Present with a past
115 years. Four generations. Four different historical settings. One family.
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The earliest Hippies
In 1905 the Pulmonary Specialist Christian von Mengershausen and his wife Barbara bought a vacant farmhouse located just above the village of Bayrischzell. The property also consisted of a small cottage, a bakehouse, meadows, woods and an alpine pasture.
Inspired by the back-to-nature movement and the teachings of Father SEBASTIAN KNEIPP they founded their naturopathic centre.
"Friend, cease!
Abandon all pretense!"
This quote by Angelus Silesius mirrored Christian's and Barbara's attitude toward life and the purpose of their doing.
Consequently, the modest little cabins they soon set into the hillside above the farmhouse were those that offered the most immediate vicinity to nature. In 1905 the first guests came for their summer retreat.
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Fasting and the 'green pioneer'
In 1934 the second generation came in: Johannes and Ursula (died 1955) and, later, Anneli.
Johannes was a committed naturopath and as such led the Tannerhof to considerable reknown throughout the country.
After the war, in 1953, he braved a new beginning by building an annex to the Alte Tann, thus adding more rooms. Financially, guests lent a helping hand by buying so called 'building blocks'. Johannes, with great determination, introducedthe Buchinger therapeutic fasting
at the Tannerhof and successfully etablished an organic vegetable garden.
In the following years Johannes became more and more dedicated to environment and health politics, eventually becoming an enthusiastic early member of the Green Party in Bavaria.
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The dynamic keepers
Malte and Andrea von Mengershausen – again, both physicians – took over a flourishing sanatorium for naturopathic treatment. The Tannerhof thus became a settled member of the classic German cure scheme.
Their health emphasis as practioners lay on gymnastics and cardiovascular training.Maltes gymnastics became quite famous
and Andrea was tirelessly devoted to guests and employees.Their constructional or decorational emphasis lay on maintaining the existing buildings whilst carefully and modestly adapting to the growing demands: little ensuite bathrooms replaced the outdated shared bathrooms.
In the seventies the swimming pool was built,
which now backs the Orangerie and neighbours the Salon. Maltes sister Nele painted the beautiful Canyon landscape, inspired by the years she had spent in the US.
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New beginnings - back to the roots
In 2004 the classic sanatorium business had become somewhat dated and also the Tannerhof buildings desperately needed some sort of rejuvenation. So the 4th generation of Tannerhof physicians, Burgi and Roger, ventured to
make a new beginning
as Nature Hotel & Health Resort which would also be a great hideaway in the mountains for their guests. Their vision is very much emphasized by the original ideas of the former generations:In times of
superficiality, indifference
and over-materialism people are yearning for a well-grounded 'less is more'. Now here, guests may again 'abandon all pretense'. Just as was done architecurally: the Tannerhof's reconstruction shows contemporary, modern alpine architecture whilst emanating warmheartedness throughout. And it is still the place to be for fasting therapy, really good treatments and great organic cuisine.
