Welcome to what is likely the most beautiful estate between Brenner and Lake Garda. We’re in Tramin, the wine capital of South Tyrol. The renowned winemaker Elena Walch is based here, alongside the highly acclaimed Hofstätter winery. Just a short distance away, you’ll even find the famous Alois Lageder winemakers.
If you visit Ansitz Schneckart by car, you’ll glide into an underground garage adorned with artwork, while soft birdsong floats from hidden speakers. Next, you step into a grand hall with a stone floor from the nearby Veneto region, and immediately think to yourself: This is the perfect way to start a holiday.
The house
Ansitz Schneckart is a dream come true. Built in the 15th century, it boasts 15 rooms and suites, a pool, sauna, and a magnificent kitchen that guests are welcome to use all day long. The property offers stunning views across the South Tyrolean lowlands, with Neumarkt to the front and Lake Caldaro on the left.
That was, and still is, the guiding vision. What makes this house truly special is the exceptional quality of every space, every room, and the terrace, where you swim in a magical, elongated swimming pool.
The creators
The vision was brought to life by Munich friends Timo Schneckenburger and Werner Eckart, who stumbled upon the completely dilapidated house during a trip in 2014. They bought it as a ruin in 2020 and spent three years lovingly restoring it with the help of local architect Zeno Bampi. A special mention goes to Timo’s wife, Inge Schneckenburger, an interior designer who took care of every detail – the art, the décor, and the entire interior design. She struck the perfect balance between elegance and understated simplicity. It’s hard to describe, but the house quickly feels like your own private vacation home – albeit a particularly refined one.
The idea
From the beginning, the idea was to create a vacation home for friends and family, explains Timo Schneckenburger. If someone feels like having a glass of wine, they can just head to the wine cellar, grab a bottle at cost price, and enjoy it by the pool. Fancy a cappuccino in the afternoon? Simply pop into the kitchen and play barista with the amazing coffee machine. The kitchen is stocked with essentials like mozzarella, ham, bread, and Parmesan. And it’s true – it’s often annoying when you have to hunt down a waiter, only to receive a little snack (at a high price) after half an hour. “I’d much rather make my own cheese sandwich,” says Timo, who is also a big fan of the South Tyrolean way of life. In the evening, the kitchen is open to all guests as well.
We took full advantage of this during our stay. We grabbed some spaghetti from the cupboard, a little ham from the fridge, some Agromonte tomato sauce, and a bottle of wine from the cellar (11 euros for the bottle). It was simply fantastic.
The rooms
Ansitz Schneckart offers a total of 15 rooms, all of them with a unique layout, but all beautifully renovated. What stands out most is the high quality of the individual pieces of furniture. The art is present but not overwhelming, and the antiques are elegant without feeling stuffy. Even four restored historic tiled stoves have been “rescued.” Every room is equipped with a Nespresso machine for that first coffee in the morning, and the bathrooms feature the latest fixtures. For us it’s a 10 out of 10.
Karaoke
Since the house is also perfect for birthdays or family celebrations, there’s a small, charming room by the pool (formerly the saddle house) equipped with a karaoke system. You can connect a tablet to the TV and try your hand at being the next Lenny Kravitz. It’s always a lot of fun.
Kids
Children are welcome. There’s even a suite with bunk beds for the little ones. However, it’s not exactly a children’s hotel.
The region
Tramin is known as the home of the Gewürztraminer wine. This means you’re surrounded by vineyards and historic houses. From Tramin, you can easily reach Lake Caldaro, and the city of Bolzano is only 20 minutes away. Some guests even take day trips to Lake Garda, though we wouldn’t recommend it. Why head to Lago di Garda when you’re already in paradise?
Special
Eight e-bikes are available for free in the underground garage. They’re perfect for exploring the nearby vineyards or taking an easy ride to Lake Caldaro.
Gastronomie
Next door, there’s is a fantastic restaurant called Ansitz Romani. In Tramin, we would also recommend the Alte Post. Then there’s Schwarz Adler in Kurtatsch, or you can head over to Lake Caldaro and dine right by the water at Gretl am See.
Price
Double rooms and suites range from €250 to €520, depending on size and season. Breakfast, coffee, water, and basics like mozzarella and ham are included at all times. Occasionally, there’s also homemade cake available in the afternoon.
Booking & Contacts
Ansitz Schneckart
Andreas Hofer Straße 21
39040 Tramin,
South Tyrol / Italy
