After extensive renovation work, the hotel and restaurant "Wallerei" celebrated its opening on Friday.
The young team is looking forward to the guests who have already booked for the coming weekends.
However, those expecting a traditional Bavarian establishment might be surprised.
Walchensee – Even if the Walchensee is a tourist magnet, the range of hotels in the 600-strong district of Kochel has so far been manageable.
At least that changed a bit on Friday: After a year of renovations, Lilian Günzel opened her new hotel and restaurant, the "Wallerei".
Before the "Wallerei" was here the former "Schwaigerhof"
The house on the approximately 3000 square meter property is located directly on the western shore of Lake Walchen.
"It's one of the oldest houses here in the village," says Günzel at the on-site visit to our newspaper.
She herself grew up in the adjoining Café Seehof.
Before the "Wallerei" was here the former "Schwaigerhof".
After the death of the owner, Josef Heilinglechner from Walchensee bought the building and leased it to Lilian Günzel.
It started last year with a pop-up beer garden
Last year you could already visit the pop-up beer garden on sunny summer days (we reported).
"The beer garden ran a bit alongside the construction work," reports Günzel.
“But on some days there was really something going on.” She and her young team of ten are now hoping for the same from the reopening of the hotel.
Guests can expect a lounge with a pool table and a fireplace, as well as a bowling alley in the basement.
There is also a beer garden, a bar, a breakfast room and a restaurant with a view of the lake in the old room.
The gastronomy offers can also be used by day guests.
The spacious garden is also available to hotel guests.
"There will soon be a barrel sauna here," reveals Günzel.
If you leave the house and cross the street, there is another terrace right on the water with access to the lake - also exclusively for hotel guests.
The chairs in the restaurant, for example, come from the earlier hotel rooms
"When renovating the house, we completely redesigned parts and kept other things as good as possible." In Günzel's eyes, the mixture is what makes it so charming.
The chairs in the restaurant, for example, come from the earlier hotel rooms and have only been newly upholstered.
Günzel had the tiled stove demolished and put back up with the same dark green tiles.
In general, the color green runs through the entire hotel.
"We want to bring nature into the house."
By the way: Everything from the region is also available in our regular Bad Tölz newsletter.
The economist lent a hand with some of the work, such as laying the tiles and tearing out the carpets.
In the process, some unexpected treasures came to light, reports Günzel.
"In the living room we discovered a herringbone parquet floor under the old carpet, which we then reprocessed and installed."
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Retro chic: A glimpse into one of the bathrooms in the ten double rooms.
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The hotel offers ten double rooms
The ten double rooms - some have the option of adding an extra bed for children - are furnished in a minimalist style.
"It was important to us that the focus was on sleeping and relaxing." The mattresses and blankets are of very high quality.
The bedsteads are from the old hotel.
There is no television.
"It's intentional, we want to create an atmosphere in which you can relax and take a break from hectic everyday life," explains the managing director.
The room price per night is between 130 and 165 euros.
Modern gastronomy concept in the restaurant
While there will be classic dishes in the beer garden, Günzel and her team are trying out a modern concept in the restaurant.
"There is a small seasonal menu and the intention is that you order everything off the menu." Dishes are served on small plates.
“The idea behind it is that you try things out and share the aisles.
Eating should be a shared experience.” Of course, you don't have to order every course.
"We are flexible and also have vegan dishes." Mainly regional, seasonal products are processed.
"We work with local fishermen and hunters," assures the managing director.
You won't find an avocado or mango in the Wallerei.
Natural wines or non-alcoholic cocktails are served as accompaniments.
“Since many people come here by car,
we want to offer a variety of non-alcoholic drinks.
It doesn't always have to be apple spritzer," says Magdalena Wagner, who is responsible for reception, among other things.
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The house has stood on the western shore of Lake Walchensee since the 18th century.
However, it is not listed as a monument.
© arp
"Many of the guests come from northern Germany, a few from Bavaria"
The team expects to appeal to a nature-loving clientele.
The house is fully booked for the first few weekends.
"Many of the guests come from northern Germany, a few from Bavaria." The reception even has a few reservations from guests from America and Denmark.
Wedding couples have registered for the coming year.
“We can handle small celebrations with around 50 people.” The lakeside terrace is ideal for free weddings.
It is important for them to show flexibility.
"We are prepared for holidaymakers as well as for short stays." An expansion is also already planned.
"In the long term, we want to convert more rooms into guest rooms." The entire team currently lives in the house.
By the way, the name of the hotel is a play on words.
"Wallerei" refers to the name of the Walchensee in the 13th century.
"Back then they said 'Wallersee'," explains the boss.
The suffix "-rei" stands for the trades behind the industry.
"It sounds like carpentry or painting." One point was important to Lilian Günzel when choosing a name: "It should be female, like me."
You can find even more current news from the region around at Merkur.de/Bad Tölz.