Inspired by summer, prepared for you
Summer Cuisine at Schlosshotels
When summer arrives, the cuisine becomes lighter: tender vegetables, fresh herbs, sweet apricots. Breakfast in the garden, a glass of wine in the evening sun, a fragrant risotto with herbs straight from the raised bed. This is the time for harvesting, stirring, tasting. You eat outdoors, pick ingredients by hand, and take your time.
Our Schlosshotels bring the season to your plate – refined in preparation, regionally rooted, and full of natural flavors. Whether the young South Tyrolean culinary artistry at Parkhotel Sole Paradiso, a picnic in the vineyard at Heurigenhof Bründlmayer, inspired slow food at Schloss Lerchenhof, acclaimed inn-style cuisine in the garden of the Linde or apricot harvest time next to the Danube at Hotel Richard Löwenherz: five establishments, five ways to savor summer to the fullest.
Parkhotel Sole Paradiso: Where South Tyrolean lightness meets culinary sophistication
Surrounded by the majestic peaks of the Sexten Dolomites you will discover Parkhotel Sole Paradiso – a historic retreat in Innichen, set within 10,000 square meters of parkland, crisscrossed with quiet paths, green hideaways, and sunlit verandas. Even the hotel's brochure back in 1910 promised "a summer retreat in a completely quiet, dust-free, idyllic location amidst woods and meadows. Newly renovated. Electric lighting, running water on every floor, and with excellent drinking water. Beautiful and shaded guest garden with verandas and glass salons." A promise that still resonates today – in the atmosphere of the house, in its architecture, and in the attitude of its hosts.
Now as then, Parkhotel Sole Paradiso welcomes guests from all over the world with that heartfelt South Tyrolean hospitality that has evolved over generations. It is not staged but genuinely lived. Even Italy's former President Giorgio Napolitano praised his stay at the Sole Paradiso with these words: "È stato un piacere visitare, un luogo così significativo storicamente e rappresentativo del gusto e dell’arte dell’ospitalità altoatesina. Con i più vivi auguri, e ringraziamenti per la gentile accoglienza." – "It was a pleasure to visit such a historically significant place, representative of South Tyrolean hospitality in all its facets. I extend my heartfelt thanks for the warm reception."
Just as the rooms of the house blend tradition and a modern spirit in complete harmony, so too does the cuisine tell a story of origin and curiosity – rooted in the region, yet open to new nuances.
A Culinary Summer in the Dolomites
In the kitchen of the house, young South Tyrolean culinary artistry meets Mediterranean refinement. Mentioned in Feinschmecker and Gault&Millau, their gourmet line lives from honest ingredients, seasonal lightness, and fine aromatics. Here, the dishes reflect everything nature around Innichen offers during the summer – something you can clearly taste!
A place that tempts you to reside at your leisure – and return again. Nestled in the summer landscape of South Tyrol, Parkhotel Sole Paradiso invites guests with their “So close to heaven” package to spend indulgent days celebrating cuisine, culture, and nature.
Heurigenhof Bründlmayer: Picnic between grapevines and Riesling
Heurigenhof Bründlmayer in Langenlois is far more than a place to stop for refreshments – it is a cozy refuge for wine lovers and gourmets, a sanctuary for all who wish to enjoy fine cuisine in a relaxed atmosphere. Here, amid the vineyards of the Kamptal, epicurean delights becomes a philosophy of life. The fine cuisine of Matthias Schütz is a tribute to the lightness of the season, inspired by French culinary artistry and refined with a distinctively regional character.
Picnic in the Vineyard and a Winery Breakfast in Your Room
When summer bathes the Kamptal in golden light, enjoyment naturally moves outdoors. For instance, in the form of a picnic amongst the grapevines, where lovingly packed baskets hold deboned fried chicken, fine delicacies, summer wines, and a glass of Bründlmayer sparkling wine. Those who wish to begin the day with the same lightness can indulge in a winery breakfast brought to their room: a set table, fresh specialties, oven-warm sourdough bread delivered to the door, and the sweet feeling that the day demands nothing of you but pure enjoyment.
Wine Experiences around the Heiligenstein
If you who wish to delve deeper into the world of wine after your winery breakfast and the picnic, you can continue following the pathway of summertime – into the vineyards surrounding the famous Heiligenstein. A guided off-road tour takes visitors past the vines and up to scenic lookout points offering sweeping views over the Kamptal. Right where the grapes are ripening, a tasting awaits you amid glorious nature. Also in their historic cellar of rare vintages, wine becomes even more tangible: a guided tour through the heart of the house reveals more about the philosophy, vinification, and passion behind every glass.
