Castel Fragsburg ***** R&C Merano (Bz) Chef Egon Heiss* 18/20

Posted by on 14 Settembre 2020

MANIFESTUM who » A place of nature power, fairy tale beauty and heartfelt serenity » A boutique retreat for inspiration, transformation & fulfillment » The hunting manor Fragsburg Maternum from the 17th century for accommodation » The knight’s château Fragsburg Paternum from the 13th century for sightseeing what » The fine art of living with

MANIFESTUM

who

» A place of nature power, fairy tale beauty and heartfelt serenity

» A boutique retreat for inspiration, transformation & fulfillment

» The hunting manor Fragsburg Maternum from the 17th century for accommodation

» The knight’s château Fragsburg Paternum from the 13th century for sightseeing

what

» The fine art of living with precious simplicity, soulful beauty & earthbound abundance » The unforgettable refinement of a travel & holiday experience

» The alchemy of body, mind, heart and soul for meaningful pleasure and self growth

» The combination of elegance and warmth, kindness and creativity, openness and tradition, extravagance and peace,
deliciousness and healing

why

» Guests find here what all the money in the world can’t buy – SOUL LUXURY

» The Fragsburg experience is a sensual and sensorial happening

» Heaven for gourmets, romantics, bohemians and wellness-lovers

where

» Deeply rooted into earth and rock yet floating above the trees

» Out of time and space » Embraced by majestic mountain giants, magical forests and vineyards » Embedded into an enchanting castle park with 50.000 square meter next to
the highest waterfall of South Tyrol

when

» Healing and grounding for new energy and joy

» Celebrating life and love

» Recovering from stress, pressure and difficult periods

» Resting in nature

» Fitness and refinement for body and mind

» Pure pleasure and culinary adventures

» Sophisticated wine tasting to broaden the enology registers

» Alchemistic beauty & care elixirs; rituals with pure nature magic only

» Sacred Arts Moon Initiations for (highly) sensitive and intuitive women

» Self growth and transformation with yoga, sound medicine, meditation, chakra balance & breath work

Soul luxury for gourmets, romantics
& wellness lovers

High above the imperial spa town of Merano – where the sun shines the longest and the untamed romanticism of the majestic South Tyrolean mountainous world steps into the
spotlight – Castel Fragsburg has been sitting enthroned for nearly 400 years, rooted in rock and soil. And yet the former hunting castle from the 17th century seems to sway above the venerable tree tops of the Fragsburg’s rocky cliffs.

A boutique retreat for individualists

Today it is South Tyrol’s smallest 5-star hotel, widely popular for its exquisite gourmet cuisine, the first alchemical spa in the world and the outstanding scenic location in the
heart of vineyards and forests. Moreover, it is also a member of the elite hotel association, the “Relais and Châteaux” and part of the international luxury holiday network, “Virtuoso”.
It is nestled in enchanted castle grounds which stretch out from the boutique retreat for more than 45,000 square metres, bordering with the highest waterfall in South Tyrol.
Whoever crosses the entrance portal will feel as though they have stepped out of space and time, bursting with inspiration and oddly moved by long forgotten dreams and fairy tales.
Wisterias, roses, jasmines, and hydrangeas are blooming everywhere, and visitors will enter a world composed of sweet scents and colours, soothing birdsong and a peaceful security between the imposing mountains. A winding path made of paving stones starts from the Fragsburg, goes by a hand carved four-poster bed placed under a chestnut, across rose arches, and takes you right to a heated pool with a lookout tower and lounge, sun deck, massage pool and a dreamy lawn for sunbathing located between vineyards and orchards. Right at the cliff you will find the Fragsburg Sanctuarium, a treehouse where the Sacred Arts Muse Bellé Flora created her sanctuary for yoga, meditation, sound
medicine and dance. Fitness fans can use the Garden Gym, located in a cosy arbour in the
huge park. The Fragsburg is a refuge for people looking for an unforgettable place where to
restore their energy, not only to find relaxation and pleasure, but also a place where they can discover what it feels like to be transported away by the joy of just being and becoming. It is the heartfelt wish of Alexander Ortner, lord of the castle, who represents the third generation leading the Fragsburg, to bring the experience of the beauty of a moment to life. “There is no formula to describe beauty, but I know exactly what it feels like”, explains the South Tyrolean hotelier, whose special joy comes from eating good food. To meet his demands he has employed one of the best South Tyrolean chefs to work at the Fragsburg.

