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Holistic and Sustainable
in Being, in Action, Today for Tomorrow

Zum Hirschen is going green

Life in the mountains is a harmonious interplay of humans, animals, and the environment. The limited resources have always demanded careful decision-making: limited and hard-to-reach cultivation areas, extreme climatic conditions, and physically intensive working conditions leave no room for trial and error strategies. Additionally, there's the historical heritage and social responsibility towards the community.

Therefore, sustainability is, so to speak, part of our DNA. And precisely because of this, and with a view to future generations, we are increasingly placing this mindfulness at the center of our products, services, and offerings, actively passing it on to our guests.

The continuation of a historic family business, especially in remote locations, is inherently an act of sustainability, as entrepreneurial activity with fair, locally and socially compatible development is part of the history and everyday culture of a mountain village.

We see the preservation and return to the values of hospitality as part of South Tyrolean cultural heritage: the daily "caffè al volo"  espresso coffee at the bar counter is a social meeting point for residents in their everyday lives. They exchange ideas, share experiences and news, meet guests, and encounter new perspectives. This exchange sensitizes and fosters understanding on both sides, contributing to socially compatible tourism and also to a positive attitude among the local population.

In the CERVO kitchen, sustainability, authenticity, and regionalism mean creating a bridge. A bridge that connects the awareness and pride of our heritage with new approaches. Here, flavors and essences from the forest and meadow come together with selected ingredients from local producers - always with a story behind them that aligns with our 'Slow-sophie'. For example, traditional mountain herbs from the Kofl Hof Farm in San Felice meet "Salmone Dolomiti" salmon or 58 chocolate meets Alps Coffee organic espresso. The cheese comes from local diary cooperative Latteria Sociale di Fondo and from the Roatnockerhof farm, just a few steps away, refined meet products such us Speck, Ham and Salami from our family farm, the Widumhof, paired with fine wines from the independent winemakers of South Tyrol. And what others don't do, we simply do ourselves. With some inherited, some new recipes, we produce a variety of items in our kitchen workshop.

Genius loci, the spirit of a place, is defined as an indeterminate spirituality, a mental atmosphere. The village "Unsere Liebe Frau im Walde" (Our Lady in the Woods) is a historic pilgrimage site on the linguistic and cultural border between South Tyrol and neighboring Trentino. The concept at Zum Hirschen brings this spiritual essence of the place together with the architecture of the house in an unadulterated way: be it the minimalist rooms, the reduced interior, or the calm, contemplative ambiance. Thus, vacationing in the mountains is more than just hiking, alpine pastures, and good food; it's a conscious engagement with history, place, nature, and - above all - with oneself.

The integration of ecological sustainability into our operations encompasses various processes within the hotel. Some are immediately recognizable to guests, such as the charging station for electric-cars, the provision of the Suedtirol Guest Pass for free access to public transportation, the conscious avoidance of air-freighted produce, canned foods, or single-use packaging at breakfast, as well as active waste separation in all hotel premises. Additionally, the option for guests to choose a delayed bed linen change and individual towel replacement encourages active participation in reducing laundry processes. Guests arriving by public transport receive a discounted room rate.

Our commitment to environmental protection also extends behind the scenes. For example, we exclusively use green electricity from the local company Alperia and heat with pellets as a renewable energy source. During renovations, we opted for an energy-efficient construction method (Casa Clima B standards in South Tyrol) in harmony with the historical identity of the building, consciously foregoing common standards. This includes amenities such as televisions and minibars in every room, which we replaced with a snack-box featuring regional snacks and drinks.

For Zum Hirschen Hotel, as a holder of the sustainability label in South Tyrol, this emblem represents our commitment to a green future in the region. Guided by the criteria of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), our efforts ensure that we actively contribute to protecting and preserving the unique nature and community in our area.

Our guests can rely on us to pursue a sustainable strategy aimed at minimizing our energy, water, and CO2 consumption. We already employ renewable energy sources and use environmentally friendly cleaning products, while actively working to reduce waste and avoid food waste. Through these measures, we aim not only to minimize our ecological footprint but also to encourage our guests to become part of this sustainable journey.

Mirko Mocatti
traditions innovator

"Knowing the history of the Gasthof zum Hirschen as a former pilgrims' hostel, I was better able to conceptualise what it could become..."

 

"Knowing the history of the Gasthof zum Hirschen as a former pilgrims' hostel, I was better able to conceptualise what it could become. The past tells me much about the future. But only living in the ‘here and now’ enables me to appreciate all that our surroundings have to offer. To share these experiences with our guests, gives me great pleasure”.

 

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#A new ambience within ancient walls

Rooms in an old pilgrim’s hospice

During the extensive renovations in 2017, the Zum Hirschen Hotel in Val di Non (South Tyrol), rediscovered its centuries-old origins as a medieval pilgrim’s hospice, run by the Hospitaller and Benedictine religious orders. The former took on the task of guiding pilgrims through the swamps in the valleys to safety in what was then known as a hospitium peregrinorum. Luckily, the marshes have long since ...