Berching – top chef Tommy Schäfer is creating a special wild herb menu to accompany it.

During the workshop, Gisela Harrer will lead a walk through the meadows of the Altmühl Valley, where wild herbs will be gathered. Back at the hotel, the focus is on how to use the ingredients and the various ways of preparing them. Gisela Harrer says things like: “More bitter compounds, please!” or “I’m as fit as a fiddle”. And as the afternoon progresses, she hands over the reins to Tommy Schäfer, who trained with Heinz Winkler in Aschau and is now, amongst other things, the in-house chef at the Engelwirt for special occasions. Together with the guests, he prepares a menu featuring wild herbs and shares tips and tricks on how to use them in the kitchen. What exactly will the menu look like? The 59-year-old, likeable chef does not yet wish to comment on this. He says: ‘It all depends on what can be found in the meadows.’

As well as nature, guests at the hotel can also immerse themselves in the finest culture: the Engelwirt is an art hotel par excellence. The fully restored 17th-century provost’s estate, with its total of 15 rooms and suites, was opened in 2024 by Michael and Stephanie Zink. Here, guests live with and amongst art. In Room Five, for example, you are greeted by two dogs in green uniforms who are rescuing a diver on the moon, whose outfit is reminiscent of Neil Armstrong’s. ‘Diver on Moon’ is a work by the French artist Gregory Forstner. In front of the piece stand two small green stools with illustrated books to browse through. Wherever your gaze falls: paintings and sculptures blend harmoniously with carefully selected designer furniture by Eames, Moormann, Wegner, Prouvé and Moroso, and with historic elements such as stucco ceilings, opulently carved oak doors and rose-shaped pointed arches. The Engelwirt is truly a treat for all the senses.

Engelwirt Hotel & Apartments

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With singing bowl meditation on the Chasté Peninsula

and forest bathing amidst the greenery of the larch trees,
the Waldhaus Sils offers its guests unforgettable days of relaxation

Hamburg/Sils Maria, 30 June 2026 – There is perhaps no hotel more suited than the Waldhaus Sils for escaping the little madness out there and finding one’s own inner peace. The writer Martin Mosebach wrote of the legendary hotel: “The world could come to an end, and you would only find out about it at the ‘Waldhaus’ a week later – through a matter-of-fact announcement from the porter.” From 22 to 25 August 2026, it is offering its guests a series of exceptional meditation days led by Ursina Dietrich Planta. The qualified sound therapist specialises in meditation and forest bathing and has selected special locations for these sessions: on the shores of the Chasté Peninsula, where Nietzsche experienced his epiphany and which he described as the most beautiful spot in the Engadin, Ursina Dietrich Planta will lead a meditation session with singing bowls, whose gentle sound resonates in the silence of nature on an early summer morning – the rhythmic vibrations have a direct and demonstrably positive effect on the autonomic nervous system, calming the heartbeat and slowing the breathing. These two activities form part of the Deep-Health programme, which the Waldhaus is continuing to develop in collaboration with the region.

Meditation with singing bowls has a long tradition. The same is true of forest bathing, which involves the conscious perception of nature with all the senses and, like singing bowl meditation, has positive effects on the immune system and stress regulation. Here, too, the charismatic sound therapist takes you out into nature in the morning; the Waldhaus towers over the village of Sils Maria like a castle and is surrounded by fairytale-like green larch forests. Ursina Dietrich Planta says: “It moves me every time to see how, after just 20 to 30 minutes, guests relax, breathe more deeply and let their thoughts come to rest. For me personally, forest bathing has opened up a new perspective on things and on life – not having to do anything, but simply being.’ Another special feature of these meditation days is the shoulder, neck and head massage in the hotel’s modern spa. Anyone who treats themselves to this experience lets go of everything after just a few minutes and, just as in meditation, enters a state of total relaxation – like being in a state between waking and sleeping. Nietzsche would probably have said: “Treat yourself to a moment of peace and you’ll realise just how foolishly you’ve been rushing about.”

Hotel Waldhaus Sils

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The Schgaguler Hotel is celebrating the 20th anniversary

of the Sella Ronda Bike Day – featuring classic and modern road bikes

and accompanied by an Italian professional road cyclist

Hamburg/Kastelruth, 23 June 2026 – Road bikes have become just as common a sight in big cities as portafilter coffee machines and moustaches. Whether young or old, whether an ambitious weekend cyclist or a die-hard enthusiast: road cycling is a national sport. A fad? Perhaps. Yet this sport has a long tradition. Particularly in South Tyrol, where the Sella Ronda Bike Day is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year – 53 kilometres, four Dolomite passes, up to 20,000 enthusiasts –and all without timekeeping or rankings. This is all about people, bikes and one of the world’s most spectacular mountain landscapes. No exhaust fumes, no noise. Just the wind and the quiet ticking of the gears.

