Italy
Audrey Jaber November 19, 2021
Deep in the Dolomite Mountains of Italy and 1,800 meters above sea level is FORESTIS: a luxury, eco-conscious retreat that prioritizes physical and mental mindfulness. Co-founders Teresa Unterthiner and Stefan Hinteregger provide guests with an idyllic and unmatched getaway. From the tranquil spa to the locally-sourced restaurant, everything at FORESTIS has a focus on the natural surroundings.
By taking inspiration from the environment and the wisdom of the Celts, FORESTIS offers unique spa treatments and exclusive wellness activities, many of which take guests into the surrounding UNESCO World Heritage site. All in all, FORESTIS is a sanctuary, perfect for connecting with both nature and one’s inner self.
Mood of Living: Where are you from? Where did you grow up?
Teresa Unterthiner: I was born and raised in South Tyrol, near Bressanone.
MoL: Where did you go to school and what did you study?
TU: I went to hotel school and have also studied real estate and project management.
MoL: Before FORESTIS, you traveled educationally and professionally. Where did you travel to? How have your visits abroad helped you to better run a sustainable luxury retreat?
TU: I have worked in hotels in Switzerland, Spain and Austria. I also studied in China, and although I enjoyed my time there, I was desperate to return to the Dolomites. Although I like to travel to experience new places and cultures, I will never live anywhere but the Dolomites.
MoL: How did you and Stefan Hinteregger meet? What are your respective roles in FORESTIS?
TU: We met each other in Bressanone. Both myself and Stefan are owners and hosts at FORESTIS.
MoL: FORESTIS has a very interesting origin story, starting as a tuberculosis sanatorium back in 1912. Can you tell me a little more about the history of FORESTIS? How does it influence the hotel today?
TU: In the early 1900s, the Austrian monarchy wanted to build a tuberculosis (lung disease) sanatorium precisely where FORESTIS now stands. This was due to the pure Plose spring water, excellent mountain air and the mild climate — the ideal conditions for regeneration and healing. However, they were unable to realize the project as planned due to the chaos of war. Many decades later, in 2000, Stefan’s father, Alois Hinteregger, discovered the old wooden building and was immediately overwhelmed by the location and construction of the original building. In 2010, he opened it as a hotel. In 2020, FORESTIS opened and Stefan and I began the new chapter of the hotel’s journey.
MoL: When constructing the luxury, eco-conscious retreat, how did you protect and preserve the nature surrounding FORESTIS? Who are the designers and architects you worked with, and how did they take the natural landscape into consideration?
TU: The South Tyrolean architect Armin Sader and the FORESTIS interior team reinterpreted the traditional architecture and created a natural atmosphere throughout the entire hideaway by using regional materials. The wooden facade of the historic building, which was built entirely from natural materials from the surrounding area, is tanned by the weather and the sun. Three sculptural towers — which are modeled on the shape of tree trunks, rise into the sky like trees and blend harmoniously into the forest landscape — sit alongside the building.
The unusual and innovative architecture of FORESTIS is unique in the European Alps and brings guests even closer to the natural spectacle of the Dolomites. In general, the architecture subtly withdraws itself and lets the environment take center stage. From the rooms in the historic building and the suites and penthouses in the towers, guests can see the imposing mountain massifs of the Dolomites. The terraced restaurant also offers guests a free view of nature and spectacular sunsets in the evenings. In summer, guests can enjoy clean air and impressive panoramic views from a spacious green area in front of the building.
MoL: FORESTIS is located 1,800 meters above sea-level and across from the Dolomites UNESCO World Heritage site. What makes the location of FORESTIS so special?
TU: The Dolomites are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List and were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site on June 26, 2009. The pure Plose spring water, excellent mountain air, mild climate and an above-average number of sunny days provide ideal conditions for regeneration and healing. It’s the perfect climate and atmosphere for the mind and body.
MoL: What is the philosophy of FORESTIS in regard to respecting nature? Can you tell us more about the sustainable practices at the hotel?
For FORESTIS and all of our staff, sustainability is a mission and a matter of the heart. Our energy supply is provided by its own plant and a wood heating system — which supplies 100% renewable energy. Guests are also encouraged to be mindful of the environment. For example, if a guest activates the ‘no housekeeping’ button before leaving their room in the morning, our housekeeping team will not enter during the day. This way guests can help preserve natural resources. As a thank you, FORESTIS plants one tree per housekeeping-free day for every guest.
Both the products that guests find in their suite — such as soap, shower gel, shampoo, conditioner, body lotion and bath salts — and the products used in our spa consist of 100% natural ingredients. All other products in the suites including dental kits, combs and shaving kits are 100% biodegradable.
MoL: Does your restaurant grow its own food? Does it support and collaborate with local farmers? If so, how?
TU: The kitchen at FORESTIS is run by head chef Roland Lamprecht, whose passion is natural cuisine, or in his words, “forest cuisine.” He passionately believes that guests should, above all, enjoy their meal and feel better afterward. Growing up, the forest was his playground. With his mother, he discovered mushrooms, berries, herbs, nuts, flowers: simply everything that the forest could provide. Together, they stood at the stove and prepared the spruce honey for the winter season and marinated the game with wild berries.
