84 Hands, 3 sisters, 1 passion – Hotel Petrus
Hand crafted hospitality: hosts Christina, Brigitte, and Daniela – three sisters who have transformed their parents’ hotel into a oasis of relaxed elegance with their aesthetic finesse and hands-on mentality.
Located in eastern South Tyrol is the alpine town of Brunico, which has repeatedly been voted “Italy’s most liveable small town”. Historic buildings line the quaint streets, creating a charming backdrop for shopping in the old town. Just three kilometres away is Hotel Petrus, situated at the foot of Plan de Corones – renowned among skiers far beyond the peaks. At first glance, it seems like an ordinary hotel; on closer inspection, it becomes clear that more than one creative and design-loving hand is at work here. The hosts, Christina, Brigitte, and Daniela have used their great finesse and creative ideas to craft something special from their parents’ hotel, Gerti and Hans: sincere and warm, with love and passion, competent and unique, familiar and welcoming. Inspired by people. Guided by nature. Shaped by traditions and skill.
Every action is perfect – the Petrus philosophy
Hand crafted items are paramount at Hotel Petrus. From gardening to cooking, from craftsmanship to furniture and design objects, from everyday gestures to meticulous touches.
Many hands work diligently here day after day to continue to surprise our hotel guests.
Familiar, friendly, competent, and meticulous. “Handmade” means that the hosts also take great care in selecting raw materials and ingredients.
Many interior design ideas come directly from the family or are made to their specifications: the weaved bread baskets come from San Giorgio, pine pillows, hay beds, and linen covers from Sägemüllerhof in Gais, the sauna aromas from Bergila and Dr. Joseph, and the loden fabric from Moessmer in Brunico. The sisters also have a passion for pottery. Some of the plates and bowls used by guests are made by them: including breakfast bowls, butter dishes, aperitif plates, or cake bowls. The floral decorations are freshly picked from senior hostess Gerti’s garden at Lechnerhof, as are the herbs for the herbal stamp massage. Wooden candles, wooden boards, and the XXL table in the garden were carved by senior host Hans.
The body scrub and arnica cream are also handmade.
And since the Aichner family is fascinated by the interplay of craftsmanship and nature, they chose natural larch wood for the exterior facade of the Petrus – like many farms in the area.
As a natural protective layer forms from warmth and sunlight, they consciously avoided chemical treatment of the wood. Over time, it changes colour and becomes increasingly grey, highlighting the wood’s unique grain.
Location
Hotel Petrus is situated in the small but exquisite village of Riscone near Brunico on a sunny plateau at the foot of Plan de Corones, at the heart of the Val Pusteria with all its side valleys, close to Val Badia with its unique language, and within sight of Brunico with itslifestyle. To the south, the Dolomites are within reach, and to the north, the Vedrette di Ries-Aurina Nature Park.
49 stylishly furnished rooms and suites
Each room at Hotel Petrus is individually decorated, and the suites feature special highlights like outdoor whirlpools, steam baths, or outdoor sleeping options.
The double rooms at Hotel Petrus range from 21 m2 to 38 m2. Some rooms feature hanging loungers or whirlpool baths, while others offer views of Plan de Corones or the large hotel garden, which seamlessly blends into the surrounding meadows.
The loggia room measures 31 m2. From the loggia balcony, guests can enjoy the views from the outdoor whirlpool, which invites them to bathe in both summer and winter. The suites range from 34 m2 to 65 m2 and offer guests, depending on the suite, free-standing whirlpools, outdoor jacuzzis, steam baths, or infrared saunas.
For families, the family suites at Hotel Petrus provide ample space on a floor area ranging from 31 m2 to 63 m2. Separate sleeping areas offer individual family members retreats where they can relax after an eventful day.
Hotel’s own Lechnerhof vegetable garden: hand-planted, hand-picked, hand-harvested Paradise, vegetable plot, herb garden, and floral haven in one: Lechnerhof is just a 5-minute walk from Hotel Petrus. It is the domain of senior host Hans, who, with his green fingers, has a knack for everything that sprouts, buds, and blooms. It is from here that head chef Hannes Baumgartner gets his crisp salads, spicy radishes, aromatic spinach, and tasty carrots. The fruity-sweet strawberries, blackberries, and currants are made into jams, and even goji berries grow here alongside juicy apples with a range of old varieties and curious names – Canada, Graf Oldenburg, or Lederer. Rosemary and basil, thyme, parsley, chives, ground ivy, oregano, sage, and mint for Hugo or mojito cocktails. Courgettes, pumpkins, cabbage,asparagus, and tomatoes in all shapes and colours – red, yellow, blue, brown, black – can be found at Lechnerhof. Hans has a particular fondness for rarities and old varieties – one highlight is the mountain artichoke.
