Let’s be honest: Seeing the breathtaking mountain scenery around our hotel in Saalbach Hinterglemm for the first time often leaves travellers speechless — with their mouths wide open and marvelling at the view before them. Later, our guests like to describe the millennia-old mountain peaks as ‘imposing’, ‘majestic’ or ‘impressive’, but our favourite word will always be ‘magical’. For as true Hinterglemmers, we know that the Alps are not just pretty to look at, but also harbour a multitude of fairy tales and legends, stories and fables. And as a hotel in this area, we also have our very own little house legend. Care to hear it?

The Story of the Wolfertinger
Night had fallen early over Hinterglemm on that particular October evening. It lay there like a blanket of heavy, black velvet and spread a silence that was only broken by the steady, methodical knocking of the farrier. Every now and then, an inn door would open, releasing a stream of cheerful revellers into the darkness. For a second or two, the thick rinds of fog that circled the village were illuminated then, hiding the sky, the mountains and the first frost of autumn in their midst. It was not uncommon for people to believe they could see fabulous figures in the mist during this brief moment of brightness. Sightings that were later usually attributed to the bad light or the last shot of schnapps. And yet locals and guests, Hinterglemmers and strangers told each other about the same figure over and over again: a horse with wings and magnificent antlers, standing motionless in an elegant pose, which they thought they had seen right next to the farrier’s workshop.

In the winter months, many thought they recognised deep tracks that looked as if they had been burnt into the snow by still-warm hooves and were therefore visible longer than any other footprints. In spring, it was not uncommon to hear loud neighing in harmony with the beating of mighty wings. In summer, stories were told of an animal that seemed to fly high above the mountains and could hardly be mistaken for a bird, even from a distance. And when autumn returned and the thick fog enveloped Hinterglemm in a firm embrace once more, the stories of sightings next to the farrier’s workshop became louder again. As these sightings were often accompanied by fortunate circumstances, special joys and fabulous memories, people soon connected the atypical apparition to good luck and often slowed down their steps when they passed the farrier’s corner.

Many years later, our hotel, the Dorfhotel Glücksschmiede now stands on that very same corner, and the figure — affectionately christened the Wolfertinger by us — still makes its rounds and, as legend has it, brings lots of luck whenever sighted. So it really is a good thing that it can nowadays be found in our hotel, as it has become our emblem and heraldic animal, casting its very own magic over our guests.

Write your own Story at our Hotel in Saalbach Hinterglemm!
Of course, the story of the Wolfertinger is not the only legend that is told in our part of the world. Especially in our hotel, thanks to atypically fabulous experiences, stories are often created that people like to tell over and over again. So, what are you waiting for? Visit us in Saalbach Hinterglemm, get a dose of happiness and write your very own saga between the majestic Alps, cosy rooms and, of course, the Wolfertinger. See you soon!