The multi-award-winning Hotel Schgaguler in Kastelruth has put together a special offer for all road cycling enthusiasts to mark this exciting anniversary from 10 to 13 September 2026: participants wishing to take part in all or part of the race will be accompanied by local road cycling veteran Claudio Camin and will have the chance to experience the technical evolution of road bikes for themselves – by riding vintage bikes (before the race) and modern road bikes. Claudio Camin, the 55-year-old from Bolzano, epitomises the technical evolution of road bikes and has some unforgettable stories to tell on the subject. He himself secured his first victories at the age of 11 on his blue-green Bianchi bike and took part in numerous World Cup races across Europe, including the 1996 Tour de France. Today, the 55-year-old from Bolzano builds bespoke racing bikes – feather-light, minimalist in design, and co-developed by an engineer with a background in Formula 1. Just how big is the difference between these modern racing machines and the classics? This weekend offers the perfect opportunity to find out.

There’s something for every level and every ambition. And for those who’d rather watch the Sella Ronda Bike Day from the sidelines, the views are certainly not to be missed either. After returning from their active morning, participants can enjoy a magnificent spa, excellent regional cuisine and a good night’s sleep in rooms that couldn’t be more beautifully designed. And all with a view of the Dolomites.

The Schgaguler Hotel has won numerous awards for its design. Its wonderful cuisine combines South Tyrolean and Italian specialities, and the spa – complete with a pool and saunas – is the perfect place to unwind after hikes, bike rides and wine tastings – just like in the elegant rooms with their clean lines and floor-to-ceiling windows offering views of the mighty Schlern, one of the kings of the Dolomites.

Design Hotel Schgaguler

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The Château de Montcaud is a haven for the senses and sensuality.
With its ‘Cocon de Montcaud’, it now boasts a small but exquisite spa
dedicated to well-being and total relaxation

Hamburg/Sabran, 9 June 2026 – There are not many hotels in the world where everyday life – the turbulent chaos and chaotic turbulence, in other words, all the madness out there – is forgotten from the very first moment. The Château de Montcaud is one such hotel. A classical stone cube, 29 rooms and suites, understated elegance rather than ostentatious pomp. A haven for the senses and sensuality. No sooner have you passed through the estate’s main gate than you find yourself in a vast park, where the most magnificent crowns of over 140 varieties of trees from all over the world reach up towards the sky, and the scent of countless roses wafts through the air. To the left, in the middle of a citrus garden, stands an old dovecote, freshly renovated, serving as a culinary laboratory run by head chef Matthieu Hervé, whose in-house restaurant has been awarded a Michelin star. Behind it lies a charming tennis court from a time when people still played with wooden rackets. And somewhere amidst the greenery, the blue of the pool glistens, providing the perfect backdrop for a film starring Charlotte Rampling, Juliette Binoche or Josh O’Connor. In the silence of the park, the buzzing of a bee flying past sounds as loud as a propeller plane.

From the pool, you reach the ‘Cocon de Montcaud’, the Château de Montcaud’s new spa, via the rez-de-jardin (garden level). A small, exquisite world of well-being and relaxation. French designer Sophie Petit has created a magical atmosphere in the three treatment rooms and the reception area – colours, shapes and fabrics such as silk and cotton pay homage to the history of the building and the hotel’s own grounds. The moment you step into the Cocoon with its natural design, your mind begins to relax. In the whitewashed cross-vaulted entrance, an installation by wall artist Fabienne Fabre offers a surprise; bronze door handles shaped like branches adorn the modern oak doors, whilst travertine stone floors run like a common thread through the rooms. Warm light everywhere.

Spa Manager AnaÏs Lette uses the exquisite products from the Olivier Claire skincare range. The signature treatments include various massages and facials such as the ‘Grand Soin Majeur de Beauté’, in which the skin is visibly and lastingly firmed – and thus rejuvenated – thanks to an exclusive and rare formula of active ingredients.

One of the spa treatment rooms is dedicated exclusively to stress reduction – – using sound and vibration technology from Welnamis. Scientists and psychologists have developed this high-tech recliner. Much like meditation, certain sounds slow down mental activity – and vibration frequencies stimulate the body’s energy centres. Various programmes reduce stress and improve mental clarity and resilience. Deeply relaxed, the evening concludes with a candlelit dinner in a courtyard lined with roses. Matthieu Hervé is more than just a chef. He plays with textures and temperatures like a musician plays with notes, treating guests to the finest of creations. And so a day at the Château de Montcaud draws to a close in the utmost comfort of the beds – until, perhaps, you drift off to sleep to the flute-like call of a late hoopoe.

