Arts & Culture
6 min reading time
The carnival season – known throughout the German-speaking world as "Fasching" or "Karneval", but referred to here in Tirol as "Fasnacht" – sees all manner of weird and wonderful beings roaming the streets. This year the festivities will not be able to take place due to coronavirus restrictions, so we wanted to take this opportunity to transport this centuries-old tradition to your home.
Keep reading4 min reading time
Each of us has a handful of great Christmas memories as a child: the sparkling star on top of the Christmas tree; the fun afternoons we spent out with our fathers, as the Christkind had to put up the tree at home; the favourite Christmas carol; the air effervescent with scents of the season …
Keep reading4 min reading time
There’s nothing better to get you in the mood for Christmas than the beautifully decorated stalls of a romantic Christmas market, a glass of punch with a cranberry Kiachl pastry, and festive tunes played by a traditional brass band. Adding to Jacob’s tips for Innsbruck’s festive markets, here’s my selection of romantic Christmas markets in Tirol. Merry Christmas!
Keep reading7 min reading time
Winter in Tirol begins with bells, banging and bizarre beings roaming the streets. Every year at the start of December, the devilish “Krampus” strikes fear into the heart of children. This centuries-old tradition is today more popular than ever.
Keep reading4 min reading time
Tiroleans mark the longest day of the year by lighting fires in the mountains. One of the areas with the most spectacular summer solstice celebrations can be found at the Zugspitze mountain. The tradition of summer solstice fires dates back many centuries and is today included on the UNESCO Cultural Heritage List.
Keep reading9 min reading time
I once read that Tiroleans are said to be a cunning, lederhosen-wearing mountain people who yodel. Well, honestly speaking, I wouldn’t describe us as ‘cunning’; I’d rather say we are kind of pig-headed, maybe. Don’t worry, the Tiroleans are still very friendly and welcoming people. If you befriend a few locals and head into the mountains with them, you can be sure to enjoy wonderful scenery, good company and plenty of laughs.
Keep reading5 min reading time
Visiting the Außermelang Alm hut in the Tux Alps, chances are that you will carry more weight out than in. After all, the alpine dairy here sells finest homemade specialties. Produced on site, the handmade Wattental Alpine Cheese is one of the most sought-after alpine cheeses and has won praise and awards from foodies and chefs alike. And the “Tirol Alpine Pasture Pig” thrives here, too.
Keep reading4 min reading time
It is just a one-and-a-half-hour walk to the Falbesoner Ochsenalm, a charming alpine hut welcoming hungry hikers with a mouth-watering array of local foods from homemade bread and butter to cheese, dried bacon, “Striezel” (a plaited yeast dough bun), butter milk and elderflower cordial.
Keep reading