Property buyers are being offered the opportunity to purchase a home in one of Austria’s best-known nature reserves. The apartments, in Alpine Park Karwendel, are being sold by Kristall Spaces AG, the sales arm of British-managed property developer VenturePlus AG.

All-Suite Resort Karwendel includes 32 modern dwellings, located in the reserve’s village of Hinteriss, only an hour’s drive from Munich.

Hinteriss, some 928m above sea level, is part of the Risstal Valley in the Karwendel Mountains, declared one of 24 ‘Priority Conservation Areas’ in the WWF European Alpine Programme.

Karwendel stretches from Austria’s Tirol to Germany’s Bavaria and is recognised as one of Europe’s most important drinking water reservoirs. It’s also home to a range of flora and fauna, known as a nationwide diversity hotspot for orchids and other plant species, and boasts a high number of golden eagles, chamois and white rabbits, as well as 20 different butterfly species.

“To be able to buy a property within one of Austria’s protected areas is a once in a lifetime opportunity,” Simon Atterbury, principal at VenturePlus AG, said.

“Due to the exclusive status of the development’s location, it’s our upmost priority to protect and preserve the surrounding nature. The apartments will be built on the former site of a hotel, which means the plot of land has always been designated to and designed for touristic and living purposes.”

He went on: “In addition, we are collaborating with the local authorities and ecologists, who are advising us throughout the construction period, ensuring minimal impact on the wildlife.”

Apartments come with full leisure residence status (rather than the usual holiday home status), which gives owners exclusive rights to their apartment all-year round. Owners are also not subjected to the Austrian law requiring standard holiday properties to be let out when not being used to avoid the development of ghost towns.

Set for completion in December 2019, All-Suite Resort Karwendel will feature a choice of one, two and three-bedroom apartments, ranging from 33m² to 114m². Onside amenities include a brasserie restaurant, bar and a farm shop offering fresh, local delicacies, while the entire resort is supplied with water from a natural spring.

In addition, those eager to don the chef apron can do so at the ground’s specially designed BBQ area, plus the communal garden includes a Karwendel walk in collaboration with the Nature Park.

The development’s architecture is based on wood, stone, water, fire and wind to mirror the area’s nature reserve, while buyers are offered a choice between a modern and traditional finish for their apartment’s interiors. Each apartment also includes triple-glazed floor to ceiling windows and spacious, south-facing balconies or terraces.

The prices for the apartments range from €154,000 for a 2-bed, €415,000 for a 3-bed and €542,000 for a 4-bed.