In summer, Hans Aichner invites guests to his vegetable garden once a week to show them where their food and the floral decorations at Petrus grow.
Cuisine: excellent, regional, handmade, and fresh from garden to plate At Hotel Petrus, the emphasis is on natural, regional, straightforward cuisine, with the intrinsic flavour of the ingredients always taking centre stage. The culinary art of the kitchen team is honest and of the highest quality – and tastes incredibly good. South Tyrolean specialities are featured on the menu alongside Mediterranean cuisine – the former distinctive and traditional, the latter light and spicy, and together, they create a first-class gourmet experience. Much is made in-house: Bread, cakes, pasta dough, vinegar, jams, and much more.
Breakfast is served, guests enjoy a traditional Marende in the afternoon, and from 7 pm, they can choose between a full menu or à la carte from the daily changing menu. In the evening, guests can opt for the 3⁄4-gourmet board or à la carte in the in-house Kaminstube restaurant.
Those wishing to dine out simply inform the reception by 6 pm and receive recommendations for the Petrus team’s favourite restaurants. As the three sisters are also creative when it comes to culinary delights, they have created other highlights such as the Petrus.Secret.Picnic. A culinary treasure hunt through Riscone and a mixture of brunch and aperitivo in the most beautiful natural surroundings.
The Restaurant “Kaminstube” has been awarded by Gault Millau with 16 from 20 points (3 hoods) and from Falstaff with 88 from 100 points (2 forcs). Watching head chef Hannes Baumgartner and his kitchen brigade at work reveals why. First and foremost, chef Baumgartner checks what is currently ripening in the garden and what is in season. All other products are sourced from local suppliers who reliably deliver quality and also pay attention to seasonal offers.
The synergy between garden and kitchen works so well because senior host Hans, who tends the garden, is in constant communication with the kitchen team: one mentions what is currently growing, the others think about what they could create from it, and then share what they will soon need. A well-functioning cycle.
Cooking gluten-free and paying attention to intolerances is a matter of course for the Petrus kitchen team: separate coolers, separate storage, separate oven, separate pots – great care is taken here regarding guests’ food allergies.
Certified sommeliers for wine and beer are also part of the Petrus team. Host Brigitte knows the wines well and has a large selection of South Tyrolean wines stored in the vinotheque.
For a good beer, guests can turn to staff member Vicky.
Gourmet friendship with three-star Michelin Chef Norbert Niederkofler
Three-star Michelin chef Norbert Niederkofler and the Aichner family share a long-standing friendship, which Petrus guests benefit from as well. Those wishing to spend an evening at the “Atelier Moessmer Norbert Niederkofler” can have one of the coveted tables reserved and also receive a small surprise upon arrival. Petrus guests get a 10% discount on the cooking classes with the star chef and also on his book.
Wellness at the Petrus Dohóame Spa The creative touch of the sisters is also evident in the spacious spa area, where they use local natural products: Guests experience the positive effects of sheep’s wool combined with peat, willow bark, pine shavings, linen, and medicinal herbs on the body in the Lana relaxation room. Guests can experience the scent of freshly cut hay and its impact on the body and immune system in the Fieno room. The Cirmolo room, with five waterbeds, focuses entirely on the effects of pine wood, known for its health-promoting, calming properties. The reflexology bench stimulates the soles of the feet with dried cherry stones. Walking barefoot on the forest floor path with mosses and spruce cones in the spa courtyard makes grounding yourself easy.
Wald, Stadl, Fiori, Sole, and Bio are the names of the five saunas, and their names speak for themselves: WALD is the largest sauna, with temperatures ranging from 90 to 95 °C, offering views into the courtyard and of Plan de Corones. STADL with dimmed lighting and 90 °C is made from old barn wood. FIORI is the flower bio-sauna with 65 °C. SOLE is the steam bath with mountain salt and 45 °C. BIO is the textile sauna with 65 °C in the pool area.
The 25-metre-long indoor and outdoor pool, with a temperature of 30 °C, is half in the open air and half under a covered area, including an XXL couch. In summer, guests can enjoy the beautiful weather, while in winter, they can view the snowy surroundings from the warm water. Next to the large pool is the 35 °C warm relax whirlpool and the in-house Water & Wood Gym. It is equipped with elegant training devices, mostly made of wood and operating with water resistance instead of electricity.
Family Aichner
Reinthalstraße 11
I-39031 Riscone-Brunico
South Tyrol – Italy
info@hotelpetrus.com
T +39 0474 54 82 63
hotelpetrus.com