Château de Montcaud

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To mark the 100th anniversary of the Tyrolean Zugspitz Railway, the Relais & Châteaux

Hotel Singer is offering a special anniversary package – celebrate this milestone year

in Berwang, the highest village in the Zugspitz region

Hamburg/Berwang, 2 June 2026 – A hundred years ago, a bold vision became reality in the Alps: on 5 July 1926, the Zugspitzbahn began operating, taking people from Ehrwald to the highest peak of the Wetterstein Mountains for the very first time. It was the first cable car in Tyrol, and it went straight up to the Zugspitze, which, at 2,962 metres, is Germany’s highest mountain and towers over the border with Austria. The journey took 18 minutes back then, and the cabin could accommodate 19 people. And they marvelled at this masterpiece of engineering – what a spectacular project!

“We are here in Berwang, the highest village in the Zugspitze region,” says Florian Singer, “so we would like to celebrate this special occasion with our guests.” The Zugspitze package includes three nights’ accommodation with half-board, a spa treatment with Tyrolean mountain oil – and, of course, a cable car ride up the Zugspitze. Florian Singer and his wife Christina are the third generation to run this elegant hotel; his love of the mountains was instilled in him from birth. No wonder – every hotel room offers a view of a mountain peak, the Hönig, the Thaneller, the Roter Stein; hiking trails and ski slopes start right outside the door, and the Sonnalmbahn is right next door. A well-marked network of trails ensures lovely walks. Guests can hire rucksacks and walking poles from reception, and the hotel can prepare a delicious picnic if booked in advance. And it’s only a few kilometres to Ehrwald, the valley station of the Zugspitzbahn.

The village was catapulted onto the global tourist map by the cable car. For a long time, the Zugspitze was virtually impossible to conquer; after the first ascent, it took a further 50 years before mountain guides first took guests to the summit around 1850. Today, the state-of-the-art panoramic cabin whizzes up the mountain in just 10 minutes, covering an elevation gain of 1,725 metres. The journey is almost silent; all you can hear are the “oohs” and “aahs” of the amazed passengers as the cable car ascends, passing rugged cliffs and snowfields.

Back in the valley, guests at the Hotel Singer can enjoy the spacious Alpine Relax Garden, unwind in the exclusive spa with sauna, steam room, heated indoor and outdoor pools, and a relaxation room with an open fire or work out a little longer in the gym. Afterwards, enjoy a meal featuring fine Austrian and international dishes accompanied by first-class wines: this multi-award-winning Relais & Châteaux hotel boasts an exquisite restaurant.
The hotel is just 1.5 hours’ drive from Munich.

Hotel Singer

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Steep slopes, fertile soils, plenty of sunshine – the conditions between the Eisack Valley and the Unterland are unique and ensure that South Tyrol’s wines are among the best in the world. In June, guests at the Schgaguler Hotel explore the region with sommelier Sandra Schgaguler

Hamburg/Kastelruth, 28 April 2026 – Vines have been cultivated here for more than 2,500 years: South Tyrol has produced some great winemakers, and many a Lagrein, Gewürztraminer or Chardonnay can be found on the wine lists of the finest restaurants from New York to Tokyo. So far, so good – and well known among wine lovers. Things get exciting when sommelier Sandra Schgaguler takes guests from the Schgaguler Hotel on a journey of discovery: together, they visit wineries with centuries of history and the stars of tomorrow. They meet winemakers who speak lovingly of their terroir and produce exceptional wines with passion.

When Sandra Schgaguler talks about wine, it sounds like poetry. There is rarely any mention of yeasts, stainless steel tanks or barriques, although the qualified sommelière naturally possesses the expertise regarding grape varieties and soils and has a masterful command of the full range of cellar techniques. But she prefers to talk about the people behind the wines. About the different vineyards around her home town of Kastelruth at the foot of the Seiser Alm. About the artists who design the labels. About the vineyards in this unique landscape, about 110-year-old vines and traditional estates whose history dates back to the 14th century. And when she describes the wines, she does not use the wine connoisseur’s vocabulary of leather, tobacco and stables, but rather picturesque words that that bring to life the landscapes where Vernatsch and Pinot Blanc thrive. With words that spark curiosity about the winemakers who craft these wines into little works of art.

From 13 to 17 June 2026, she will take her guests to selected wineries in the wine-growing regions around the Schlern, in Eppan and in the Eisack Valley.

