The Mondschein Story – A Name Born from the Mountains
Where danger met destiny, and a tavern became a beacon.
In today’s world, “Mondschein” – the German word for moonlight – might conjure images of romance. Candlelit dinners. Silent winter nights. A poetic alpine dream.
But when this house was named Gasthaus zum Mondschein in 1739, romance had little to do with it. Back then, “moonlight” meant survival.
A Light in the Darkness
Stuben am Arlberg was one of the most isolated winter passes in all of Europe. Avalanches, deep snow, and biting winds made travel perilous. But still, people had to cross.
At night, when the snow hardened and the risk of slides was lower, wagoners and travelers gathered in the tavern of the Mondschein. They waited for the full moon to rise – because only then could they risk the crossing. The moon lit the path over the treacherous Arlberg pass, reflecting off the frozen slopes like silver armor.
Inside the inn, they drank, they warmed up, they listened to the wind. And when it was time, they saddled their horses, settled their bill, and disappeared into the moonlit mountains – toward the next shelter in St. Christoph, guided only by instinct and the pale light of the sky.
The Mondschein was their refuge before the journey. And its name? A silent promise that even in the darkest night, light would come.
From a Tavern to a Time Capsule
Today, the word “Mondschein” evokes elegance, warmth, and alpine charm. But behind that name lies a legacy of courage, grit, and extraordinary transformation.
This house – now Hotel Mondschein – is not a museum. It is alive. Its walls have seen centuries of storm and snow, but also laughter, invention, and inspiration.
Every corner tells a story.
Every stay becomes part of it.
Why It Still Matters – And Always Will
Because luxury today isn’t only marble bathtubs and fine wine. It’s meaning. It’s roots. It’s staying in a place that knows where it came from – and where it’s going.
Hotel Mondschein is that place.
