In a corner of Austria untouched by mass tourism, where eagles soar over white-tipped peaks and mosses rare enough to make botanists giddy flourish beneath ancient stone, there lies a hidden sanctuary: st martin chalets. Nestled in the heart of the Salzburger Lungau & Kärntner Nockberge Biosphere Reserve, these chalets are redefining what it means to experience eco-luxury in the Alps.
When Herby and Jodi envisioned Austria’s first ethical, energy self-sufficient holiday village, few believed it could be done. In 2008, after battling skeptical authorities who dubbed the timber-framed buildings “gingerbread houses,” the couple brought their vision to life in St Martin im Lungau—a village that today stands as a blueprint for sustainable tourism in alpine Europe.
Every chalet is a triumph of eco-conscious design. Built from untreated regional timber, insulated with 100% sheep’s wool, and powered by solar panels and regional green energy, these homes are carbon-light but comfort-rich. There’s no varnish, no plastic—just thoughtful construction that blends seamlessly into the biosphere.
Indoors, reclaimed timber furniture, underfloor heating, and triple-glazed larch wood windows offer warmth and elegance. Outdoors, stone terraces overlook alpine gardens bursting with herbs guests can pick for tea or dinner. The village spring supplies water, while rainwater butts irrigate the grounds. Even the boot rooms are sustainable—with heated drying machines ensuring gear is ready for tomorrow’s mountain adventure.
Whether blanketed in snow or blooming with wildflowers, Lungau is an adventurer’s dream—and st martin chalets put you at its heart.
Winter means snowshoeing through silent forests, skiing Obertauern’s famous slopes (just 20 minutes away), and joining locals for magical Advent traditions, like the Krampus and Nikolaus processions.
Spring through autumn brings 1,000+ km of hiking trails, mountain biking along Nockberge ridges, golfing just minutes away, and witnessing deer rutting season in quiet side valleys. Guests also enjoy paragliding, hang gliding, and even guided biosphere hikes with Jodi, an official UNESCO ranger.
Even off-season, the region brims with soul: local schnapps tastings, blueberry cakes, roast lamb feasts, and warm welcomes that turn guests into friends. As one frequent visitor puts it, “Lungau is the real Austria. Not made up. Not acted. Just authentic.”
With rising temperatures reshaping winter tourism across Europe, climate resilience has become the new luxury. According to a 1,000-page study by the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Lungau’s unique temperature inversion system makes it less vulnerable to the snow shortages plaguing other resorts. Snow here sticks around—Obertauern’s slopes stay open into May—and summers are cooler, perfect for hiking or simply escaping the heat.
But perhaps the greatest appeal lies in the spirit of the place. This is not a destination trying to impress the world. It’s a community that quietly, deliberately preserves its heritage, traditions, and ecology, and invites others to do the same.
Here, tourism isn’t the enemy—it’s the enabler of soft tourism: a model where visitors support, rather than disrupt, the local rhythm of life. As Jodi puts it, “Make yourself rare. Set yourself apart. The rest of the world will follow.”