The Schgaguler Hotel has won numerous awards for its design. Its superb cuisine combines South Tyrolean and Italian specialities, and the spa, complete with a pool and saunas, offers the perfect place to unwind after a day of hiking and wine tasting – just like the elegant rooms, with their clean lines and floor-to-ceiling windows offering views of the mighty Schlern, one of the kings of the Dolomites.

Schgaguler Hotel

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It’s only just opened and already a huge hit:
.HERE, the smallest luxury resort in the Maldives,
has been hailed as one of the world’s best hotels
on Condé Nast Traveller’s 2026 Hot List

Hamburg, 28 April 2026 – It’s all about being in the know: the ultra-luxury resort .HERE features on Condé Nast Traveller’s 2026 Hot List. This award recognises the world’s best new hotels. “It’s not easy to go one better in the Maldives, but .HERE, the newly opened resort on Somewhere Island in the UNESCO-protected Baa Atoll, has managed it” – so says editor-in-chief Diva Thani, who visited and reviewed the resort herself.

Condé Nast Traveller magazine was founded in 1987 and quickly became the undisputed authority on luxury travel. Appearing on the Hot List, which is compiled anew each year, is the ultimate accolade for any hotel. .HERE not only graces the cover of the coveted May/June issue as the ‘Best New Hotel’, but has also been recognised for its excellence in three further categories: Best Wellness Hotel, Best Beach Hotel, and Best Hotel in Australia, New Zealand and Asia.

Diva Thani is responsible for the Condé Nast brand worldwide, and she was clearly enthusiastic about .HERE in the Baa Atoll UNESCO Biosphere Reserve: “As a new benchmark for privacy in the Maldives, this design-led island resort offers spacious villas stretching from the beach to the lagoon, and barefoot luxury in its most discreet form.”

And this is perhaps the resort’s most important feature: at .HERE, luxury means having a choice. The eternal question in the Maldives – beach or over-water villa? At »Somewhere«, you don’t have to choose. Each of the seven residences stretches across the entire width of the island: beach at one end, a wooden jetty with the coveted ladder leading straight into the Indian Ocean at the other.

“Every villa offers breathtaking views of sunrises and sunsets and gives guests more opportunities to relax outdoors: rather than retreating to the air-conditioned interiors during the hottest hours of the afternoon, I simply strolled along the beautiful pool to the other end of my shaded villa and continued reading there in the gentle breeze,” enthuses Diva Thani.

.HERE is the smallest resort in the Maldives – and the most exclusive. It comprises the island of ‘Somewhere’, featuring seven two-storey private villas, each with three or four bedrooms – and, at 1,300 and 1,400 square metres respectively, offering plenty of space for families or travellers with staff. The second island, ‘Nowhere’, consists of two villas with a total area of 3,500 square metres. It has just opened and can be booked exclusively.

It has just opened and is available for exclusive hire.
The two islands feature a stunning restaurant and bar – perhaps just the right amount of socialising to make the splendid isolation afterwards all the more enjoyable. Head chef Georgios Vasilopoulos, formerly of Raffles Dubai and Nobu Matsuhisa Mykonos, runs the open-air restaurant Safar. He was previously the personal chef to the Jordanian royal family.

Gregor Gerlach, who opened .HERE with his sister Anoushka Gerlach, is delighted with this accolade: “When the editor-in-chief of Condé Nast praises our new resort so enthusiastically, it’s a wonderful endorsement of our work – hardly anyone else has comparable expertise in the luxury travel market.”

.HERE Maledives

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Riverside Luxury Cruises is expanding
with the Riverside Mahler sailing under its own flag
and the purchase of the Riverside Mozart

Hamburg, 23 April 2026 – Riverside Luxury Cruises continues its success story: the ‘Riverside Mahler’ will enter service under the Riverside flag in 2028 and is set to operate on the Rhine, Main, Moselle and Danube alongside its sister ship, the ‘Riverside Debussy’. In addition, Riverside Luxury Cruises purchased the “Riverside Mozart” in the spring of this year. The Hamburg-based shipping company had a total of five river cruise ships in 2023 – Mozart, Debussy, Ravel, Mahler and Bach – acquired from Crystal Cruises, with the first three successfully entering service on Europe’s rivers – though the ‘Riverside Mozart’ was initially chartered from an interim owner.

The addition of the Riverside Mahler marks the next phase of a strategic expansion. “This is our response to the continuing rise in demand for luxury river cruises – from the very beginning, our vision was to expand the fleet thoughtfully whilst maintaining the highest standards in terms of space for guests, service and a distinctive elegance,” says Gregor Gerlach, who founded Riverside Luxury Cruises together with his sister Anouchka Gerlach. The two of them now own the entire fleet. “With the Mahler, we now also have the opportunity to offer further themed cruises.” Riverside Luxury Cruises is launching its first themed cruises this year, including a golf trip on the Danube and a tour exploring the unique beer breweries along the Rhine.