The perfection of simplicity

“The highest form of art is to ignore what is insignificant” is a quote by our South Tyrolean chef, Egon Heiss. Over the course of his long career as a starred chef, he has travelled all over the world and cooked for politicians, Formula 1 stars, royalty and billionaires. Egon is convinced that “if you have seen and experienced everything, you return to the perfection of simplicity.”
The “tinkerer and magician” from Val Sarentino – this is how the cooking critics of the Gault Millau guide describe him, waxing lyrical when praising his creations as “very astutely staged works of art and a work of art in its own right” – has been in pursuit of the perfect “Knödel”, a traditional dumpling, for many years. And although his personal library boasts more than 3,000 cooking books, he has approached senior citizens to ask about recipes handed down from one generation to the next which nearly nobody knows. The father of three, who never wanted to be anything other than a chef, tells us lovingly how “my grandparents tell me they grab a ‘pinch’ of this and a ‘dash’ of that. That is the feeling I am talking about. They also know how draughts and the weather play a key role when preparing dumplings”. When it came to cooking, he did not necessarily want to collect stars and toques but to “cook and eat together”. Which is why the bread expert and dumpling lover passionately delivers private cooking classes you can book with us at the hotel.
Just like the Fragsburg seems to sway gently above the tree tops from the rocky cliff it has been anchored to for centuries, our cooking philosophy distinguishes itself for being deeply rooted in its native soil and South Tyrolean traditions as well as embellished with Italian sensuality and
openness to the world’s flavours.
One sumptuous option is the famous “Breakfast Royale” offered by the Fragsburg, which was elected by the Vanity Fair magazine as one of the mighty Top Ten in Italy: a combination of an exquisite buffet with exclusively homemade delicacies and a selection of three à la carte
hot dishes, fresh fruit and berries, vegetable and fruit smoothies, and an amazing selection of teas. The Fragsburg Gourmet Arrangement for our guests also includes a 5-course candlelit dinner in the Fragsburg Orangerie restaurant and the delight of sitting on the scenic terrace with a cinematographic view over the sea of lights in the valley and the giant mountains of South Tyrol.
In the à la carte restaurant “Prezioso”, located in the glass loggia surrounded by a sea of roses and ivy, as well as the gourmet loggia surrounded by wisteria on the wooden terrace, Egon invites you to “South Tyrol staged Heiss”. It is an experience of the senses, which will end for the guest only after plenty of hours in the kitchen with the Grand Chef himself.

Transformation rather than just wellness

In the “1st alchemistic Spa Castellum Natura”, the only one of its kind in the world, Modern Alchemist Renate De Mario Gamper, who comes from a South Tyrolean clan of women attuned to nature, personally prepares all care and grooming elixirs from hand selected flowers and herbs. The teacher of healing herbs, incense therapist and nutrition consultant

unites the knowledge of cures of her forbears and of the medieval polymath Hildegard von Bingen with the latest insights of science and energy medicine and her unbridled love and reverence for the earth and its gifts. “In nature we can find all the secrets of healing, wellbeing, and a long, fulfilled life”, is the firm conviction of Renate, who takes interested guests on a “Biofilia Expedition” to transmit practical, basic information about the local healing herbs,
communicating with nature and its culinary treasures. Moreover, she is also at the disposal of every guest for a free health and beauty consultation.

