Happiness lives at the Zechnerhof

When the two South Tyrolean winegrowers Martina and Günther ask their three boys where they should go on their next vacation, one name always rings out in chorus: "Zechnerhof!" The Leitgeb family's farm towers high above the town of Strasbourg in Carinthia's Gurktal valley. This is the tenth time they and their children have been here and it is far from the last. For the whole family, the vacation begins as soon as they stow their suitcases in the car in Tramin in South Tyrol and start the engine. "We don't need several days to leave the stress of everyday life behind us. As soon as we know we're going to Carinthia, we automatically switch into vacation mode."

An animator called nature

There have been no stressful trips since then, because Martina knows: "You can't compare what we get at the Zechnerhof with a five-star hotel. The children can play outside, they learn how livestock farming works and form close bonds of friendship with other children on the farm." There is no need for artificial evening entertainment, the only entertainer is nature itself. Everyone enjoys themselves here in their own way and yet they are all together. Günther likes to go stalking from time to time, Martina relaxes with long days of swimming at Lake Wörthersee and together they explore the many excursion destinations.

Countless possibilities

The mountains, the clean water, the beautiful panorama as well as the variety and diversity - all of these are associated with pure vacation happiness. And a close friendship has long since developed between guest and host, to the extent that the Leitgeb family likes to travel to South Tyrol to help with the winegrowing before heading back to Carinthia together. Günther wants his children to get to know the other side of farming, away from fruit and wine and towards livestock farming. "We tried all-inclusive vacations by the sea, but quickly realized that it wasn't for us. Everything is just right at the Zechnerhof: the people, the surroundings, the ambience. I see no reason to change."

Friendships for life

And it's not just the host family themselves who look forward to a reunion every year; Jana, Richard and Gabriele Leitgeb's 14-year-old daughter, can hardly wait until the car with the South Tyrolean license plate finally turns the corner. "I was four years old when my parents started the rental business. It was great for me, as I always had someone to play with on the farm." Today she is already actively helping her mother, working around the house as a nimble cleaning fairy or picking berries for the afternoon cake. Her two brothers help their father with the daily chores, and the eldest is already earmarked to take over the farm in the future. "I think the guests like the tranquillity of nature that we have. Nowadays, children are more and more interested in where the food on the supermarket shelves comes from and a ride on the tractor is always an experience anyway."

In any case, Martina and Günther's boys know that they don't need the beach or the sea for a perfect vacation, but rather the forest, meadows, animals and genuine friendships that may last a lifetime.