The Oswald Grand Hotel

In the heart of Selva di Val Gardena, its story began in the summer of 1896, when Karl Pitscheider, postmaster and a man with a great passion for hospitality, opened the Hotel Zur Post, expanding the La Gërva inn.

From the very beginning, the hotel was much more than a place to spend the night. It was a place where people met, listened to music, talked and shared new ideas.

This is how the Oswald came to be: not simply as a hotel, but as a home open to the world.

In 1906, the hotel was transformed with the construction of its distinctive tower, destined to become one of the symbols of The Oswald and Selva di Val Gardena.

It was during these years that the name Oswald von Wolkenstein first appeared — the medieval poet born in these mountains — forever linking the hotel to the history and culture of the valley.

By the beginning of the 20th century, The Oswald had already become an international destination, welcoming aristocrats, artists, scientists and travellers from around the world. Among its distinguished guests were Sigmund Freud in 1907 and Enrico Fermi in the 1930s.

In 1929, The Oswald opened its doors for the first time during the winter season as well.

The decision already looked towards the future of the valley, which in the following decades would become increasingly connected to winter tourism. Shortly afterwards, central heating was introduced — a true innovation for its time.

The Oswald had by then become one of the most renowned Grand Hotels in the Alps.

But history is not always made of easy moments.

The two World Wars left a profound mark on the history of the hotel and the valley.

During the Second World War, The Oswald was first used as a school and later as a military hospital. After the war, it went through years far removed from its original vocation, yet it endured.

In the years that followed, it slowly came back to life, becoming a place of study and gathering for students from the universities of Oxford and Cambridge.

Once again, The Oswald rediscovered its soul: a place capable of welcoming people and stories from different worlds.

In 1966, the hotel was sold to a Milanese financial group, and in the years that followed, the Oswald gradually fell into decline.

But its story did not end there.

In 1978, 23 hoteliers from Selva di Val Gardena decided to join forces to bring one of the valley’s most important landmarks back to life.

It was a gesture that says a great deal about the spirit of Selva: the Oswald does not belong only to those who run it. It is part of the community, its memories and its history.

In 1980, the hotel reopened its doors.

It was a new beginning.

Since then, several more decades have passed. The valley has changed, the way we travel has changed, and the very idea of hospitality has evolved.

The Oswald, however, is still here.

In 2025, a new chapter begins: following a major renovation, the hotel comes back to life with a new identity, while preserving its connection to its history.

Wood, stone, textiles, light and contemporary details meet the elements that tell the story of the past. The aim is not to recreate a museum, but to breathe new life into a place that has always been meant to be lived in.

Today, The Oswald Grand Hotel looks to the future without forgetting the past.