Host and history

History

Hotel Kirchenwirt: from a coach stop to a 4-star superior Hotel

1616: The "Kirchenwirt" was built as a stop for coaches and riders

This meaningful date is written in stone in the bay of the restaurant's entrance. The number of guests passing through, sheltering their horses, eating and spending the night continued to grow. Couriers delivered their messages and letters here. The Kirchenwirt became a meeting place for important affairs. And it became a place for the residents to stop in after a service in the parish church across the street. That's how the Kirchenwirt got its name: The innkeeper by the church.

1956 was the beginning of the Rieser Family's era

Grandfather Johann Rieser bought the Kirchenwirt with his wife Anna. He was born in Reith in 1906, she in 1913. They had started a family in Pertisau on the Achensee but returned to their home town.

Read more about the development of the Hotel Kirchenwirt in the following two decades

Their third son Ernst, who was born in 1939 in Pertisau, came with them to Reith because he was to follow in his father's footsteps. He did this succesfully after finishing school in Schaz. In 1960, Ernst married Annalies, a waitress in the hotel, and the two became the parents of five healthy children.

Father Johann Rieser had already added two floors to the hotel and transformed the stall into a hall, but he kept the butchering room in the basement to butcher the meat from his cattle and pigs. He was always of the opinion that a proprietor can't survive without his own farm so he leased the close-by Messner farm from the parish church.  He raised sheep, cattle and pigs here and was especially well-know for his achievements in cattle breeding. This is a passion he shares with his son, Ernst. He prefers being a farmer more than a proprietor, but Annelies masters the restaurant successfully with some help from her mother-in-law Anna in the kitchen.

1976: Ernst and Annelies turned the Kirchenwirt into a 4-star hotel with indoor pool and sauna

75 beds were added and the Hotel Kirchenwirt advanced to a 4-star hotel. A hotel bar generated a good income and the live music added the pep. In 1962, the first of five sons, Hansi, was born. All five of the children were born on the second floor of the Kirchenwirt! After finishing his training at the hotel management school "Villa Blanka" in Innsbruck and passing the concessionary examination and the apprentice trainer examination, Hansi set about working in the family-run business.

1985: Hansi married Veronika...

...And is lucky enough to have three healthy children with her: Julia, Martin and Daniel.

1991: Renovations for luxury vacations in the Hotel Kirchenwirt

The entire central section was torn down and a completely new building with luxury rooms and suites with private saunas and whirlpools, canopy beds and tiled stoves was fitted in to ensure our position as forerunner in the industry. The disco "Silberdistel", with room for up to 200 guests, was established in the basement. It was one of the most popular in the region (also known by the name of "Tropical") and was successful for approximately 20 years.

2008: A large spa area emerged

The family council decided to modernize all of the rooms and to give up the former disco in favor of a large spa area.  Together with the indoor pool, we now have a spa area of approximately 850m².

The future begins now...

All three children are deeply connected to the Hotel Kirchenwirt. We, Hans and Veronika, are looking forward to a successful future in our 4-star superior Hotel "Der Kirchenwirt" in Reith in Alpbachtal, which has been categorised for 5 years and tested by mystery guests.