A real ‘Romantik’
Romantik Hotel Turm | Völs am Schlern, South Tyrol
Fine stud horses, real Picassos and a bird as the hotel’s patron saint – the historic Romantik Hotel Turm was one of the first Romantik Hotels in South Tyrol and has been a member of the Romantik family for almost 50 years.
Art in their DNA: Karl Pramstrahler, the son of the founding family, brought together the entire art scene in the historic tower hotel back in the 1960s. Among the visitors cavorting around the ancient buildings were Lucio Fontana, Vladislav Kavan and Karl Plattner. What is left from those times? A love of art and an unparalleled art gallery with works by Pablo Picasso, Otto Dix, Oskar Kokoschka, Salvador Dalí, Gustav Klimt and many more. Every now and then, an Arab thoroughbred from the adjoining stables will wander around – obviously, nobody wants to miss out on a real Picasso.
The family became owners of the building after World War II – Karl and Seraphine Pramstrahler found themselves with a ruin on their hands and restored the architectural core and the heart of the hotel – the historic towers from the 13th century. “In the old days, in winter, farmers and farm hands became snowed in with the keeper of the towers. For three days and nights, they played cards, drank, quarrelled, laughed and fought. When they needed a short break to sleep, players took it in turns to lie down right across the bench.” Since then, quite a lot has changed at the historic tower hotel in South Tyrol. What has stayed the same, however, is the warm welcome, inviting visitors to stay awhile and enjoy themselves.
The hotel is currently in the hands of the third generation of the family – Stephan Pramstrahler is a former head chef, a passionate winemaker, hobby designer and Italian hang-gliding champion. He runs the hotel together with his wife Kathi, sommelière and the heart and soul of the hotel, and turns a stay at the hotel into a truly memorable experience.
So how does a raven fit into this story? Birds are a form of heraldic emblem for the family and the hotel. There are the owl terrace, the owl suite, bird sculptures and statues dotted around the building and the names of the wines: Pica, Bubo, Tetrix, Corax. Birds are omnipresent here. They stand for intelligence and good communication as well as for respect and humility. “They are also a bit cheeky,” Stephan Pramstrahler adds in a laughing aside.