In the Fragsburg Sanctuarium guests can expect to find a charming treehouse where certified yoga and mystical dance teacher Bellé Flora will transmit the knowledge and wealth of experience of her own life which sent her on a journey from the mountains of upper Bavaria out into Los Angeles, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, London, India, Hawaii and Bali; after nearly 20 years she has returned to the Alps to the Fragsburg. During different weekend retreats, which are determined according to the moon and seasons, women can be initiated into the 8 Sacred Arts: Sacred Breathing, Sacred Meditation, Sacred Journal, Sacred Biofilia, Sacred Yoga, Sacred Beauty, Sacred Chant and Sacred Dancing.
The morning yoga ritual and an evening sound bath with crystal bowls and a sun gong, as well as the voice of the healing singer and harp player is open to all guests and is included in the price on weekdays. Bellé is also available for private lessons to transmit her own inspiration to as many people as possible: “Let us feel and express soulful beauty, may we be a blessing in this universe.”
Her distinctive sense for atmospheres and harmony also flows into the enchanting flower arrangements which all carry the touch of the Fragsburg Sacred Arts Muse. She binds and generously arranges the flowers, and is responsible for the tasteful design of the interior furnishing and suites.

At eye level with birds and butterflies
The Fragsburg is an all-embracing composition made with devotion and composed of ancient furniture, Art Nouveau, select designer pieces and a hint of Art Deco. The Ortner family has been gently taking care of the Fragsburg since the 50s with their eye for beauty and passion for the past. The 20 suites of the castle hotel were all carefully furnished with a distinctive feeling for colours, and feature noble materials and an extravagant style, are flooded with light and have one, sometimes even two balconies or a roof terrace.
Every suite – be it a Junior Suite, a Suite Deluxe, or a Suite Royale‚ is a curated unique piece which will enchant guests thanks to its graceful mix of Alpine-Mediterranean ele-
gance and is furnished with luxurious details, for example a scenic bathtub or infra-red booth which can be found in some suites. For individualists, who love the unusual more than the practical, there is a tower suite, located at the highest point of the Fragsburg where the birds and butterflies romp about at the guests” eye level on the roof terrace as big as a room. Here you can feel like an eyrie, the view is never-ending and reaches out across the treetops to the Tessa Group and right down into the valley.
Castel Fragsburg, a place which unites heaven and earth.

A HOTEL FORT THE FINE ART OF LIVING

High above Merano, where the sensual charm of the Mediterranean meets wild Alpine romance, stands the Castel Fragsburg. Enthroned here since 1624, South Tyrol’s smallest five-star hotel enjoys the most hours of sunshine in the whole country. Entwined in wild vines, the Castel is set in an enchanted garden that stretches over 10.000 square meters around the Fragsburg. Wisteria, roses and hydrangea bloom all around. Visitors are immediately spellbound by the garden’s many charming corners and by the picturesque courtyard. And though the spa town of Merano, with all its lively culture and conviviality, lies only a stone’s throw away, the Fragsburg remains perfectly secluded. In the midst of the majestic mountain scenery of South Tyrol, it is a place of refuge where simple Alpine comfort complements sensuous Mediterranean flair. A retreat, to rediscover and express your inner source of inspiration. Alexander Ortner is lord of the castle, managing the Fragsburg in the third generation. He aspires to combine pleasure and beauty into truly memorable experiences. A particular philosophy of the fine art of living makes the Fragsburg so extraordinary: namely of enjoying every day in its unique glory, shaping each moment according to your own intuitive rhythm.

THE PURE JOY OF LINGERING A WHILE

The Fragsburg has been fashioned with love and devotion into an artful composition of antique furniture, expertly selected designer pieces and a touch of Art Deco. Originally an historical hunting lodge, since the 1950s the castle has gradually and lovingly been brought up-to-date by the Ortner family – showing an impeccable eye for beauty and a heartfelt sense of nostalgia. The 20 suites of the castle hotel, each of them designed meticulously down to the last detail, are confessions to the pure joy of simply lingering. Be it a Junior Suite, a Deluxe Suite or a Suite Royale, each one possesses its own carefully curated character, designed to enchant you with a singular mix of Alpine-Mediterranean charm.

