Helene Leni Gassner

”Hello, come in. Let’s go to the sitting room – it’s nice and warm there.“ Leni is sitting together with her regulars in the lovingly decorated reception area of Bräurup. She can keep an eye on everything, while talking about the day’s matters with the Mittersill business people. In between, she gives her guests tips for the day. Or she quickly runs to the kitchen – from where you can catch the wonderful smell of beef broth... Leni Gassner is on top of everything – and always with a smile on her face.

Helene Leni Gassner is a born-and-bred Pinzgauer. Grown up as the oldest of three siblings at Oberhof at Thurn Pass, she learnt at an early age what matters in life. The farming was also a youth hostel and guesthouse Leni lent a hand everywhere:
In the stables, making hay, making the beds and preparing breakfast – and she enjoyed it. Already as a child she enraptured the houseguests with her long blonde hair and brown doe-eyes. “When I was 12 I got to go to the house-disco with the students in our hostel, that was really cool”, she fondly remembers this time. “The most important thing is sticking together – in the family as well as at work“, Leni is certain. “We should appreciate what we have.” With plenty of ambition and perseverance she has come very far. She knows: “Without hard work, courage and a healthy dose of self-confidence you won’t get anywhere.“

”In the Bräurup we practice tradition – the Heitzmann with the steakhouse is the perfect complement.” Genuine Pinzgau reality and appreciation of family traditions are par for the course – in both establishments. Regionality has always been of great importance to the family. From the very beginning, they have brewed their own beer from regional ingredients Only the very best fish and meat from local waters and territories make it onto the plates. “Especially in these times, it’s even more important to act with regional awareness”, Leni says thoughtfully. “The ties with tradition, nature and down-to-earthness make up our core values, that’s why guests also keep the returning time and again.“

The history of the family business goes back a long time: The great-great-grandfather of her husband Matthias acquired the building in the 19th century. As soon as setting foot within the centuries-old Bräurup-walls, the building’s venerable history catches up with you. In the parlours and rooms, life becomes palpable. Fostering this is something that we hold near and dear.” The name “Bräurup”, by the way, stems from the great-great-grandfather. Rupert – Ruap - Schwaiger was a brewer from Zell am See. When he came to Mittersill and began brewing beer here, it didn’t take long for the “Bräu-Ruap” to become the talk of the town.
Thus the inn next to the church became a popular place for socialising, not only after Sunday mass. “I may not yet have been born back then”, Leni smiles, “but from the many surviving precious objects and searching through the pictures, photos and archives I get a good idea of how things were back then.” Precious chests decorate the hallways and living rooms – antique mirrors and paintings adorn the thick walls. Preserving tradition and combining it with modernity – that was also the clear target for the renovation in 2019, meticulously planned down to the smallest detail. Where previously there were cool walls, our living rooms are now lined with precious wood. Surrounded by the pleasant warmth of the tiled stove, guests enjoy their stay. “Is everything okay, are you enjoying your stay here with us?” Leni loves nothing more than having a nice chat with her guests. She always makes sure personally that her guests are well looked after in the Bräurup and want for nothing.

”Nothing in life comes free”, thoughtfully she looks out through the living room window and pulls the curtain straight, “but with hard work and passion you can achieve a lot if you put your heart and soul into it.” The family sticking together is what’s most important to her. And nothing is better than being together with her guests and friends.