english My Rössl SPRI N G/SU M M ER 2021 UNWIND Satisfy a long harboured yearning, find a special place where you can leave the turbulent times behind, breathe away your cares and let your mind untangle. A light breeze brushes across the rippled water. Sunlight warms my skin. In the distance I hear a gentle rumble of thunder, but as I gaze at the majestic mountains the sky above is blue. The scent of wild grasses drifts across from the lake shore, my breath runs smooth and free. Everything is just the way it should be – here in my Weisses Rössl at Lake Wolfgangsee. #ImWeissenRössl 1 FOR MY RÖSSL GUESTS At last the days are getting longer. The view across the lake as the sun bounces off the water lets us forget the worries of the past – time for a fresh start into a new season at the Weisses Rössl. Imagine you spent day and night, week after week, year upon year in the same place, in the very same house. What would you do to keep your motivation alive? I've been asked this many a time, and the answer is easy – I reflect, evaluate, discard or retain, revamp and improve everything I cherish and hold dear. Then I look for people I can work with. People who share the same values and care about the same things, who love bringing happiness into other's lives as much as I do. The Rössl values are reflected in every detail and come together in our annual theme. And that, my dear Rössl guests, is where you come into play. That's when we reach out to those who want to come and enjoy what we have to offer, people who will place their trust in us by choosing to spend their precious holiday time here. We take this responsibility very seriously. The following pages offer an introduction to some of our wonderful employees who make work a pleasure, day after day, year-in, year-out. Here at the Rössl, family, staff and partners have always been at the heart of what we do. My grandmother was a great advocate for keeping value creation within the region and my father continuously promoted tourism both from and for the local population. Our generation is continuing this legacy. In every My Rössl, we introduce some of the regional personalities and businesses you may come across during your stay – or perhaps you're already familiar with them? Many of you have probably met Ernst and his bikes WELCOME (or skis in winter), and you're bound to know Siggi – or at least his famous schnapps. But what would any of this be without the ability to meet and celebrate? After so many months of restrictions and separation we're literally crying out to come together and share each other's special occasions. Seeing friends and family, celebrating together – these are a hallmark of the Rössl. Our team is here for you, from initial planning through to after-care, to ensure you have an unforgettably wonderful time. Yet celebrating can also mean simply sharing a good bottle of wine with a cherished person and gazing out at the lake. Here in the Salzkammergut region we say that's "gschmå", our term for cosy. On that note, I wish you all the best, keep well and see you soon in the Rössl. Yours Gudrun Peter and the Rössl team PS: Speaking of pet projects and things I cherish: The Rössl now has a brand new Spa Suite with lake-side veranda. The 80 m² suite includes a dedicated wellness area – a spe- cial hideaway for those seeking rest and relaxation. See page 15 for details of our Spa Suite introductory offer. PPS: We've dedicated the cover of this issue to the wedding theme, a core aspect of a Romantik hotel. Of course, here at the Rössl we have a bit of a tradition when it comes to exciting love stories. #ImWeissenRössl 3 2 WALTRAUT HAASLEGENDARY Waltraud Haas – as beautiful as she was talented – confidently strode Peter came back in off the lake I called out: Hel- across many a stage and film set. She looks back on a rich career, a long lo there, Mr Alexander! Since when do we address life and a wealth of memories that continues to grow. She was the star each other by our surnames, he asked, and I replied: of a generation of German-speakers who longed for harmony after the Since now, as apparently, I'm not allowed to sit in wars. To help the population overcome the recent traumas, the film indus- your fantastic seat. I stood up and wiped the seat try aimed to generate light-hearted output. Sentimental films set in the down with a handkerchief – we were the best of rural idyll, locally termed "Heimatfilme", proved to be the ideal vehicle. friends from then on. They were so successful that Austria created an entire culture out of them. The genre is associated with names that are still fondly remembered today: Waltraut Haas, as well as playing the Rössl Karlheinz Böhm, Curd Jürgens, Hans Moser, Freddy Quinn, Oskar Werner landlady and acting in many other films, you've and Peter Alexander. Maria Schell, Senta Berger, Nadja Tiller, Romy Schnei- also had a busy stage career. Considering your der, Christiane Hörbiger and of course Waltraut Haas. She's on the other numerous roles, does it annoy you that the role end of the line right now. of Rössl landlady Josepha Vogelhuber is the one you're most frequently associated with? Frau Haas, “The White Horse Inn” movie, how long ago was that? 60 years? Haas: Why should that annoy me? The role made me very popular. Haas: "That's all a very long time ago, but Grete Peter, the Rössl's landlady at the time, was a very charming woman and we became great friends," comments Wal- And how do you think you'd get on as the real traut Haas with a smile in her sprightly-sounding voice. Rössl landlady? The film shooting brought you to St. Wolfgang for the first time, and the Haas: Not very well, I think! You're right, there's a film itself turned out to be fairly significant for your career. But everyone history in my family – my mother kept an inn and knew you before then of course. In 1954 and 55 alone you were in front of as a young girl I was often asked to help out. But I the camera for 15 different films. can't see myself as the boss. Haas: Yes, and that's an awful lot. But you see, I always had fantastic co-actors, I Your husband Erwin, who has sadly passed generally had nice accommodation and we were all the best of friends. Well, not away, was also an actor, and you are the moth- quite all of us of course. Occasionally there'd be one who thought of himself as the er of theatre director Markus Strahl. big star, but I was having none of that. I soon put them in their place. There's one leading actor and one leading actress – that much we can agree on, surely? This Haas: Yes and I still frequently sing with my son, usually settled the matter. mainly in theatre plays. We're currently performing together in Weissenkirchen and in Vienna. I can hear the resoluteness in your voice as you're telling me about that. I should imagine you needed a strong personality to handle such an enor- We all want to grow old, but not be old. Talking mous work-rate and not feel overwhelmed by it. And the film world was to you over the phone, you sound like you're in much more male-dominated back then. your 30s, it's hard to believe you're 93. Perhaps one day you'll let me in on how you do it. Haas: I remember the time I went to watch Peter Alexander water-skiing on Lake Wolfgangsee in a suit. Seeing as Peter was on the water anyway, I sat down in his Thank you for the interview. seat. Along comes his minder and tries to shoo me away. No way, I said, and when Waltraut Haas mit der damaligen Rösslwirtin Grete Peter, 5 Großmutter von Gudrun Peter WEDDINGSSAY AT THE RÖSSLYES "A guest recently asked me for some input into his marriage proposal," chef patissier Gerhard should you choose? Who will take care of styling, decorations and photography? Spreitzer recounts. Happy to oblige, he carefully tucked the beautiful engagement ring inside an art- Our events team has answers to these many other questions. For further inspiration fully arranged dessert. We're glad to report that no sweet tooth was damaged in the enterprise – and you can also consult the fabulous online resource www.sagja-im-salzkammergut. the answer was yes! It's always an honour when couples choose to spend their big day here – with at, created by wedding planner Gabi Socher. More than 60 businesses and partners event managers Margot Unterkofler and Kathrin Weber you're in safe hands. Before getting stuck into offering the full range of wedding services are ready to assist happy couples prepare any detailed planning, we recommend browsing through our wedding folder packed full of top tips and for their great celebration – be it with an extravagant wedding dress or a classic car suggestions. How about an enchanting ceremony on the lake shore or aboard a boat? Which restau- in dazzling white, an unusual band or a splendid firework display.