Five flowers for Ebner 1822: What the highest award means

Ebner 1822 was awarded five flowers by „Holidays on the Farm“. It is the highest category within the Austrian quality classification – and for us confirmation that care, craftsmanship and a clear attitude can not only be seen, but also evaluated.

What five flowers mean on a farm holiday

The flowers are the official seal of quality for „Farm Holidays“. The participating farms are regularly inspected according to standardised guidelines. The assessment includes the quality of the farm, the amenities of the accommodation, the services offered, and the overall holiday experience.

Depending on the result, farms receive two to five flowers. Five flowers represent the highest category: for exceptional accommodation, special comfort, and a harmonious farm atmosphere. The exact gradations and quality features are described by „Urlaub am Bauernhof“ on its page about the Flower Categorisation and Quality Criteria.

This isn't about making farms identical. On the contrary: each farm is allowed to retain its history, its character and its own form of hospitality. Nevertheless, the flowers offer guests a reliable guide to the quality they can expect in terms of furnishings, atmosphere and service.

5 Flowers Farm Holidays: Quality that suits the location

A five-star court does not have to look like a classic luxury hotel. Quality is evident here in a different way: in natural materials, careful construction, spacious rooms, and small touches that make a stay pleasant.

At Ebner 1822, it begins with the houses. Our three Holiday homes made of wood, straw, and clay were hand-built and carefully integrated into the landscape. Wood from their own forests, straw insulation, clay walls and larch shingles combine ancient knowledge with contemporary living comfort.

Inside, natural materials meet generous retreats: with oak floorboards, wooden beamed ceilings, a freestanding bathtub by a panoramic window, a wood-burning stove and a private terrace. Not to list as much equipment as possible, but to create a place where you like to stay.

Personalised service is also part of the experience. In the morning, a breakfast hamper filled with selected regional foods is delivered directly to your door. Those planning an excursion receive a personal recommendation. And those who prefer to relax on the terrace for an extra hour don't have to attend any buffet or participate in any scheduled activity.

Why an Award Doesn't Tell the Whole Story

Five flowers are a reliable seal of quality. However, whether a farm really fits your own idea of a holiday is decided by something else: the way you want to travel.

Would you like to have a leisurely breakfast in the morning without watching the clock? Is your own house more important to you than a large hotel complex? Are you looking for nature, privacy, and hosts who are there when you need them?

Then it is worth looking behind the award. How many lodgings are there at the farm? How close is the nearest house? Is regionality truly practised? And is there enough space to have nothing planned for once?

Ebner 1822 has deliberately remained small. Three holiday homes stand around the historic farmstead on a sunny plateau in the Carinthian Nock Mountains. In between, there are meadows, old fruit trees, and spaces that don't need to be actively used. The natural swimming pond with a sunbathing lawn, the literature spot, and the forest bathing area are not part of a leisure programme. They are simply there – for anyone who wishes to use them.

70 out of 70 points for Ebner 1822

In the categorization, Ebner achieved 70 out of a possible 70 points. This means the Landhof was the first establishment in Austria to fulfil all the requirements of the Five-Flower category 100 percent.

The aspects assessed, amongst others, were the portrayal of rural life and the history of the farm, regional cuisine, the farm's appearance, the design of relaxation areas, and the layout and comfort of the holiday cottages.

The Kärnten news portal 5 Minuten also reported on the Austria-wide record score: „Farm holidays: Carinthian holiday homes awarded“.

For us, this perfect score is particularly special because we didn't build Ebner 1822 for a review. The project arose from the history of our family farm and from the question of what a quiet holiday destination should feel like today. The The idea behind Ebner 1822 To create a retreat from the outset that doesn't hide its origins but still offers contemporary comfort.

Regional flavour is part of the stay

A farm also includes what ends up on the table. In our Organic village pub Barbara cooks with seasonal, local ingredients. Much of it is organic, some comes from her own garden, and other produce is from suppliers she knows personally.

For guests in the holiday homes, this thought begins as early as the morning. The breakfast basket is brought to the house, leaving your own rhythm undisturbed. No one has to show up in the breakfast room at a specific time. You have breakfast wherever it's most pleasant at the moment: in the living room, on the terrace, or perhaps a little later than planned.

An award that brings us joy and responsibility

The five flowers and the full marks make us proud. At the same time, we see them as a mandate to remain vigilant. Quality is not something that is completed after an inspection. It reveals itself anew every day – in a carefully prepared house, a well-filled breakfast basket, an honest conversation, and sometimes also in the peace that is afforded to guests.

In the end, five flowers are a visible sign. However, what remains crucial is the feeling of opening the door in the morning, letting in the cool air, and knowing: nothing has to be yet today.