Hubertus Mountain Refugio: 7 tips for slowing down in the Allgäu

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Our pre-Christmas relaxation days in the Allgäu were not without hectic. After two ice-cold but sunny days at the Hotel Oberstdorf, the snowfall starts again just as we are about to cross Germany’s highest pass road. The steep curves of the Riedber Pass are the most direct connection to our second destination of this Allgäu trip.

Fortunately, we can rely on the winter service and we reach the Hubertus Mountain Refugio in Balderschwang without the use of chains after a one-hour drive through a snow-covered winter landscape. In this idyllic setting, I would like to immerse myself in the theme worlds of Mindfulness Allgäu and put myself at the center for once. I tend to think about twelve thousand things at the same time instead of consciously dealing with the here and now. And it is precisely this eternally rattling carousel of thoughts that is to be shut down in the next two days in favor of focusing on the moment.

Retreat Balderschwang

The compact village centre of Balderschwang is gently embedded in the Allgäu hills at an altitude of 1,044 m above sea level. Directly adjacent to the Nagefluhkette Nature Park and known by the nickname “Bavarian Siberia”, the small village is a popular excursion and holiday destination for nature lovers in summer and winter. In the middle of the village is the Hubertus Mountain Refugio. The success story of the hotel begins at a time when there was no pass road leading to the enclave on the border with Austria. With passion and pioneering spirit, the Traubel family has driven the development of the hotel and today offers guests an unparalleled oasis far away from the hustle and bustle.

Arrive & drive down – that’s the motto of Hubertus. With this in mind, we don’t “storm” into our room immediately after our arrival, but sit down in the cozy lobby/bar area, order a hot chocolate and taste the cake buffet.

The Hubertus Mountain Refugio offers a wide variety of room categories. We are accommodated in a “Junior Suite Loggia” with a view of the Bregenz Forest. Yoga mat, hiking backpack and bed bottle are available in the room and are an indication that the hotel guests like to take care of body and mind.

This inspires and motivated us to also shift down a gear and focus on our well-being during these two days at the Hubertus Mountain Refugio. The following seven tips show what we have done to counteract the stress of everyday life.

#1: find your inner balance

The next morning, before breakfast, I go to the hotel’s SPA area and activate my body with a tour of the foot reflexology course. It’s not so easy not to be distracted by the tickling feeling, but to listen to what other emotions trigger the points of contact. And although it’s freezing cold outside, I swim a few laps in the heated outdoor pool afterwards – a refreshing start to the day.

The Hubertus Mountain Refugio offers its guests an extensive activity programme with numerous inclusive services. These include yoga, pilates and qi gong classes. I let Georg introduce me to the world of Qi Gong and quickly notice that the calmly and consciously executed movement sequences associated with it help me to find my inner balance. 60 minutes later, I feel energized and light in my head at the same time.

#2: Release body blockages

A nice addition to the tour of the foot reflexology course and the Qi Gong hour are the Holistic Touch Treatments. I get to enjoy a Holistic Soft Massage, which is based on the principle of Ayurvedic massage. Gentle movements and empathy are used to release physical tension and mental blockages. I mention my shoulder tension in the conversation before the massage (a well-known problem among people who spend a lot of time in front of the computer). The therapist then suggests that she start the massage on her face and then feel her way to the shoulders. I found the incredibly gentle yet targeted grip remarkable, with which she noticeably loosens my tense neck area.

#3: Discover Herbal Magic

In addition to the sporting programme, the Hubertus Mountain Refugio offers various herbal and cooking courses. The focus is on imparting knowledge about how which herbs affect our organism. A small insight into this customer is already offered by the breakfast buffet. There, a sign informs us which flavors can support us in the event of an energy deficiency and how.

Later, I mix my own curry with life coach Gabriel Simon and three other course participants in cooking and spice studies. Under the guidance of Gabriel Simon, we mortar a fine-smelling reddish-yellow curry mass from cinnamon, bay leaves, cumin, fenugreek seeds, fennel seeds, green chili, cloves, cardamom, aniseed and turmeric. And in addition to this spice, Gabriel Simon gives us another tip for healthy winter days: Mix half a cup of warm water with half a teaspoon of turmeric and a teaspoon of honey (or optionally lemon) and drink it for breakfast – this gives you energy and drives away the bacteria.

#4: Start running & take a deep breath

The Hubertus Mountain Refugio is located in such a way that you can easily start walking and drift aimlessly along the walking paths through nature. Pay attention to the crunch of your own footsteps in the snow, the rhythmic breath and the movements in your environment. If you’re lucky, you’ll spot a pair of golden eagles or a black grouse. If you prefer to explore nature together with others, you have the opportunity to take part in guided snowshoe tours through the Nagefluhkette Nature Park as part of the activity programme.

#5: Visit places of power

At first glance, it seems as if the Old Yew of Balderschwang consists of two trees. But the two trunks spring from one root. The Old Yew, which is perhaps also Germany’s oldest tree, stands somewhat lonely on a slight hill on the outskirts of Balderschwang in the direction of the Riedberg Pass. Together with Doris Iding, hotelier Karl Traubel has written a book that presents hikes to 25 places of power in the Allgäu; including the short walk to the Old Yew Tree. I find it fascinating how this tree has survived for so long. For a long time, the yew tree was considered a tree of death due to its poisonous needles and was often felled. Other places of power in the vicinity are the Scheuen waterfall and the Riedberger Horn.

A place that also exudes a special strength is the Sturmannshöhle in Obermaiselstein. The natural karst cave can be visited as part of guided tours (time required about 45 minutes).

#6: Spend time with yourself

In the stress of everyday life, “me time” often gets lost. This and that should be done and then the day is already over and the next appointments are just around the corner. In the Hubertus Mountain Refugio there are plenty of opportunities to retreat to a cozy place and let your mind wander there; be it in the various relaxation rooms in the spa or in the book corner in the lobby and bar area.

#7: Enjoy together

Deceleration at Hubertus includes not only the conscious and active handling of body and mind, but also enjoyment. Every Sunday, this is celebrated with the LebensESSENz aperitif followed by dinner. And on the other evenings, too, something fine is always served. As a guest, I have the choice between a detox menu, a vegetarian menu and the Hubertus menu. The detox menu, on the other hand, works specifically with the power of various herbs to gently detoxify the body.

The restaurant area is divided into different parlours, all of which are designed differently according to their names. My favourite is the rustic farmhouse parlour with the warmth radiating tiled stove – very cosy! And even though I don’t really like musical entertainment during dinner, the joint LebensESSENz dinner with the Buron Duo was my highlight of the entire stay. The two Allgäu musicians created such a bombastic atmosphere that I will remember this carefree evening for a long time.

Practical tips for your stay at the Hubertus Mountain Refugio

• The Hubertus Mountain Refugio can be reached by public transport via Bregenz and Hittisau. The hotel offers a transfer from Hittisau to Balderschwang for 10 euros.
• Room rates vary depending on the category and start at 280 euros for the classic double room.
• The hotel offers numerous inclusive services on a daily basis. These include yoga classes, guided hikes, sauna rituals, cross-country skiing taster courses, cooking and herbal workshops and much more.
• On the hotel website you will find a selection of exciting hiking tours around the hotel. In winter, the Hubertus is also located directly on the extensive network of cross-country ski trails in Balderschwang.
• The entrance fee to Sturmannshöhle is 5 euros and the guided tours take place in winter from Wednesday – Sunday from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm. More information can be found on the website of the Hörnerdörfer.