Our history
From farm to 4-star family hotel in Ramsau
Like many hotels in Ramsau am Dachstein, the Hotel Matschner also has its origins as a farm. The name of the farm is probably of Slavic origin (Moca = wetness). The Knaus family has owned the Matschner since 1762.
A look back: the origins in 1604 The history of today's 4-star Hotel Matschner goes back over 400 years. On the site where the modern family hotel in Ramsau is located today, there was once the Matschner-Hof - a traditional farm whose roots can be traced back to 1604. At that time, a Martin Matschner was mentioned in the land register with a monetary donation.
Over the centuries, the estate has changed hands several times. In 1762, Michael Knauß, an ancestor of the current owner family, makes his first appearance. The Knauß family has owned the farm continuously since 1903. The deep roots in the Schladming-Dachstein region still characterize the house today - and form the foundation for an established tradition of hospitality in Styria.
The estate opened its doors to its first summer guests back in the 1920s. Johann Knauß, grandfather of the current generation of owners, recognized the tourist potential of Ramsau early on. In addition to farming, he took in guests, set up a bakery, acquired the Rössinger Hof and, from 1929, ran his own bus service - the “Matschner Bus”.
At a time when free competition was still in its infancy, this was evidence of remarkable pioneering work. After the Second World War, Matthias Knaus and his wife Dorothea took over the estate. With a great deal of personal commitment, they continued to expand the guest facilities. In the early 1960s, the first guest rooms were created, which Dorothea Knaus lovingly looked after.
A stroke of fate marked a deep turning point in 1962: a devastating fire destroyed the entire farm. But instead of giving up, the crisis became a turning point.
Matthias Knaus seized the opportunity and planned a completely new guest house with 25 rooms. This was opened in 1964 - the starting signal for today's Hotel Matschner in Ramsau.
High demand and positive guest feedback led Johann and Brigitte Knaus to expand the hotel to 60 rooms in 1968. The family thus laid the foundations for a hotel open all year round with a wide range of sports and leisure activities - right at the foot of the Dachstein massif.
In the same year, construction began on the public indoor pool, which opened in 1970 as the “Ramsauer Badeparadies”. To this day, the pool is a central part of the tourist infrastructure - and is directly connected to the Hotel Matschner via an underground passageway.
This was completed in 1998 and is the last major structural extension to date. In the years that followed, the hotel continued to develop - with a focus on quality, comfort and a wide range of sports and family activities.
Today, the 4-star Hotel Matschner in Ramsau presents itself as a modern vacation home with deep roots. The family management, the deep connection to the region and the commitment to genuine Styrian hospitality characterize the hotel - summer and winter. The hotel has been constantly modernized through continuous investment.
Rooms and apartments have been stylishly redesigned, additional seminar rooms have been created and sound and heat insulation measures have been implemented. The modernization of the bathrooms also follows the hotel's quality standards: with contemporary equipment, better ventilation and energy-efficient heating technology.
Today, the Hotel Matschner stands for a successful combination of tradition and contemporary comfort - embedded in the impressive natural backdrop of the Dachstein massif.
A place where “tradition & hospitality in Styria” are not just values, but are lived every day.
