Number 51: Bellevue Alm, the Mother of Cottages

Ancient low slung wooden beams and logs, hand worn painted furniture and carvings, an enormous stone fireplace, and a whole suckling pig roasting in an outdoor brick oven set into the mountain. We have arrived at the 600 year old Bellevue Alm, a cottage well known across the Alps in Europe and affectionately called the 'Mother of Cottages'.

Number 51:

Bellevue Alm, the Mother of Cottages.

The cottage sits high on the mountain above Bad Gastein and commands spectacular views. But the real action was around the enormous outdoor oven, the chef called us out, the musicians danced across the patio and with style the Bellevue Alm's crew lifted out the whole suckling pig. 

Such theatre and we loved it all!

A ceremony for the roasting suckling pig, musicians lead the way, the clay is removed the metal lids opened
and a perfectly whole roasted pig is revealed.

An evening at Bellevue Alms. Delicious pork with bread dumplings, which, if truth be told, were my favorites.
The musicians had us smiling and foot thumping all evening.

Candles ready and the group set off down the mountain after the feast.

What a crazy and memorable evening out and a good way to close out our 5 weeks of 'Spring in Europe'.