Castell Matscher

The Castell Matscher is a self-catering annexe to the Krone Hotel in Brixen. The apartment is well appointed, but owing to the very poor location with motorway (A22 to Brenner pass) directly behind the building, it is not quiet or romantic, as advertised! There is constant noise. Good triple glazing does allow one some peace indoors, but using the balcony is impossible, owing to the traffic noise. The apartment is at the top of a steep incline, which is also problematic for those not coming by car as the road is narrow and vehicles travel fast. It is unlit, so walking in the dark is another hazard. Bedroom is spartan, but there is plenty of cupboard space. One hard chair to sit on. Bed has memory foam mattress which is comfortable. However, we paid 250 euros per night for staying here, so I think the standard of the bedroom was poor value for this price. The kitchen was very poorly provisioned, with a fridge and small freezer locker but no ice tray. The freezer compartment was also iced-up. Cutlery and crockery provision was inadequate. I had to wash up after every meal. Not enough of anything! At least supply a bread knife, knife sharpener, a pair of kitchen scissors and several tea-towels. There was a dishwasher but no dishwasher tablets! Dining/living area was again very spartan. Hard chairs and a giant bed affair, but no comfortable easy chairs. Bathroom was good - spacious with excellent shower, good lighting and plenty of towels. The only area that matched the price level... remember we paid 250 euros per night to stay here. There was an additional charge of 50 euros for cleaning and "sanitisation" - surely a rip-off from Covid times, and quite unjustifiable now. Finally, when we asked to see a member of management, the Receptionist told us no-one was available and had no idea when anybody would be available to address our issues. This reflects very poorly on a well-established 4* hotel in a very popular tourist destination. Walkability Big fat zero unless you are fit and strong. The apartments are not a stone's throw. You need to be able to walk uphill with luggage to get here. The road is narrow, relatively busy and unlit. Noteworthy details Brixen/Bressanone is lovely and we shall come here again. The Brixen card is a wonderful bonus and we used it every day, whether to visit the Acquarama, catch a local bus (No 123) to get to Plose mountain area, or indeed use the ski lifts there to climb higher. Local train journeys, as far as Trento are also possible with the card, saving you lots of money. We loved the town and will re-visit next autumn, but will definitely not be staying at Castell Matscher, nor will we recommend it to any of our friends.