We loved this hotel (included in a frommer travel guide) as well as the village and the surrounding area. After traversing the spectacular and somewhat intimidating grossglocknerstrasse over the alps, we arrived in Lienz, a distinctly non-touristy area, tucked in a beautiful river valley between green alpine hills on one side and rocky and imposing Dolomites on the other. We wiled away an afternoon sitting in the sun-dappled garden of this hotel and enjoying excellent local cuisine, including kase spazele and roasted trout.

That's not all. Evidently, the hotel has recently undergone a renovation and the rooms were spanking new and fully equipped with sparkling bathrooms with all amenities. Add to this a BIG elevator (unusual in Europe), good value, a friendly staff and a great breakfast and we found it hard to believe that more people haven't discovered this area AND this hotel in the southern Tyrol in Austria.