Now, the kitchen team at FORESTIS collects herbs and natural ingredients, especially in the summer months. The ingredients are either immediately processed for dishes or dried and pickled according to old traditions that offer guests these flavors in the winter months. The products come from farmers in the surrounding area who — exclusively for FORESTIS — plant old vegetable varieties. Fruit and citrus fruit; fish; meat, such as sausages and ham; oils; and dairy products are also sourced from selected farmers and suppliers in the surrounding area. All of our bread is home-baked at FORESTIS and jams are cooked and preserved according to our own recipes. The honey is supplied by the neighboring Mairhof.
Roland Lamprecht combines Mediterranean cuisine with Alpine ingredients. The ingredients from the forest have special properties that prevent many diseases caused by bad nutrition. The menus are curated every day to offer guests true variety. Although the dishes often have similar basic ingredients, they are always different.
MoL: How do you promote physical and mental mindfulness at FORESTIS?
TU: We offer specific packages to promote physical and mental mindfulness at FORESTIS. Our Peace of Mind package, for example, includes a restorative massage and daily curated experiences — from Wyda Celtic yoga to a guided hiking tour. The Alpine location of FORESTIS, the climate, the air, the sun and the pure spring water provide ideal conditions for maintaining health and strengthening your constitution. It’s also an ideal location for recovery in terms of preventive and high-altitude medicine – even after a short time this location can have a positive effect on the body.
MoL: What wellness and nature focused activities do you provide for your guests at FORESTIS? What are your favorite activities?
TU: My favorite is hiking. All-year-round guided hikes for all levels of experience take place from FORESTIS. Hikes into the sunrise are particularly impressive. There are also four bike routes on the Plose mountain, which mainly lead through extensive and dense forests. Here, sport becomes an intensive and immersive experience in nature.
Due to its location, FORESTIS offers a variety of activities in nature. Ski-in/ski-out is the magic word that makes skiers’ hearts beat faster — just put on your ski boots, get on the boards and follow a forest path directly from the ski room of FORESTIS to the piste. The 45 kilometers of slopes in the Plose ski area have a balanced ratio of blue, red and black runs. There are also toboggan runs and winter hiking trails for non-skiers. On request, our FORESTIS hiking guide can lead guests on snowshoes over frozen streams, snow-covered woods and untouched snowfields in the Puez-Odle Natural Park, which is adjacent to FORESTIS.
MoL: The spa at FORESTIS takes inspiration from natural phenomena and the wisdom of the Celts. In what ways is this inspiration evident in spa treatments? What are your favorite treatments?
The Celts who settled in this area were already close to nature and drew their knowledge of the human body from the teachings of nature. They felt a particularly close connection to the forest. The location of FORESTIS allowed no other conclusion than to bring nature, the forest and the teachings of the Celts into the FORESTIS Spa.
We offer Wyda Yoga, a holistic movement and meditation teaching of the Druids, the spiritual elite of the Celts. This practice aims to unify man with nature and leads to inner harmony and contentment through the path of mindfulness. In good weather, our daily Wyda yoga takes place in open nature. Wyda can be completely tailored to the individual needs of the guests, and most importantly, the exercises can be easily continued at home.
We also offer a tree circle ceremony, which begins with the choice of the tree. The guest faces the four pieces of wood and intuitively chooses a piece wood for themself after touching, seeing and smelling the scent of the wood. Once chosen, the scent of the wood is sprayed in the room and the purifying foot bath begins. To prepare the body, the meridian points are stimulated. Then the massage begins, first with the wooden stick to release tension, and then with the stone. During the treatment, the stone is kept at body temperature and releases its energy to flow through the body during the massage. The constant rhythm of the energy flow of the wood and stone, combined with the special technique and warm oils from the essences of the particular tree, bring balance to the emotional, vital and mental realms. The sound frequencies of the tree create vibrations that, when combined with healing woods and stones, release blockages and create harmony and physical activation, thus closing the circle.
MoL: What do you hope guests take away from their stay at FORESTIS?
TU: Stefan and I have fulfilled a long-cherished dream. Together with our team, we hope that every guest is rejuvenated after their stay and is able to connect with nature and our surroundings that we love so dearly.
MoL: What challenges have you faced while running FORESTIS?
TU: Because FORESTIS isn’t situated in a tourist place or in the middle of a city, we have had to create our own destination that is enticing for guests. A lot of planning needs to be considered. Sometimes nature takes control and you can’t get certain ingredients for a dish, so you have to be agile.
MoL: What advice do you have for others interested in creating a sustainable travel destination?
TU: My advice would be to have respect for natural surroundings and make sure that you protect the environment around you for the future. The trees and mountains in the Dolomites have and still will be around for a lot longer than humans, which means we must support the environment, not work against it.
MoL: What do you envision for the future of FORESTIS?
TU: We have more sustainable initiatives to launch in the coming months and years. We continue to look forward to welcoming guests from all over the world following the COVID-19 lockdowns. We will continue to work hard to ensure that all materials at FORESTIS are sourced from South Tyrol and we will begin planting trees with local organizations and children.
Photography courtesy of INSERT NAME
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