May 22, 2007

Europe | Austria

Austria a Capella

By Kris Wilton

Ritz-Carlton's former honcho tries to out-luxe the competition with a spot of old-world Austrian charm.

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The Austrian Riviera is blessed with a fairytale topography that features fresh springs, snow-capped mountains and the warmest Alpine lake in Europe. So how come you’ve never heard of it? Because since the early 90’s, the region’s star attraction has been the subject of a multimillion dollar polish. But next week, Schloss Velden — which for more than a century was a chateau away from home for Middle Europe’s nobility — is set for its grand comeback. The private lakeside castle in the village of Velden, originally built in 1607, is the first property in the new collection of Capella hotels masterminded by former Ritz-Carlton honcho, Horst Schulze. So expect an ultra-luxe experience, with only 39 chateau guestrooms, plus 66 more in a new Jabornegg & Pálffy-designed wing (think: wraparound glass views of the lake and mountains).

The jewel in the castle’s crown is a 35,000-square-foot Auriga Spa (don’t miss the grotto-style ice room with falling snow). Outside, you can secure a private cabana at the resort’s Lake Woerth beach club). And come ski season, the hotel can helicopter you to area slopes. Venice, Salzburg and Vienna are all within a few hours’ drive, while nearby you’ve got world-class golf courses (including Klagenfurt-Seltenheim, designed by Perry Dye). Or you can simply cross the lake to Klagenfurt, in whose medieval fortresses Viennese high society, and the likes of Leonard Bernstein, summered. Just keep an eye out for the Lindwurm.