Review – We Check In to the Original Mayr Medical Resort, Austria

There are many Mayrs, but The Original Mayr Medical Resort, also known as The Original FX Mayr, is the mothership. First opened as a residential clinic on the shores of Lake Wörthersee in 1976 by Dr. Erich Rauch, a student of the eponymous Dr. Franz Xaver Mayr, this was the global launchpad for the Mayr Cure. 

Overview

The Original Mayr Medical Resort has redefined modern Mayr Medicine, marrying it with holistic health prevention and revitalisation. Based on the belief that a healthy gut is the key to a strong immune system and a bad diet is the root of many health problems – bloating, insomnia, premature ageing, IBS, high blood pressure, and heart disease – the ‘Cure’ is a 21-day programme that clears the body and mind through detoxification and de-acidification. 

It’s not a regime for the lily-livered, especially the initial three days when the organs struggle to expel the nasty toxins from sugar, caffeine, and alcohol, and all sorts of withdrawal symptoms are possible. While the universal Mayr precepts of Epsom salts, gluten-free buckwheat rolls, and relentless chewing are an integral part of the programme, what sets The Original FX Mayr apart from its emulators is the high ratio of doctors to patients and the intimate, cosseting and friendly atmosphere.

The Medical Spa

The foundation for the Original Mayr Medical is the two Mayr Med programmes, Detox & Gut Health and Diagnostic & Longevity. They include all the essential basic elements of your medical-therapeutic treatment plan and are available with a minimum one-week stay. In addition to the programmes, modules such as Intensive Weight Loss, Advanced Longevity, Stress Management, Deep Detox, Beauty and Body Sculpting, and Health Check can also be booked.

Complementing the detox process is a myriad of treatments. These include abdominal massages, alkalising detox baths, lymph drainage, vitamin drips, osteopathy, acupuncture, kinesiology, and nasal reflexology. Since the ‘Cure’ is a challenging journey of personal re-discovery and may throw up unresolved issues, Claudia Waldner, the eminently elegant ‘Cure coach’, offers emotional support and guidance. Light exercise is encouraged with yoga, Pilates, and aqua-cycling classes, while every afternoon, there is a bracing countryside hike.

To Stay

From the outside, this traditional chalet-style building gives little away as to the elegance and old-world charm that lies within it. A dreamy palette of pastels, roaring fires, and sumptuous throws means this is more a family house (no lifts) than a medical centre. Flickering candles and comfy sofas create a cosy atmosphere that beckons guests between therapies and treatments. The terraced gardens of lavender lead to a footbridge (with lift) from which guests can access the Finnish sauna, massage rooms, and sunbeds at the sleek Beach House before swimming in Lake Wörthersee. 

To Eat

Food, or the lack thereof, is central to the Mayr method. In collaboration with nutritional scientist Walpurga Hummitzsch, Chef Andreas Wolffe crafts remarkably memorable cuisine where alkaline is king..

Breakfast features a buckwheat “chewing trainer” served with yoghurt or a bowl of millet porridge with miniature spoons. Lunch is always a standout, showcasing exquisite dishes such as small potato blinis topped with caviar, quail eggs, red beet ragout, and horseradish foam or grilled branzino paired with turnip cabbage and mashed potatoes. In the evening, a vegetable bouillon garnished with a sprinkle of fresh herbs is served to allow the digestive system to rest for the necessary 16 hours to achieve ketosis, the metabolic state where the body burns fat instead of carbohydrates, essential for weight loss.
A unique aspect of the dining experience is silent eating—chatting and phone use are not permitted in the restaurant, promoting effective and natural absorption of the food.

Facilities and Activities

Wellness facilities at The Original Mayr Medical Resort include cryotherapy and ice bathing, The Spa and Beach House — featuring a Finnish sauna, sanarium, and relaxation lounge — an indoor pool, Kneipp hydrotherapy, a gym and exercise studio, and a Beauty Spa offering an extensive menu of body and facial treatments.

All programmes include a range of activities, from expert lectures by Mayr specialists and daily group exercise sessions to guided hikes, evening meditation, and cookery classes.

Getting There

The Original FX Mayr
9082 Maria Wörth, Austria

Airports
Klagenfurt: 26 km/approx 30 minutes
Direct flight London Stansted – Klagenfurt via Ryanair now available.
Ljubljana 100kn/approx 1 hour