Drive from Mitterolang towards Gassl and the hamlet of Geiselsberg, and at the end of the road to Bad Bergfall the eponymous hotel comes into view. From this very moment, it feels as though you’ve stepped back in time. The Pörnbacher family have lovingly preserved a little gem whose tranquillity and timeless charm are instantly tangible. Here, tucked away at the very end of the valley, far from the bustle of everyday life, the historic inn with its guest rooms and one of Tyrol's oldest healing baths offers a peaceful retreat in an age dominated by state-of-the-art wellness resorts.
The story of Bad Bergfall begins with a sulphur spring that rises in the heart of the forest, located just a few kilometres beyond the inn. Together with an iron-rich spring and another spring known for its digestive properties, it forms the water source for the thermal bath. Rich in minerals, sulphates, calcium and magnesium, the water also contains sulphide, iodine and trace elements including boron, barium, lithium, selenium, zinc, beryllium, uranium, nickel and cobalt. Among its reputed benefits are positive effects on the digestive, respiratory, joint and nervous system.
The healing properties of the water were already appreciated during Roman times (65 BC – AD 450). After all, the Romans were renowned for their bathing culture, which they embraced wholeheartedly. Remains of a Roman bathing basin, together with jewellery and coins left as offerings of gratitude for recovery from ailments such as sciatica, rheumatism, gout, women's illnesses, skin complaints and respiratory diseases, bear witness to the popularity of the spring in Olang/Valdaora, in the heart of the Dolomites. Dating from the reigns of the emperors Vespasian, Titus and Domitian, these finds are now preserved in the Tyrolean Provincial Museum “Ferdinandeum” in Innsbruck. The discoveries came to light in 1840, when Quirinus C. von Tschiderer, a canon from Trento and enthusiastic spa-goer himself, became intrigued by the distinctive smell of sulphur. He ordered excavations at the site of the spring, uncovering not only the long-buried sulphur spring itself but also the remarkable Roman artefacts.
The spring remained a sought-after destination long after antiquity. During the 18th century, visitors flocked to bathe, typically at great length, in what was then considered a sophisticated spa establishment. They travelled not only from the surrounding region but also from across Europe, as documented in the entries of the historic guest books, some of which are still in the possession of the Pörnbacher family. The renowned Bolzano physician Dr Franciscus Antonius Abmayr was so impressed by the health cure that in 1734 he published a book describing the bathhouse and its therapeutic properties – the original of which is also preserved in the Ferdinandeum Museum. The thermal baths were by no means reserved exclusively for wealthier guests; local farmers and less affluent visitors also came here to seek relief, with a separate, admittedly more modest, facility being set aside for their use.
Today, visitors to this small hotel can still sense the charming atmosphere of a bygone era. Since the 1950s, both the hotel and its historic bathhouse have been owned by the Pörnbacher family. Inside the historic establishment, there are still a number of elegant bathing cabins featuring the traditional wooden or porcelain tubs with their characteristic covers. At a water temperature of around 37°C, guests spend 20 minutes enjoying the soothing waters before unwinding in the cosy beds of the relaxation room, completing the experience with a glass of spring water to aid the body’s natural detoxification process.
The property also includes a small chapel, reflecting the belief that prayer was once considered an essential part of the healing process. Both the chapel and the tavern were commissioned in 1720 by Count Guidobald von Welsberg, who recognised the value of the healing springs and was keen to make use of them. Accordingly, the original altarpiece dating from the same year depicts not only several saints – including the traditional patron saints of the sick St. Sebastian and St. Roch – but also features a panel listing the ailments for which healing was sought, alongside an angel bearing the Welsberg family coat of arms. Incidentally, the chapel is dedicated to St. Theobald – a widely popular patron saint, invoked, among others, by farmers, craftsmen, pilgrims and travellers.
Visitor information: the Bad Bergfall restaurant and bathhouse welcome not only hotel guests but also external visitors. However, reservations are required for both dining at the restaurant and the access to the thermal baths.
