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Holistic Hideaway
By Jim Sajo
If
you could imagine the most comfortable and beautiful
hotel in the world, what would it look like? If you
wanted to design the perfect health spa, what kind of
facilities and treatments would be available? Now consider
the restaurant you would build to serve the finest gourmet
specialties.
Here
is some good news: this is no fantasy. The places you
just dreamt about already exist. They are the three
essential components of the Rogner Bad Blumau Hotel
and Spa in southern Austria. I visited that tranquil
paradise earlier this year and it was spectacular.
The HotelI
Iconoclastic
Austrian artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser designed
the buildings and grounds of the resort in 1995. His
affinity for vibrant colors and disdain for straight
lines is combined with playful images and a staggering
collection of art. It takes a few minutes to adjust
your eyes to the visual feast, but once you do you are
immersed in a world of quiet relaxation.
There are more than 300 columns among the structures
at Bad Blumau, each a different combination of color
and style. The buildings have more than 2,400 unique
windows with diverse shapes, wavy lines and multiple
color schemes.
Six buildings offer seven possibilities for lodging.
I chose basic accommodation, equivalent to a standard
hotel room. Efficiency apartments which include a kitchenette,
living room, bedroom and full bath are available. The
top of the line "Luxury Suite" includes an
entry hall, spacious living room with a double sofa
bed, two bedrooms, two baths, a separate half bath,
balcony and terrace.
The Spa
The main feature of the resort is the health spa. It
is divided into three functional areas to help customers
enjoy a beneficial and luxurious experience.
The Health and Mind Center provides examinations, advice
and treatment to put guests on the path to wellness
with an underlying philosophy of prevention. Then a
synthesis of traditional western and less familiar eastern
Ayurveda (see Sidebar) treatments is offered. My first
step was to meet with a resident doctor who offered
advice on diet, nutrition, exercise and specific treatments.
There are 16 different options for massage therapy,
but with the limited time I was constrained to try only
three of them. Also available are five kinds of Ayurveda
treatment, various medical services and holistic treatments.
A large thermal pool allows customers to unwind either
inside or outside. The sauna center, where I spent most
of my time, has six different sauna treatments and two
giant hot tubs. In keeping with the atmosphere of relaxation,
visitors wander between the different services and facilities
of the Health and Mind Center wearing only a robe and
slippers. Fortunately, this took no adjustment on my
part.
The Beauty Center is a complete facility that provides
twelve facial treatments, 6 specialty baths, 7 skin
depilation treatment options, more than 10 specific
beauty consultation/treatment combinations and 6 body
treatments.
Finally, the Sports and Fitness Center offers individual
or group programs in movement, meditation and dance,
sports science, fitness checks and evaluations. I followed
the well marked running and cycling paths that surround
the grounds of the resort through an impressive display
of flora. A swimming pool, wave pool, tennis courts
and gymnasium with modern aerobic equipment are also
available to guests.
The Dining
Hands down, my favorite feature of the resort was the
food. The breakfast buffet table displays more than
30 yards of mouth watering delightful options. For the
noon and evening meals, six restaurants await. They
vary in price and formality and each offers a specific
style and specialty. There are two bars and one wine
boutique. One bar is right outside the sauna center
and the other has a full schedule of live music. A cooking
course specializing in healthy Ayurveda cuisine is available.
The Rest
More of an ecosystem than a resort, Rogner Bad Blumau
is the result of the cooperative vision of Robert Rogner
and the late Friedensreich Hundertwasser. It sprawls
across 40 hectares of rural southeastern Austria halfway
between the cities of Vienna and Graz.
Energy companies looking for natural gas discovered
three thermal springs over 30 years ago. They are so
deep (nearly 3000 meters under the surface) that it
was considered by most to be economically untenable
to drill.
Rogner, a wealthy industrialist and savvy businessman,
was not dissuaded. Knowing of Hundertwasser's dream
to create a self-sufficient village, he longed to build
an all-inclusive health spa. Their collaborative effort
resulted in the tranquil paradise that exists today.
The three springs (named for the Biblical Three Wise
Men Melchior, Balthasar and Caspar) are rich in nutrients
and minerals. In addition to the thermal pools, each
spring serves a specific function including heating
the rooms, lobbies and common areas of the hotel.
Vacation packages are available and can be established
to fit the specific desires of each guest. Packages
entail 3 or more nights and include breakfast or half
board, a fitness assessment, personal training session
and up to three leisure activities with the price. Complete
details about the resort are available at their web
site: www.blumau.com.
Rooms can be booked through the site or by calling the
reservations desk at 0043 (0) 3383/5100-0.
Aggressive expansion plans, set to begin this year include
adding restaurant space and additional rooms. Further
improvements will expand the health and spa facilities.
Other plans include increasing the farming space on
the resort to the point that the majority of food served
in the on site restaurants will be organically grown
on the Rogner farms.
Particularly noteworthy are the extraordinary helpfulness
and efficiency of the staff. Resident Manager Bettina
Spies explains that most of the employees are locals
and that this part of Austria is famous for the friendliness
of those who live here. That characteristic is a perfect
fit to the ambiance of the resort. Most staff members
speak fluent English.
The Guest Relations desk found right in the main reception
lobby of the hotel gave me terrific advice and was wonderfully
helpful. They ensure the stay of every guest exceeds
even the highest expectations.
Rogner Bad Blumau is between Vienna and Graz. Both of
those cities have airports with connections throughout
Europe. A free transfer from Graz is available and a
transfer from Vienna can be arranged.
For drivers, Autobahn A2 passes within a few kilometers
of the resort. Taking the exit either for Sebersdorf
or Ilz/Furstenfeld a traveler will find the way well
marked. Train service to Graz or Vienna is also available.
Again, a transfer to Bad Blumau can be arranged by calling
the reservations desk.
The Rogner Bad Blumau Hotel & Spa has been accurately
described as one of the most beautiful resorts in the
world. The tranquil natural surroundings, the comprehensive
health and wellness treatments and the gourmet dining
all combine to guarantee a wonderful stay for every
visitor.
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