Hall in Tirol | The Secret Capital of Austra | Hall-Wattens

Baroque Rose

The Aficionados | Kontor Boutique Hotel Hall in Tirol Austria
Salvaged fixtures cling to the secrets of a bygone era and breathe a sense of deep ancestry

Intro

Built into the original Medieval town walls of Hall, this former guilders’ house of traditional Tirol style has stood here for well over half a century with records dating back to 1450. Today, behind the rose petal façade, lies the small boutique Hotel Kontor – a restored icon of stucco charisma with a handful of stylish suites. Following a long and intense period of restoration, which involved scraping paint, wallpaper and plaster layers off by hand, the raw historical architectural characteristics of the house were slowly revealed to create a canvas of heritage meets design.

Delicate Baroque ornamentation, chunky lime-washed walls, wooden-beamed ceilings, twisted rafters, waxed parquet flooring, gorgeous oriel windows and salvaged fixtures cling to the secrets of a bygone era and breathe a sense of deep ancestry. Where else does a spiral staircase wind itself around an exposed patch of a pared-back stone wall - letting guests see the very fabric and soul of the hotel. Equally contrasting is the sleek glass elevator that shows the heart of the building, embedded in its historical wall. Elegantly simple, Kontor Boutiquehotel's design is contemporary with boutique furnishings, bespoke carpentry and minimalist accents offset by a subtle palette of clock-face whites, cardinal reds, cotton greys, wet putty and oatmeal. Other nods to its heritage are heavy wooden doors that retain original iron door handles and sweeps of original 18th-century stucco ceilings paired with modern light fixings. Elsewhere stylish seating means plenty of places to sit and breathe in the history or simply plan your day - perhaps visiting the chocolate-box surrounds of Hall-Wattens with its lush green pastures, fresh mountain air and alpine adventure.

Kontor Boutiquehotel is the new hand-made crafted retreat found in the cobbled streets of Hall, known as the secret capital of Austria.

Pomp and baroque flourish in its appearance, which was discovered as they slowly and delicately peeled back layers of history through the years of paint, plaster and wallpaper

Rooms

Hotel Kontor: Contemporary interiors within an historic building showing wooden timber rafters and Italian seating | Kontor Boutique Hotel Hall in Tirol Austria Hotel Kontor: Contemporary interiors within an historic building showing wooden timber rafters and Italian seating | Kontor Boutique Hotel Hall in Tirol Austria

Kontor Boutiquehotel Hall in Tirol has been lovingly resorted and offers just five beautifully appointed rooms and suites, all uniquely different in their own way. All accommodation is set within a historic canvas of period features, decorated stylishly with contemporary furnishings.

Floors are smoothly refurbished wood, perfect for padding around barefoot, and like the rest of the hotel, the interior style comes easily from its existing features – thick, chunky walls; Gothic beamed ceilings; stucco detailing to name a few. Modernization comes from the use of floor-to-ceiling mirrors, mid-century seating and state-of-the-art bathrooms. Although all of the rooms are generously roomy, the South Suite is the biggest, and its large, sleek bathroom with modern freestanding bathtub is quite the wow-factor.

Foodie

Historic feautres if this hotel restoration project include a wonderful baroque ceiling | Kontor Boutique Hotel Hall in Tirol Austria Modern furniture set to an hostoric backdrop | Kontor Boutique Hotel Hall in Tirol Austria

Breakfast is served in the baroque hall, with its unique atmosphere provided by the 18th-century stucco ceiling. Light streams in from large windows and regional products will tempt you to stay here a while. A small but beautifully arranged breakfast buffet awaits with artisan loose-leaf tea, plates of cold meats, home-made cakes and pastries. Ursula can make you something hot and fresh - her speciality is an omelette.

Location

Kontor Boutiquehotel is located in the old town centre of Hall close to the main square, a market town strewn with Habsburg grandeur and its shapely Baroque rooftops. The scene is brimming with stories that seep from its old walls, medieval buildings and churches. You can reach Hall via Innsbruck, just 15 minutes away. The surrounding Hall-Wattens region is home to Tyrol’s largest country park, and picturesque valleys and famous mountain peaks are a stroll or ski away.

Owners

Ursula, born in 1988 and raised in Hall, is a mathematician. Marek, 31, was born in the Czech Republic, but grew up in Corsica, where the two met and lived together for several years. What unites the Tyrolean and the Czech Corsicans was from the beginning a passion for old houses. Ursula says: "We looked at half-ruined houses in Corsica and fantasised about what you could do with them. I said: Let's buy a ruin and make a bed and breakfast out of it!" Marek's reaction: "You're crazy!"

Owners Marek and Ursula have used great care to respect the heritage of the building it occupies. Once a former trading house since 1450, it was a place of importance, with corresponding pomp and baroque flourish in its appearance, which was discovered as they slowly and delicately peeled back layers of history through the years of paint, plaster and wallpaper.

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