Italie, TyrolOctober 26, 2025, by Maartje

Einäugl, Briol, South Tyrol, Italy: disconnect in the Dolomites

Accommodation
Italie, Tyrol, October 26, 2025, by Maartje

Einäugl, Briol, South Tyrol, Italy: disconnect in the Dolomites

On the slopes above Barbiano, at an altitude of over 1300 meters in South Tyrol's Eisack Valley, lies something you wouldn't immediately expect: a round, newly built wooden hotel that looks as if someone has planted a telescope in the landscape. Ta-da, that's a hotel. Einäugl, the newest part of the old Gasthof Briol, a place that was built in 2021 on the site where a building burned down in 1982.

Einäugl

Einäugl

The name says it all (try saying it out loud): Einäugl The word "one eye" literally means "one eye." And indeed, thanks to enormous floor-to-ceiling windows, you won't have to look twice. The view of the Dolomites is so stunning it's almost breathtaking. The ten rooms in the round building are minimalist in design: whitewash, wood, terracotta, no frills. All ten have a stunning covered balcony, and there's a sauna in the basement.

Next to Einäugl is the old Gasthof Briol, with rooms that are a little more traditional, but still have that typical South Tyrolean simplicity. And then there is the Isidor Tree House, A fifty-square-meter wooden building nestled among the trees. Half board is served in the Briol lounge, with dishes cooked in an open wood-fire oven. Local, seasonal, and with a wine cellar carved into the rock face.

Barbiano itself lies in the Eisack Valley, nestled among vineyards, chestnut groves, and green slopes. The village is best known for its leaning church tower – with a 1,57-meter tilt, it's practically Pisa's. A little higher up lies the Tre Chiese (Three Churches), a shrine with three adjoining chapels that can only be reached on foot. A one-hour walk will get you there.

The Rittner Horn (Corno del Renon) is the local mountain of 2260 meters high, fantastic views, and in winter a small ski areaIn summer, you can hike across the Barbianer Hochalm, a plateau full of flowers and tranquility. Or you can follow the Keschtnweg, the chestnut trail that is particularly beautiful in autumn – complete with a new panoramic bridge over a gorge. The Barbian Waterfalls are also worth a visit: eight cascades and three large waterfalls accessible via a beautiful path. Brixen is a fifteen-minute drive away, as is Bozen, and the Dolomites are there for the taking. But honestly, the best part is right here: among the trees, with that view.

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