Individualists with a taste for the unusual will happen upon a delightful nest at the very top of the tower promising romantic comfort. Spanning two and a half floors, the Adlerhorst Suite crowns the house. Its spacious rooftop terrace offers stunning views over the treetops to the Texel Group mountains. Every suite at the Fragsburg opens out onto its own terrace or balcony to display a breath-taking vista of the Merano landscape or of the imposing Texel Group. The perfect spot to observe the birds, listen to their song and, to the soft rushing of the leaves in the breeze, enjoy the precious freedom of simply being.

SAVOURING LIFE TO THE FULL

“Nourish the body well so that the soul will want to reside there” is a saying apocryphally attributed to Winston Churchill. He would have truly loved it here, as we cook nourishing and refined gourmet cuisine in the finest sense of the word. A defiant fusion of hearty Alpine fair and Mediterranean opulence.

In our gourmet restaurant, we love to amaze and astonish our guests. No matter how many times we step out onto our glass loggia and look out over the parapet of the panorama terrace at the stunning, cinematic views of Merano, we always find something new to marvel at in the ravishingly beautiful natural surroundings. There couldn’t be a more ideal setting for the exquisite dishes prepared by our head chef Enzo Bellia. A culinary virtuoso, Enzo fuses the many facets of regional cuisine with the opulence of the Mediterranean cuisine. Whether it’s an agreeable lunch you partake of, or a sumptuous gourmet dinner, you will invariably have a sense of savoring life to the full. The sublime cuisine is of course rounded off by impeccable yet affectionate service and the excellent advice of our sommelier when choosing from the fine wines in our cellar.

GOURMET CUISINE À LA FRAGSBURG GOURMET CUISINE À LA FRAGSBURG

Surrounded by the stunning mountain scenery of South Tyrol, our young Sicilian head chef Enzo Bellia creates hearty gourmet cuisine on the highest niveau. He has proven his talent working with the 3 Michelin star chefs Gualtiero Marchesi and Massimiliano Alajmo, the very best in Italy.

Years of experience in the South Tyrolean Alps combined with the culinary treasures from his South Italian origin characterize his unmistakable style, a rare fusion of the Alpine and the Mediterranean. His compositions combine the familiar with the unexpected in a manner that is as passionate as it is graceful, beguiling even the most seasoned palates.

OF THE HERE AND NOW

Within the castle gardens there exists a magical place of relaxation and invigorating retreat: the Fragsburg Sanctuarium, which nestles comfortably on a ledge on the mountainside. As you gaze across the Merano landscape far into the distance, freed of routine, you will find that your mind has uncluttered and your sight has cleared – to see yourself and recognize your own personal fine art of living. Bellé Flora, yoga and dance instructor, singer and sound artist, attentively teaches Sacred Arts courses with breathing and yoga exercises, guided meditations, harmonizing sound baths and Body Sings Soul sessions, a mix of intuitive dance and chanting. The potent energy of pure plants and flowers forms the basis for the first alchemistic Spa Castellum Natura, inspired by the ancient medicinal wisdom of herbalist Renate de Mario Gamper. All of the nurturing essences in use here stem from her recipes and are freshly produced using handpicked ingredients in our spa studio.

The highlight remains the larch-wood tub for goat milk and flower baths, set in a panoramic loge. The alchemistic wellness concept also offers wholly individualized treatments. The hand-carved canopy bed by the outdoor pool, in the midst of roses and trees, will surely seduce you to an afternoon nap.

It’s a splendid way to live and to relish being alive on a timeless, precious day at the Fragsburg.

It’s the fine art of living.

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