January 29, 2026 - Thermencheck Award

Silver for the Sole Felsen Welt: Spa guests name Gmünd the top spa

Gmünd, January 29, 2026 – A major success for Sole Felsen Welt: In the vote for Austria’s most popular spa, this Waldviertel wellness oasis secured second place among more than 39 participating spas, officially ranking it among the country’s top spas.

There is tremendous joy in Gmünd. After an eventful year, this outstanding result once again confirms the high quality, unique atmosphere, and popularity of the Sole Felsen Welt its guests. The result was announced during the festive 2025 Thermencheck Award on January 29, 2026, at the Falkensteiner Hotel in Velden (Carinthia).

, as voted by spa guests Thermencheck, Austria’s largest wellness portal, calls for votes every year to select the most popular spas. Guests decide which establishments will receive the Gold, Silver, and Bronze Awards, as well as the special “Rising Star of the Year” award. During the thirteen-month voting period, 363,964 people cast their votes—48,304 of which were for Sole Felsen Welt. This result is a strong sign of appreciation from guests and underscores the exceptional quality of the wellness experience in Gmünd.

New Highlight: Cocktail Bar by the Stainless Steel Outdoor Pool
With the start of the 2025 summer season, another highlight has been added to the offerings: Next to the modern stainless steel outdoor pool, a stylish cocktail bar now invites guests to linger. Refreshing cocktails, summery drinks, and a relaxed atmosphere right by the water create a true vacation feeling in the heart of the Waldviertel—classic and fruity, creatively interpreted, or non-alcoholic.

Austria's Most Popular Thermal Spas 2025
GOLD Award: Rogner Pool
SILVER Award: Sole Felsen Welt
BRONZE Award: Asia Spa Leoben
Rising Star of the Year: Therme Nova Köflach

Thanks to Guests and the Team at
Managing Director Bernhard Strohmeier traveled to Velden with four employees to celebrate the success in person. “We are thrilled with this ranking! A heartfelt thank you to everyone who voted for us. We would especially like to thank our team: thanks to their tireless dedication and passion, our employees ensure day after day that our guests are able to experience unforgettable moments,” said Strohmeier.

Sole Felsen Pool
An oasis of relaxation awaits you at poolSoleFelsen pool. Spanning nearly 1,000 m² of water surface, the diverse Pool Paradise a brine-rock pool, a current channel, a wooden terrace, a waterfall shower, whirlpool loungers, a spring stone, massage jets, relaxation lagoons, and many other bubbling highlights. Much of the water is enriched with pool therapeutic brine, which relieves joint strain, improves skin texture, stabilizes circulation, and lowers blood pressure. When you float in the warm saltwater, you let go—in the truest sense of the word.
The saltwater rock pool also offers pool fun for children: adventure and snake slides, a children’s pool, and a sports pool with a water climbing wall and diving blocks provide adventure and exercise for the whole family.

Sole Felsen Sauna
If you enjoy going to the sauna, the Sole Felsen Sauna is the perfect place for you. The spacious sauna area welcomes visitors with soothing warmth, relaxing scents, and an unparalleled sense of well-being. Variety is provided by the infusions held every half hour, lovingly performed by experienced sauna masters.
Inside, the rock hammam, sauna bar, steam grotto, infrared cabin, and the agate, crystal, and Swiss stone pine saunas invite you to spend relaxing hours. Outside, three additional saunas offer a unique sauna experience in the heart of the forest.
The adjacent sauna garden with sunbathing lawns invites you to soak up the sun when the weather is nice, right next to the natural pond where you can refresh and cool off after your sauna session. Thus, the Sole Felsen Sauna combines soothing relaxation with a nature experience—a place to bring body and mind into harmony.

Sole Felsen Hotel****
At the Sole Felsen Hotel****, you’ll sleep exceptionally well—thanks to the lovingly designed nature-inspired rooms infused with the power of the Waldviertel’s native pine. The stone pine, known as “Fehra” in the Waldviertel, has proven itself over decades as the ideal material for bedroom furniture: its pleasant, resinous scent has a calming and purifying effect. Combined with the related Swiss stone pine, it promotes deep, restful sleep.
For even more comfort, the hotel has also been offering balcony rooms since October 2024—featuring, among other things, breathtaking views of the adjacent Asangteich pond and direct contact with nature. This turns every stay into an oasis of calm for body and mind.