Riverside Luxury Cruises turns every journey into an unforgettable experience. Take, for example, sitting on the upper deck at the barbecue after a morning excursion, whilst the friendly staff serve freshly grilled scampi accompanied by a glass of champagne or a well-chilled white wine, and the landscape glides past like a stage set. Everything on board the ships is freshly prepared – – from the jus to the jam and the bread. And instead of cabins, there are only comfortable, spacious suites with king-size beds and exclusive bathrooms. Every guest also has the benefit of a butler. The relatively new company Riverside Luxury Cruises has already received several awards for its cuisine and the exceptional exclusivity on board its ships: Winner of Travel + Leisure’s ‘World’s Best Awards’ 2024 and Cruise Critic’s ‘Editors’ Pick Award’ in 2023, 2024 and 2025 for the best culinary experience in the river cruise category, as well as the coveted award for best luxury river cruise line in 2025.

Riverside Luxury Cruises

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Crime fiction fans will gather in May at the foot
of the Seiser Alm: during a writing workshop
led by South Tyrolean bestselling author
Lenz Koppelstätter, guests at the
Schgaguler Hotel will get creative for three days

Hamburg/Kastelruth, 9 April 2026 – “All stories end in death if you follow them far enough,” wrote Ernest Hemingway. That could be the motto for the three-day workshop in Castelrotto: for the second time, guests at the Schgaguler Hotel are setting out in search of a body, a motive and a culprit – in their imagination and on paper or laptop. Under the expert guidance of South Tyrolean author Lenz Koppelstätter.

He has written books about Alma Mahler and Hubert Messner, and most recently enjoyed literary success with the Turkish-German family saga ‘Aylas Lachen’. His crime series featuring investigator Commissario Grauner has achieved cult status, and his new series of novels featuring police reporter Gianna Pitti also immediately made it onto the bestseller lists. His characters tackle contemporary issues and capture the Italian way of life, with settings ranging from the Brenner Pass to the Ortler. From 28 to 31 May, he will be taking guests at the Schgaguler Hotel in Castelrotto on a creative journey. Lenz Koppelstätter hails from a South Tyrolean wine-growing village and has returned to live there after spending years in Bologna, Berlin, Munich and Istanbul. In this workshop, designed especially for the Schgaguler Hotel, he will spend three days answering questions about writing. Together with the participants, he will develop characters, plots and storylines – in an exciting mix of readings, creative writing and exploring the natural surroundings on gentle walks.

The Schgaguler Hotel has won numerous awards for its design. Its cuisine combines South Tyrolean and Italian specialities, and the spa, complete with a pool and saunas, offers the perfect place to unwind after hikes and writing exercises – – just like in the elegant rooms with their clean lines and floor-to-ceiling windows offering views of the mighty Schlern, one of the kings of the Dolomites.

Schgaguler Hotel

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In Luc Besson’s classic film, he played the young freediver Enzo; today he is a renowned artist.
In May, Gregory Forstner is coming to Germany as artist-in-residence at the Kunsthotel Engelwirt – and the film will be screened in the hotel’s own cinema

Hamburg/Berching, 26 March 2026 – It is not easy to look away from Forstner’s paintings. Anthropomorphic dogs, fragile humans or poker-playing pandas stare back at you with such intensity that it feels as though they have long since seen right through the viewer. Forstner’s paintings appear raw and tender, familiar and unsettling at the same time. Shaped by the ambivalence of his grandfathers during the Nazi era – one in the resistance, the other a collaborator – he processes his family history and his own half-French, half-Austrian roots. Born in Cameroon in 1975, Forstner discovered art at an early age as a child actor. In Luc Besson’s classic 1988 film *The Big Blue*, he played the young ‘Enzo’. As a painter, he developed his own style after spending time in Vienna, Nice and Brooklyn. Gregory Forstner now lives and works in Marseille; his works are held in major museums and collections in Paris, New York and Munich.

Now, not only can you admire his artistic work at Galerie Zink (Waldkirchen) and the Hotel Engelwirt (Berching), but you can also meet the artist in person during his two-week residency at the Engelwirt from 8 to 20 May 2026. A public studio visit and artist talk will take place on 16 May at 6 pm. And on 17 May, following a brunch and talk, hotel guests can immerse themselves in the classic film ‘In the Depths’. It will be screened in the hotel’s own cinema.

Engelwirt Hotel

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