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Perched on a hilltop high above Inntal Valley for half a millennium, this imposing Renaissance-style castle has been built by the Taenzl Brothers around 1500. To honour their clients, the House of Habsburg, they erected ornate Habsburg Hall with a wall painting that depicts the enormous family tree of Habsburg. Later, the Fugger Family, a wealthy dynasty of merchants from Augsburg, acquired Tratzberg Castle and expanded it further. Proof of those changes is the splendid Fugger Parlour and the Fugger Chamber. Most of the now conserved inventory is from this time. In the early 19th century, the castle was plundered by Bavarian soldiers. Some 50 years later, the rather neglected estate came into the possession of the Enzenberg Family, and it has stayed their homestead since then. Thanks to the family’s dedication and efforts the castle became the very embodiment of a 16th century Tirolean castle. Ulrich Goëss-Enzenberg and his wife Katrin Goëss-Enzenberg have been living here since 1991 and have opened parts of the castle, their family home, to the public.

My top 10 souvenir recommendations, little keepsakes that I enjoy taking home for my friends – and a few things I like to buy myself! All of these gifts are made or finished off in Tirol.

Hiking is a sport open to everyone, but after a long walk in the mountains you may well find yourself with tired legs. That’s why good cardiovascular fitness as well as strong muscles are important. These also help keep you safe when negotiating rough terrain and make walking and hiking a more relaxing and pleasant experience.

Tirol's huts are already hard at work preparing for the summer season 2022. We have put together a list of places which open in late spring or early summer to welcome walkers, hikers and mountain bikers. Scroll down to find out more.

The lush meadows and craggy peaks of the Mittelgebirge mountains near Innsbruck are the perfect place to combine hiking with eating. Our intrepid reporters set out on a trail for foodies taking them from one hut to the next, each offering not only delicious cuisine but also a bed for the night.

Luis Melmer and his family run the Alpengasthof Praxmar, a stately mountain guesthouse located in the Lüsenstal Valley south of Innsbruck. Far from the noise and stress of the city, it is an alpine haven where people come to get away from it all.

There’s much more to water than just drinking it. From finding sleep to waking up, from skin tightening to stimulating circulation – Sebastian Kneipp, father of modern hydrotherapy, has created over hundred useful techniques to combat a variety of diseases and blemishes: hydrotherapy can have refreshing, soothing, calming and harmonizing effects. Here we have rounded up Tirol’s best Kneipp water therapy facilities.

As varied as the rich flora and fauna of Tirol, it can be interesting to consider the various inclinations and preferences that make us all unique, especially outdoorsmen. People approach hiking differently and people hike for all manner of different reasons, but I have started to notice some broad groups that account for most hiking styles. There are those seeking solitude and there are those who want to push the limits. There are those who want to capture pictures of that perfect moment and there are those who want nothing more than enjoying delectable dishes served on quaint on-mountain eateries. Naturally, there are many exceptions but I’ve found these seem to capture most hikers I’ve come across. What do you think?

There is nothing that our author finds more difficult than getting up early. Can she learn to appreciate the morning hours with the help of local farmers high in the mountains of Tirol?

One last night of partying with your friends – that is what stag nights and hen dos are all about. Located in the heart of the Austrian Alps, Tirol is a great destination for all kinds of fun, action and adventure. Check out our tips for the ultimate final fling before tying the knot.