The invigorating powers of the mythical Hercynian Forest
In his Gallic Wars, in which he recounts his ten years of military campaigns against the people of Western and Northern Europe, Julius Caesar describes the Hercynian Forest. This mythical name refers to an immense forest, unspoilt by any kind of human activity, preserved since the prehistoric era in its original wild state. After the account given by Caesar in particular, a number of writers agreed in thinking that the Harz mountain range was one of the last vestiges of the Hercynian Forest, to which it owes the roots of its name. Even though man has, since the Middle Ages, exploited its famous silver mines and chopped down its trees for wood to build houses, and even though the former GDR installed a military observation site at the summit of the Brocken, its highest point, the ancient mountain range remains a captivating wild natural landscape. It uniquely experiences the lowest temperatures and the strongest winds in Germany, yet it is above all one of the most pleasant natural environments to travel around. Here one can catch a glimpse of wolves, black storks, large stags, and Eurasian lynx; one can visit sites with evocative names such as the Devil's Wall, the Unicorn Cave, the Stone Church, and the Rhume spring, which are all such impressive sites, particularly the incredible jagged rocks. They each form part of extraordinary legends such as that of the witches' dancing ground, which is a rocky headland offering a breathtaking view of the Bode Valley, where the witches, succubi and incubi, led by the horned devil, were said to celebrate their Sabbath on Walpurgis night between 30th April and 1st May. Thus the bar of the Best Western Premier Vital Hotel is called Hexenkeller (witches'cellar), and its interior design evokes the world of witchcraft which so terrified the medieval people and which is today pleasantly enjoyed by the hotel guests.
The aim of the hotel is to share the invigorating qualities of Harz : its unique nature, its cuisine, its traditions, and its legends. The hotel's roots are deep: it has existed in its current location since 1732, and was therefore the first thermal spa in Saxony. The current building was constructed in 1904, for which it has earned classification as a Historic Monument, and was extended in the 20th century. The earlier part of the building shows clear Jugendstil influences. Indeed it resembles the prestigious Liberty & Co. department store in London, which was so emblematic of the Art Nouveau style that the Italians called the trend "Stile Liberty". Its half-timbering, its size and architectural ‘flourishes' of curves and arcs, and its mouldings are typical of the style. At the beginning of the 20th century, the hotel was the favourite among international visitors to the thermal resort, who already enjoyed its unique elegance. It was also the meeting place for the town's high society, the place where its often brilliant cultural life took shape (operas still take place, during season, in the thermal park).
Yet the hotel has always kept a firm grip on its surroundings, which inspire every moment and every detail during a stay within its walls. The Best Western Premier Vital Hotel is an authentic mountain property as is evident in its ubiquitous use of wood. However, far from the rustic simplicity of a chalet, the hotel offers a particularly elegant and bright design, which creates an impression of class and vitality. Inspired by its natural setting and the springs in Bad Sachsa, the Best Western Premier Vital Hotel is above all a healthy invigorating place. The generosity of facilities and size of rooms, the quality of the treatments in the health centre, and the cheerful attentiveness of each member of staff, all contribute to the feeling of well-being. The sophisticated, yet unpretentious, cuisine, allows guests to discover the unique character of the region : stag meat, wild boar, beef (a breed called "Red" from the Harz mountain range), and trout, have created and upheld the reputation of the restaurant for over a hundred years.
The natural light that bathes every corner of the Best Western Premier Vital Hotel is, without doubt, the element that most justifies the hotel's name. It accompanies guests from the very first hours of the day as an invitation to recharge oneself in its mythical setting.
| Best Western Premier Vital Hotel Bad Sachsa |
| Am Kurpark 1-3, Bad Sachsa, Germany - 37441 |
| Phone: 49 (0) 5523-94380 Fax: 49 (0) 5523-1024 |
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