Hotel Schloss Lerchenhof: Slow Food Experiences and Honest Craftsmanship
Natural cuisine represents the heart and soul of Hotel Schloss Lerchenhof – awarded the "Slow Food Carinthia" seal, highly praised by falstaff, and borne by a genuine passion. In the house's "ZERO Kilometer" restaurant, only what grows right outside the door is cooked: fresh herbs from the garden, meat from the property's own livestock, vegetables from the field, and products from regional partners. The entire family is involved – mother, father, grandmothers, grandfathers, brothers-in-law, siblings, and even the great-grandmother. Together, they care for the animals, work the fields, tend the gardens, and transform the harvest into small culinary treasures. Their absolute dedication can be tasted in every course – whether at the Slow Food breakfast with homemade bread and honey or during evening dinner, personally prepared for his guests by host and castle owner Johann Steinwender.
Of Bees, Bread, and Bacon: Hands-On Culinary Experiences at Schloss Lerchenhof
At Schloss Lerchenhof, culinary art is not only about enjoyment, but also personal encounters – with the people, their crafts, and the region. During various slow food experiences, guests are invited to participate hands-on, be that baking bread, making cheese, or working in the in-house smoking chamber. Our tip: learn how legendary Gailtal Bacon is made during the "Fascination of Bacon" seminar, led by the castle owner himself.
Just in time for early summer, the experience “The Gifts of the Bees” will begin on 28 May 2025 – a sensory journey into the world of honeybees. At the Bienenplatz'l, guests will learn the secrets of the beehive, taste various kinds of honey, and create their own oxymel – a traditional elixir made from vinegar, honey, and herbs. Additional dates will follow on 11 June, 16 July, 6 August, and 3 September 2025.
Summer amid Alpine Pastures: The Cuisine of Carinthian Mountain Huts
Between the Carnic Alps and Lake Weissensee, summer reveals its full repertoire: blooming meadows, pristine pathways, and vast, silent landscapes. Numerous hiking trails lead from Schloss Lerchenhof to traditional alpine huts, where guests are welcomed with authentic Carinthian hut cuisine – honest, rustic and, precisely because of that, so very special.
Culinary Enjoyment for Your Own Home: Lerchenhof to Go
Those who wish to take a piece of the Lerchenhof home with them will find some true treasures in the castle’s farm shop. There, bacon, salami, homemade jams, fresh rye sourdough bread, regional beverages, and much more await – all lovingly produced with respect for nature and animals.
Landgasthof Linde: Finest Gourmet Cuisine on the Sunny Terrace
For over 500 years, heartfelt hospitality has been practiced at Landgasthof Linde in Stumm. In its multiple award-winning inn and gourmet kitchen, old recipes merge with refreshing new creativity, and farm-fresh ingredients meet refined craftsmanship. Sourced rom its own farm, crowned with various honors, and served with love.
The Guest Garden as a Centerpiece
When summer bathes the Zillertal Valley in warm light, the garden of the Linde becomes a stage for moments of pure delectation and enjoyment. Between fruit trees and peonies, beneath the summer house, or on the sun terrace, the full aroma of the season unfolds – accompanied by hand-selected wines from their in-house vinothèque.
From Their Own Hands: Farming at the Linde
Just a few meters from the house lies the property's own farm, operated with pride and dedication. Calves, young cattle, pigs, and lambs are raised there in a humane, species-appropriate manner, while their feed comes from the surrounding meadows. Slaughtering is done at the neighboring butcher, only one hundred meters away – animal-friendly and with the utmost respect. Quail and chicken eggs, honey, fresh herbs, and vegetables also come directly from the farm. From Stumm-grown asparagus to bilberry jam: at the Linde, guests experience how versatile and refined regional cuisine can taste – especially on a mild summer evening out in the garden.
Hotel Richard Löwenherz: Wachau Classics on the Danube Terrace
Between the Danube, the abbey, and the old city wall, Hotel Richard Löwenherz unfolds its very special charm. The monastic atmosphere and outstanding hospitality go hand in hand here – as do culinary tradition and refined taste.
From Fried Chicken to Apricots – Enjoyment with History
When the sun glistens in golden hues upon the Danube, dinner on the terrace next to the river inevitably becomes the favorite time of day. Classics of Austrian cuisine are served – including fresh asparagus from the Marchfeld in May to those legendary apricot dumplings during the summer months. Fried chicken also holds a firm place on the menu here – perhaps even since the time of Richard the Lionheart, whose name the house proudly bears.
Picking your own figs in the monastic garden
Between the ivy-covered city wall and the old church lies the monastic garden of Hotel Richard Löwenherz – silent, expansive, and enchanting. In summer, figs ripen here, ready to be picked directly from the tree, while the air is filled with the scents of blossoms and the warmth of sunlit stone. Whether strolling along the shaded paths, reading under the old linden tree, or enjoying a glass of Wachau wine by the pool – Hotel Richard Löwenherz is a retreat for those who appreciate the finer things – and a front-row seat for summer days that could not possibly be more beautiful.
Our Schlosshotels show how varied summer cuisine can be – and how delicious the season tastes when prepared with the right touch. Here, simplicity becomes special, seasonal becomes sensual, and tradition is refined into something new. And while the apricots ripen outside, new memories are quietly created within – steady and enduring, just like the houses that preserve them.
