Hotel with a Natural Pool in Bavaria: 25 Metres Below the Wendelstein

Key points at a glance

• The new 25-metre stainless-steel outdoor natural pool at the Tannerhof is cleaned entirely biologically, without any chlorine.
• Set beside the new BadeHarpfe by architect Florian Nagler, the pool offers an unobstructed view of the Wendelstein.
• From April to October the water is heated, supported by an on-site photovoltaic array with 900 modules planned.
• In winter the pool becomes a basin for healthy ice bathing, ideal paired with the 85-degree-Celsius panorama sauna.

The power of biology: what a natural pool is and how it differs

Anyone looking for a gentle transition from activity to recovery will find an untouched centrepiece on the alpine meadow slope at Naturhotel Tannerhof in Bayrischzell. The new 25-metre outdoor natural pool plays a central role not only within our holistic health programmes, but also for pleasure, wellness and relaxation. The slim basin of cool stainless steel settles harmoniously into the rising mountain meadow and gives swimmers a wide, open view between the Wendelstein and the Sonnwendjoch. This is no ordinary swimming pool, but a biologically balanced system that works entirely without chlorine chemistry and speaks to the senses.

• Conventional chlorine outdoor pools rely on chemical disinfection that often irritates skin and eyes. Our natural pool does without it entirely.
• Traditional natural bathing ponds use lush planting zones for cleaning, which can lead to algae growth. The stainless-steel basin stays completely clear and clean.
• The water in the natural pool feels noticeably softer on the skin, smells purely of mountain air and leaves no red eyes.

Biological cleaning: clarity through natural forces

The cleaning of the water rests on a sophisticated external filter system in a closed loop. Without any chemical additives, natural micro-organisms continuously break down organic matter and keep the water crystal clear. The result is a velvety-soft bathing sensation that lets the skin breathe and spares sensitive mucous membranes. The basin is heated from April to October in an environmentally friendly way, supported in summer by the energy of our on-site photovoltaic array. In this way, considered building culture is combined with deep respect for the valley's resources.

25 metres of stainless steel: an architectural statement on the mountain

In front of the wide meadow of the atelier, a new element fits into the slope that feels almost sculptural in its clear plainness. Our 25-metre-long and 5-metre-wide natural pool of ground stainless steel draws a precise line into the alpine green of Naturhotel Tannerhof. Anyone swimming their laps here looks straight out at the wide panorama between the Wendelstein and the Sonnwendjoch. The basin was deliberately placed so that it respects the topography of the terrain and nestles harmoniously against the surrounding hay meadows.

The bond between material and nature

The choice of stainless steel at the Tannerhof was no aesthetic accident, but the outcome of consistent sustainability. The durable material reflects the alpine sky light in shifting shades, from cool morning grey to the deep blue of late afternoon. The water is cleaned entirely biologically and without any chlorine chemistry. A sophisticated filter technology ensures soft, skin-friendly water quality that avoids the typical eye irritation of conventional chlorine pools. Directly above the pool stretches the BadeHarpfe, a timber structure designed by architect Florian Nagler that carries the pool's pared-back formal language forward as a still counterpoint.

• Dimensions and material: 25 by 5 metres of pure, durable stainless steel for undisturbed sporting swimming.
• Biological cleaning: near-natural water treatment without the use of chlorine for a particularly soft feel on the skin.
• Alpine outlook: an open view of the striking peaks between the Wendelstein and the Sonnwendjoch.

This interplay of raw metal, clear spring water and the surrounding nature shows that modern wellness architecture needs no overloaded halls to have a deep effect. It is a place of conscious transition, where the cool precision of stainless steel meets the gentle wildness of the Upper Bavarian mountain world.

The BadeHarpfe: Florian Nagler's homage to alpine traditions

With the BadeHarpfe, built in 2025, a place has emerged at Naturhotel Tannerhof that quietly unites alpine building tradition and timeless restraint. Designed by the renowned Munich architect Florian Nagler, the slim timber structure takes its cue from the hay dryers of the Alpine region, those archaic frames that traditionally let hay and grain dry in the wind. Running parallel to the contour line, the delicate beam construction nestles carefully into the wide meadow slope and deliberately does without a closed, heated tunnel to the main house. The short walk across the mountain meadow sharpens our mind for what matters.

The heart of this new ensemble is the 25-metre stainless-steel natural pool resting directly in front of it, lying like an untouched mirror in the green slope and doing entirely without chlorine chemistry. Inside the BadeHarpfe, the unadorned line continues, which Florian Nagler has masterfully reduced to a fitting measure. A two-storey void at the centre opens the building upwards and creates a light-filled atmosphere for movement and meditative stillness.

• A Finnish panorama sauna at a temperature of 85 degrees Celsius, whose broad glass surfaces open up the view of the surrounding peaks.
• A wood-scented quiet room with wrap-around glazing and comfortable Weißhäupl Maliha loungers, inviting you to be present and to linger.
• Two functional fitness rooms with high-quality Eleiko equipment for targeted strength training and Technogym for endurance sessions.

The BadeHarpfe sees itself as an architectural commitment to simplicity and clarity, far from classic spa staging. When, after the sauna, your gaze drifts across the wide stainless-steel pool over to the Wendelstein and the Sonnwendjoch, arriving in your own rhythm becomes tangible. This is not about glamorous staging, but about an honest encounter with air, wood, warmth and water.

Soft water through the year: from a summer morning to winter ice bathing

The large natural outdoor pool settles quietly into the gentle mountain meadow in front of the BadeHarpfe. It is a quiet lead player in the open space of Naturhotel Tannerhof, unshowy and yet with a powerful presence. From April to October, the water warmed to a pleasant temperature invites the first morning laps while the mist still hangs low in the valley. This sustainable warmth comes straight from the roof of the house, where around 900 photovoltaic modules will, once fully built out, generate clean solar energy and help supply the pool. The soft, biologically cleaned water caresses the body entirely without chlorine chemistry. It does not sting the eyes, smells only of fresh mountain air and leaves a wonderfully velvety feeling on the skin.

The natural pool changes its character with the rhythm of the Bavarian foothills:

• Morning laps in May: when nature awakens, you swim the first laps in the crystal-clear, heated stainless-steel basin, surrounded by the fresh green of the mountain meadows.
• Summer days in July: after a hike or a spa treatment, the soft water cools you gently while your gaze drifts far up to the Wendelstein.
• Autumn mist in October: the last warm bathing days of the year are accompanied by mystical veils of mist dancing over the water surface.
• Ice bathing in January: in the cold season, the unheated basin becomes a natural cold bath for conscious recovery and mental strength.

When winter arrives and snow covers the meadows, the natural pool turns into a stage for health-promoting ice bathing. The ice-cold water demands conscious resolve and deep breathing, yet rewards the body with intense circulation and a deep inner calm. This cold application is an elementary building block for strengthening your own defences lastingly, and integrates well into the medically supervised Immune Booster Program, for instance as part of a healthy Tannerhof break. After the cold bath, the cosy warmth of the adjoining panorama sauna beckons, while your gaze rests quietly between the Wendelstein and the Sonnwendjoch.