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The oldest hostel in the world?

February 13, 2019 | Michael Turtle | 20 Comments

HISTORIC ACCOMMODATION

Feldkirch youth hostel, Austria

If these walls could talk, there would be a world-weary rasp in their voice. It would probably be a slow voice, one that needs time for thoughts to be collected.

There would be a lot of thoughts to sort through… but also an inevitable sluggishness that comes from age.

You see, here at the Feldkirch youth hostel near Austria’s western border, there’s a lot of history. The hostel doesn’t claim to be the oldest in the world – but it probably could if it wanted to. It first offered respite from the road more than 300 years ago.

Feldkirch youth hostel Austria

The first document that mentions the building is from 1362 and describes it as having “been around for a long time”. During the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries it was used as a leper colony – a sanctuary for them but moreso a cage to keep everyone else safe.

Feldkirch youth hostel Austria

It was in the 1600s that this old castle first opened its doors to weary travellers looking for a bed for the night.

Technically, the building was being used as a hospice for people who had paid a form of insurance levies during their life so they would be able to come here when they got sick in older age.

But some beds were spare. They were able to be rented cheaply for a few nights by people passing through Feldkirch who couldn’t afford a room at the inn. And so the hostelling began.

By the early 1800s, it was time for a change but the community couldn’t decide what they wanted to do with ‘The Old Siechenhaus’, as it was called (or, in English, ‘The Old Infirmary’). In 1818 there was a proposal to turn it into a mental hospital but that plans was shelved because it would’ve been too expensive.

In the end it became a halfway house for the poor and unemployed… again, in some form, a hostel.

Feldkirch youth hostel Austria

Imagine a hostel without staff, though. A hostel where no pride is taken in the social environment or the physical condition of the residence. One where checking in means a moral defeat, rather than a step in an adventure of opportunity.

That’s what the building came to embody and it fell into disrepair – much to the despair of the local community.

In 1982 a decision was made to restore the glory of The Old Siechenhaus – both its physical appearance and its social responsibility as a home for the travel-weary.

About 18 million Austrian schillings (1.5 million dollars) were spent to upgrade the facilities but still maintain the history of the building – including completely preserving the façade.

Feldkirch youth hostel Austria

In 1985 it opened as the youth hostel we know it today. Centuries after it first gave shelter to travellers, it was again unlocking its doors to those of us looking for a friendly roof over our heads.

It’s a pleasant place to spend a few days, nestled at the base of a green ridge. In the distance you can see the snow-topped mountains of Austria. Just a couple of kilometres away are the borders with Switzerland and Lichtenstein.

The hostel itself is welcoming and comfortable with a large garden, spacious common areas and a good breakfast. And (perhaps the best part) a bed in a dorm room will only cost you 13 euros.

Feldkirch youth hostel Austria

It may not be the oldest youth hostel in the world – or maybe it is. Who knows how you should judge these things?

In some ways, descriptions like that don’t mean much anyway.

What is important is knowing that if you stop here, you are following a long tradition of people doing the same. And those people have always been welcome.

Reader Interactions

    Comments Cancel reply

  1. Bret @ Green Global Travel |

    June 20, 2012 at 2:54 pm

    Reply

    Great storytelling, Michael! I Love hearing about the history of old buildings such as this one.

    • Michael Turtle |

      June 22, 2012 at 2:57 am

      Reply

      I’m always amazed by buildings with such a rich history. I guess it’s because none of the ones back home have more than 200 years’ worth (if that!)

  2. Angela |

    June 20, 2012 at 4:54 pm

    Reply

    This is lovely, must be fascinating staying there 🙂

    • Michael Turtle |

      June 22, 2012 at 2:57 am

      Reply

      It was a really nice place to stay. The interesting building aside, it was a lovely little city to spend some time.

  3. Laurence |

    June 20, 2012 at 5:39 pm

    Reply

    I really like the pictures of the old wooden structures in this post, and how you have framed/cropped them so they are interesting shots. Nice work!

    • Michael Turtle |

      June 22, 2012 at 2:58 am

      Reply

      It was difficult to capture the sense of the whole building… so I just got lazy and did it this way 🙂

  4. Caz Makepeace |

    June 20, 2012 at 10:09 pm

    Reply

    Oh what a great story. I love staying at places like these where the walls talk. Thank you for sharing. I’m so glad they restored it

    • Michael Turtle |

      June 22, 2012 at 2:59 am

      Reply

      Yeah, it would have been such a shame if it had just gone to ruins.

  5. Karen @ Trans-Americas Journey |

    June 20, 2012 at 11:57 pm

    Reply

    A 300 year old hostel? I hope they’ve changed the mattresses…

    • Michael Turtle |

      June 22, 2012 at 2:59 am

      Reply

      Ha ha. I think I’ve been to a few hostels in my time that haven’t!! 🙂

  6. Natasha von Geldern |

    June 21, 2012 at 2:43 pm

    Reply

    Absolutely fascinating Michael, and a well told journey. I love the detail of the little boot – bet there’s some good hiking around.

    • Michael Turtle |

      June 22, 2012 at 3:02 am

      Reply

      Some great hiking nearby! I ended up going for a long walk for a couple of days that was just beautiful!! (More on that soon…)

  7. jade |

    June 22, 2012 at 5:29 am

    Reply

    That’s really interesting. The building looks like something out of shakespeare’s time!

    • Michael Turtle |

      June 22, 2012 at 9:43 pm

      Reply

      Yeah, it’s got similar architecture to The Globe in some ways, doesn’t it?

  8. Andrew |

    June 23, 2012 at 2:27 am

    Reply

    How far out of town is it? We were in Feldkirch near the center last summer on our weekend to Liechtenstein. Did you get up to the old castle in town as well?

    • Michael Turtle |

      July 3, 2012 at 8:12 pm

      Reply

      It’s on the main road through town, but a couple of kilometres away from the centre. The old castle is pretty cool. In fact, the whole town was kind of neat!

  9. Cole @ Four Jandals |

    June 23, 2012 at 11:12 pm

    Reply

    Super cute looking. Any good adventure activities nearby? Even if there weren’t probably worth a visit just for the photos 🙂

    • Michael Turtle |

      July 3, 2012 at 8:18 pm

      Reply

      There’s lots of great hiking in the region. And it’s a good jumping-off point to visit Lichtenstein (which is the main reason I was there).

  10. Natalie |

    June 26, 2012 at 3:31 pm

    Reply

    I am not normally one for places like this but it actually looks quite cool

    • Michael Turtle |

      July 3, 2012 at 8:24 pm

      Reply

      And it was really relaxed and casual when I was there. A great place to chill out for a bit, if you’re ever in the region.

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This is the website of travel writer, Michael Turtle. After working in broadcast journalism for a decade in Australia, Michael left Sydney to travel the world indefinitely and write about the places, people and experiences he discovers. This isn't a diary - these are real stories from the world.

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