April 1999: Twelve motorbike-loving restaurateurs made their way to Lake Chiemsee and met at the Hotel Zur Post in Törwang am Samerberg. Together with host Wolfgang Pallauf and partner hotel founder Rudolf Kuhl, they laid the foundation for the TOUREN-FAHRER hoteliers' regular specialist meetings. Since then, with three exceptions, there have been two meetings a year: in April and October, at the beginning and end of the motorbike season.
All partner house operators are invited to take part in these meetings. Over the course of time, a ‘hard core’ has also emerged. Willi and Sabine from the Berggasthof Beverin in Switzerland, for example, Uli, the Harley rider from the Sauerland, or the Gärtners from the Vogelsberg, to name but a few. Real friendships have developed. They meet up from time to time, celebrate a milestone birthday together or even go on holiday together. Just last year, some of them ‘tested’ Christian's Andalusia tours and were simply thrilled with how the Eifel forester's lodge boss organises and runs these tours. However, Markus and Franz from the Black Forest cannot be beaten. They were there at all the meetings!
Not even Rudolf has managed that, although it was all his initiative. Over 30 years ago, he began visiting hotels that advertised themselves as motorbike-friendly. This resulted in 56 hotels, which were presented in a small brochure in 1996 – the first Hotel Special was born. The community quickly grew, so that since the 18th edition in 2013/2014, it has been split into a Germany and a Europe issue. Incidentally, the 30th edition of this booklet, which is also popular in the internet age, will be published in spring 2025.
October 2024: After twenty-five and a half years, the 50th meeting was due to take place. Naturally, it had to take place exactly where the whole thing had started. There was no discussion, even though the journey to the south-east of the republic was quite long for most people. So some came by van or trailer or made a longer journey out of it and added a few days holiday on top. Rudolf travelled with Ron and Sylvie from the Hôtel de la Sûre in Luxembourg and his Eifel colleagues Ralf and Gabi, the senior chefs from Haus Diefenbach, and the ‘electors’ Lilli and Denis from Kaisersesch to Klaus at his Hotel Zur Post in Klotten on the Moselle. He had already spent a lot of time in the kitchen spoiling his friends with culinary delights.
After an enjoyable evening, they travelled together to Bad Peterstal-Griesbach in the Black Forest to the Hotel Schützen to pick up Markus and Petra. The next morning, Franz from the Hotel Waldblick in nearby Schenkenzell joined them. On the way to the Swabian Alb, there was suddenly one more motorbike in the group. Daniel, the junior from the Hotel Rebstock in Ettenheim-Münchweier, and his girlfriend Alina had recognised the TF hosts by their blue luggage rolls and rode the rest of the route with them. On Monday evening, the team was almost completely assembled at the hotel, with only a few arriving for the official start on Tuesday.
Of course, motorbikes were also ridden that day. Due to the persistent early morning fog, however, nobody was in a real hurry, so many didn't start until around eleven o'clock. Several small groups came together, one of which was led by Rudolf. His destination was the Große Ahornboden or Eng-Alm, accessible via a beautiful little road from Vorderriß, which was subject to a toll on the Austrian side after Hinterriß. On the way there, they travelled through the beautiful Upper Bavarian Alpine foothills, past Schliersee and Tegernsee, through Jachenau and to Walchensee. The toll road from Wallgau to Vorderriß along the Isar is always a highlight. But regardless, this area is worth every cent – in the off-season …
Another group followed their host Wolfgang in exactly the opposite direction. His destination was the Eagle's Nest near Berchtesgaden. A round trip via the Roßfeldhöhenring road would only have been half as interesting due to the low-hanging clouds, so instead he headed straight for the Obersalzberg Documentation Centre. Here they had to change to a bus, as the narrow Kehlsteinstraße has been closed to private transport for decades. About halfway along the route, the clouds broke through and sensational views opened up.
So everyone had a full day's programme and back at the hotel, things continued seamlessly. Not only was the official opening with all the participants due, but also Wolfgang's birthday. And this was celebrated in the main hall with pork knuckles, dumplings and live Bavarian music. It was a real cliché and really nice. And with Ewald, the Fischerwirt from Bayerisch Eisenstein, as another birthday boy, the party mood was never-ending.
‘Tomorrow we'll do the same tour as the first meeting 25 years ago,’ announced Wolfgang. Due to the morning fog and because the tour was only about 160 kilometres long, the obligatory group photo was not scheduled until ten o'clock. In perfect autumn weather, the TF hoteliers then set off in three groups via the Tatzelwurm road to the Sudelfeld road and took their first break at the top of the pass at the ‘Schnauferl Wirt 1123er’, which was then called Café Kotz. A clean, fast route with wide bends – and therefore also speed-limited ...
They continued to Bayerischzell via the Ursprung Pass to Kufstein and past the Wilder Kaiser to St. Johann. Lunch was reserved at the Griesner Alm, which was completely rebuilt in a modern style after a major fire three years ago. For dessert, so to speak, there was a tour and tasting at the Plangger cheese dairy in Sebi, before the tour came to an end via Sachrang and Aschau.
For dinner, all the best of regional cuisine were brought out again, culminating in a giant pan of Kaiserschmarrn and a 25-year cake. Once again, the entire team went all out and gave their all until the very end. Thank you very much!
Even though the catering industry can be an overwhelming business, you can't help but envy Wolfgang. He lives in one of the most beautiful areas of Germany, has great motorbike routes right on his doorstep and runs a genuine Bavarian inn together with his daughter Romy. And he has great friends too!