Blog — Hirschen, fine hotel in the Bregenzerwald

Formerly an inn, tavern, and meeting place for locals, today a fine hotel, restaurant & spa. Young since 1755 - this year the Hirschen celebrates its 270th anniversary. Chapeau! Good reason to pay due respect to the long history.

A big thank you to everyone who has preserved and cared for this house through the many decades. And thank you for becoming a part of the history with your visits to us…

But let's start from the very beginning:

1601

First documentary mention as a tavern

1.10.1755 - Village Fire

With the Hirschen, the church and 14 houses around the village square are also destroyed. Reconstruction in Alemannic peasant wooden architecture (also called peasant baroque).

The view from the Hirschen of the village square, almost unchanged for 270 years. View from the Risch-Lau collection, 1930

Honorable Personalities

Josef Anton Metzler originates from the Hirschen. He also trades in wood, cattle, wax, and cheese, and operates a grocery. In addition, Metzler runs a muslin factory in Vienna with 120 employees. His business relationships extend to Milan, Vienna, Bohemia, and Hungary. Josef Anton Metzler was, at that time, the wealthiest Bregenzerwald resident and also asset manager for the painter and co-founder of the Royal Gallery of Art in London, Angelika Kauffmann (1741-1806).

The Metzler room - a reminiscence of the first Hirschen innkeeper, Josef Anton Metzler

The great-great-grandfather of Peter and Pia Fetz, Josef-Anton Fetz (1834-1875), also holds a license as a fur trader, in whose capacity he travels to the largest fur fair in the world in Nizhny Novgorod, 300 km east of Moscow. From there, he acquires the beaver furs for the traditional winter headgear of Bregenzerwald women's costume, the "Bräma-Kappe". Such a journey usually takes six months or more.

Colored view from the collection of the Vorarlberg State Library, around 1910

1856 - Kings & Poets as Guests at the Hirschen 

Around 1856, King Max II of Bavaria visits the Hirschen in Schwarzenberg with his entourage. This journey is described in the book "A King's Journey to Lake Constance". A year later, Eduard Mörike also stays at the Hirschen and spends his delayed honeymoon here with his wife Margarethe Speth. Today, a hiking trail from Schwarzenberg to Hochälpele commemorates the high visit.

1882 - Noblesse Oblige

Another wedding takes place at the Hirschen at the end of the 19th century during the tenure of Josef Anton Fink 1848 – 1911 (great-grandfather of Peter and Pia Fetz). Under his leadership, the current Landammann Hall is constructed around 1882. At that time, the hotel also has a bathing facility, where steel baths are administered.

Arbor in the Hirschen garden (1914) postcard collection Vorarlberg State Library

In the time between the wars, under the leadership of his daughter Anna Berlinger, the Hirschen inn becomes a popular destination for textile barons from the Rhine Valley, who spend almost every weekend with Mrs. Berlinger.

Family Fetz in front of the Hirschen - Gertraud and Albert with Peter and Franz

Franz Fetz - Hirschen Innkeeper and Patron

Born under the baroque ceiling painting of room No. 7, he was and is inseparably linked to the Hirschen. After completing his schooling and various internships abroad, including in Verbier (Switzerland) and Cannes (Southern France), Franz works from 1968 to 1969 in Bermuda as a head waiter.

Franz Fetz on the Empire State Building in New York 1969

With his MG in front of the Felsenkeller - the legendary disco at Bödele

From 1970 to 1975, Franz Fetz runs the Felsenkeller disco at Bödele, where he pursues his love for music. From 1970 to 1972, he also dedicates himself to training as a state-certified ski instructor.

Franz Fetz with his mother and sister in the magnificently decorated Landammann Hall at "Dining Like King Max of Bavaria"

The music salon Wälderness was founded in 2009 by Franz Fetz

In December 1975, the era of Franz Fetz finally begins - 30 beds are then available in the house, simple and aged. The substance of the house is beautiful, but the condition is very dilapidated. Thanks to his good connections, Franz can soon appeal to a regular audience from the Rhine Valley, but it takes decades for the hotel operation to run successfully.

With his sense of art and music, the patron gives the house its distinctive style. The fondness for the beautiful arts is likely to have been influenced by his uncle, the painter Franz Metzler. For five decades, Franz Fetz collects pictures and paintings that are still admired in the Hirschen today.

Dismantling of the old bathing house - the new seminar center is being built here

1992 - Seminar Center Wälderhaus is Established

The Wälderhaus as a seminar center - built in the typical style of a Bregenzerwald house - is established. Here, 15 more rooms, 3 seminar rooms, a hotel lobby with reception, and a small wellness area are accommodated. It is awarded the Seminar Hotel of the Year three times in a row.

The who’s who of business and politics graces the house: at the culinary festivals Vakanz 1995 and 1998 - initiated among others by artist Paul Renner, with chefs like Daniel Spoerri, Ferran Adriá, Eckart Witzigmann - and the first country parties of the Schubertiade, Schwarzenberg gains international recognition.

At the same time, the Hirschen becomes a popular wedding location with dozens of celebrations between May and October.

International chefs and artists as guests at the Vakanz in Schwarzenberg

2017 - the tenth generation takes over

Peter Fetz takes over the Hirschen from Franz in the 10th generation. Together with sister Pia, he is gradually making the Hirschen fit for the future, developing new culinary concepts and bringing the restaurant to a three-toque level according to Gault Millau with chefs Jonathan and Raphaela Burger. 

The Franz-Josefs-Keller, which was previously used for various purposes, becomes the fermentation cellar, and artists repeatedly exhibit their works in the workshop in the Hirschenau.

Hosts in the 10th generation - Peter & Pia Fetz

2023/24 - a new era begins

The next phase of renovations is pending, starting with the rooms in the historic inn Hirschen. In the former "Hirschenau", the iconic bathing house is being created - an architectural gem and reminiscence of the bathing facility from 1882. Two relaxation rooms, professional treatments, two saunas, and a 15-meter pool provide relaxation in the new spa.

The bathing house - planned in 2024 in the iconic style by the NONA architects

From the rooms in the Wälderhaus, modern suites are created, and from the large seminar room, the “one and only”- bathrobe bar. The exercise room for yoga and workout and next to it, the meeting room for meetings or home office are established.

The rooftop loft in the attic of the Wälderhaus

2024

Raphaela Wirrer is awarded Pastry Chef of the Year.

2025

The culinary concept of the Hirschen is awarded multiple times. A Green Star in the Guide Michelin, 3 toques from Gault Millau (15.5 points). Monocle, VOGUE, and prominent magazines report about us.

Stay tuned - we have a few more ideas up our sleeve…

PS: If you want to dive deeper into the history: Franz Fetz has recorded his life story in a book for his 75th birthday. It has the fitting title "wow.wow.wow." and is available at the Hirschen.

PPS: Shortly before the handover from Franz Fetz to Peter, a documentary about the house was made. Watch it online.