Mountain Spring Spa at Hubertus Mountain Refugio Allgäu, Germany

INTERVIEW BY LAUREN HEATH-JONES

A refuge in the mountains

The Hubertus Mountain Refugio Allgäu resort in Bavaria, Germany, is gearing up to reopen following a €15m (£12.9m) renovation project that has added a brand new 2,000sqm spa building. In January 2019, the resort, located more than 1,000m above sea level in the heart of the Allgäu Alps, was hit by a deviated avalanche that destroyed its entire spa area along with other parts of the complex. Since then, the Mountain Spring Spa has been completely rebuilt with striking architecture by Beer, Bembé, Dellinger Architects and interior design by Christa Traubel and AHA 360Grad.

Locally sourced timber lines a sunlit yoga room at Hubertus Mountain Refugio Allgäu’s Mountain Spring Spa

With ten treatment rooms, including two couples’ suites, the spa also offers an infrared room, a silence room and a micro-salt room. A host of bathing options are also available, including a brand new natural bathing pond and a Japanese onsen bath. Several heat experiences, including a Finnish sauna and a steam bath, complete the offering.

Founded by the Traubel family in the 1950s, the resort aimed to bring tourism to Balderschwang, a German mountain town so remote that, at the time, it was only accessible from Austria. More than 70 years later, Hubertus Mountain Refugio Allgäu, now helmed by Karl and Christa Traubel with their son Marc, remains very much a family affair.

General manager Marc Traubel explains how the resort’s spa and wellness offering has risen anew.

Marc Traubel. General manager, Hubertus Mountain Refugio Allgäu

Tell us about your new spa and what inspired the signature experiences that it offers.

Hubertus is – and has always been – a refuge for those seeking an escape into nature. Everything we do is inspired by the natural world and a sense of regionality. The power of nature is the driving force behind our HolisticLife concept, which encourages visitors to reconnect with their surroundings.

We want our guests to experience valuable time in the mountains far away from the stresses of their everyday lives. The world down there is dominated by frantic stagnation, the world up here is soothing. It has always been like this. With HolisticLife, we encourage guests to prioritise themselves, and give them a space to regain their lost energy and develop new strength.

The spa’s position at 1,044m above sea level affords stunning and soothing scenic views

Clients can choose from one of several packages: “Hubertus is a space for people who are seeking refuge in nature. We want our guests to view it as a place to regenerate – a place where they can do anything and everything but, crucially, they don’t have to.”

Holistic Roots, Holistic Nature, Holistic Silence, Holistic Beauty, Holistic Change or Holistic Secret, each of which includes targeted treatments, as well as a daily activity programme with hikes and meditation, workshops, cookery lessons and a relaxation programme.

Additionally, our unique location 1,044m above sea level in the Allgäu Alps in the heart of Nagelfluhkette Nature Park, is a signature experience in itself. Our goal is for our guests to leave Hubertus revitalised and with their lust for life renewed.

What was the design concept for the spa?

We are conducting a dialogue between tradition and modernity. It was important to us that the building itself would reflect our region and its heritage. We wanted the architecture to be modern yet traditional. Maintaining the regional context and culture was key, as was the use of local materials.

The spa’s interiors combine modern styles with traditional materials and locally sourced timber

The building itself, designed by Beer, Bembé, Dellinger Architects, resembles a butterfly, symbolising our connection to nature, and it was built using locally sourced wood from the Nagelfluhkette Nature Park, emphasising our connection to the region.

One of the best things about the new spa is the infinity pool on the first floor. Not only does this area offer spectacular views of the mountains, but the pool itself is filled with water from a natural mountain source, as are our Japanese onsen and plunge pools. The bathing offering is completed by a natural bathing pond.

A natural salt scrub treatment

We also have an open-air area with panoramic views, as well as 10 treatment rooms, including two for couples and a micro-salt room.

How does the spa reflect the hotel’s brand?

The spa has always been the heart of our resort and our new Mountain Spring Spa is a place where guests can relax, take in their surroundings and get back to their roots. It reflects our attitude towards body, mind and soul and how all three interact with nature. This ethos can be felt in all areas of the guest journey from the spa’s architecture, which incorporates regionally sourced materials, to its graphics, visual language and products.

Our new name, Hubertus Mountain Refugio Allgäu, sums it all up. We are literally a place of refuge in the Allgäu mountains.

Who is the target market for the spa and how has the guest experience been tailored to them?

Hubertus is a space for people who are seeking refuge in nature. Our aim is to help them return to their roots and reconnect with nature while offering a feel-good experience that has a long-lasting effect. We want our guests to view Hubertus as a place to regenerate – a place where they can do anything and everything but, crucially, they don’t have to. This has always been our ethos and hasn’t changed, even though the spa has.

The Summit Happiness suite provides panoramic views of the Allgäu mountains

Can you tell us about the challenges posed by the avalanche and the pandemic?

After the avalanche in January 2019, which destroyed the entire spa, we just wanted to look forward. It took a year to plan and develop the new spa. We looked around the Alps to see what other hotels were doing so we could stand out. Simply put, we wanted to be different and offer a new approach to wellness while celebrating our traditions and our region.

We began construction in March 2020. In such an uncertain time it was a challenge to invest that kind of money – several million euros – but we had to take that risk so we could develop the company and position ourselves in the market in the long term.

The spa aims to provide regeneration for its clientele

When the second lockdown forced the hotel to close at the beginning of November 2020, we dedicated that time to the construction of the spa. We’re looking forward to finally reopening in July 2021.

SPA STATISTICS

Mountain Spring Spa at Hubertus Mountain Refugio Allgäu

www.hotel-hubertus.de

General manager: Marc Traubel. Director of spa and wellness: Melanie Kleint. Total investment: €15m. Architect: Beer, Bembé, Dellinger Architects. Design and interiors: Christa Traubel and AHA 360Grad. Spa team: 15. Spa size: 2,000sqm interior, 2,150sqm exterior. Treatment rooms: Eight treatment rooms, two couples’ treatment rooms, an infrared room, a silence room and a micro-salt room. Hydrothermal experiences: Finnish sauna, steam bath, herbal sauna and mountain sauna. Pools: Natural bathing pond, Japanese onsen, infinity pool, natural plunge pool. Equipment suppliers: Ionto-Comed, Dedon, Gharieni, MD Natural Wood & Metal Art, Ikono, AHA 360Grad, Physiotherm, First Class, Cane-Line. Product partners: annané, Babor and Team Dr Josef

The resort’s Adlerhorst Suite Valley offers light-filled relaxation