The record breaking 406 meter long suspension footbridge connects remarkable Ehrenberg Castle Ensemble with the remains of the 17th-century Roman Fortress Claudia in the market town of Reutte at a dizzying height of 110 meters. (Photography: Naturparkregion Reutte)
Obviously, there is very little to do in Tirol. There’s nothing really unique or interesting to see there. Don’t believe us? Let us count the ways.
2. And don’t even get me started on contemporary architecture. Yawn.
British Iraqi star architect Zaha Hadid’s Bergisel Ski Jump in Innsbruck. (Photography: Tirol Werbung)
3. There are no nice cafés here. Not a single one.
Austria’s Highest Coffee Bar, named Café 3.440 for its altitude (3,400 meters) is located atop the mountain at Pitzal Glacier. (Photography: Tirol Werbung, Verena Kathrein)
4. Tirol has basically no traditional crafts at all.
Bronze bells of all shapes and sizes have been cast by Grassmayr Family in Innsbruck since 1599. (Photography: Tanja Ullrich)
5. There’s a lot journey through inconspicuous routes. How boring!
6. There’s no sense of grandeur or history whatsoever.
With 4,948 pipes, the Heroes’ Organ at Kufstein Fortress is the largest free-standing organ in the world. (Photography: Tirol Werbung)
7. Everything is pretty much brand-new.
Aigner Bath is a listed bathhouse that has welcomed visitors since 1772. The naturally effervescent, mineral waters that bubble out from the sources here in East Tirol’s small mountain town of Abfaltersbach are rich in calcium and sulphate. (Photography: Johann Aigner)
8. Children here must be bored out of their wits most of the time.
Kugelwald, literally “Ball Forest”, on Glungezer Mountain is home to the world’s largest wooden track. (Photography: Hall-Wattens.at)
9. The whole landscape is formed only by mountains. They are everywhere.
Wolfsklamm Gorge is accessed via a delightful series of wooden boardwalks, bridges and 354 steps that lead to Tirol’s oldest place of pilgrimage, St. Georgenberg Monastery. The frothing waters make their way through the gorge shimmering emerald and blue in the depth and mastering the highest cascades. (Photography: Tirol Werbung)
10. There’s nowhere to go.
The record breaking 406 meter long suspension footbridge connects remarkable Ehrenberg Castle Ensemble with the remains of the 17th-century Roman Fortress Claudia in the market town of Reutte at a dizzying height of 110 meters. (Photography: Naturparkregion Reutte)
11. Honestly, have you ever seen anything so lackluster?
For his marriage to Bianca Maria Sforza from Milan, Emperor Maximilian I (1459-1519) commissioned the construction of the „Golden Roof“ in Innsbruck. The late Gothic oriel with loggia is adorned with 2657 fire-gilt copper tiles. (Photography: Tirol Werbung)
12. Or a place so devoid of personality?
Since 1991, this former mountain farm has been a true showcase for sustainable agriculture: Year-round, the ewes and lambs of Josef Schett are allowed to roam wide, rich Alpine pastures at an elevation of 2,000 meters, producing fine-quality meat, milk, all-natural sheep wool cushions and blankets and insulation materials. (Photography: VillgraterNaturhaus)
13. It’s a polluted, crowded, and built-up country.
In the thin air above 2,009 meters lies Jagdhaus Alpine Pastures, the oldest mountain settlement in Austria. Embedded in the awesome natural beauty of Hohe Tauern National Park, entire families lived at the 13th century high-altitude resort in East Tirol’s Arvental Valley throughout the year. (Photography: TVB Osttirol)
14. The public art is boring and unambitious.
The historic 360-degree cyclorama helps to retrace the dramatic events unfolding amidst the impressive scenery of the Bergisel: The Third Battle of the Bergisel in which the Tyrolean rebels fought off the invading Napoleonic troops was memorialized in a giant panoramic painting that is 1,000 square meters (10,764 square feet) in area. (Photography: Tirol Werbung)
15. In short, Tirol is a total cultural wilderness.
Topping the list of Tirol’s most-visited attractions, a whole new era of wonder begins for the Swarovski Crystal Worlds in Wattens in the spring of 2015. In addition to extensive changes in the gardens surrounding the iconic giant, five of the subterranean chambers of wonder have been completely redesigned by internationally acclaimed designers and artists. (Photography: Tirol Werbung)
16. Nope, no sense of identity to be found anywhere in Tirol.
The Nassereith Carnival Museum is home to the biggest carnival mask collection of the Alpine Region. The famous Nassereith Schellerlaufen Parade is one of the most important carnival parades in Tirol and was declared a “World Cultural Heritage” by UNESCO in 2012. (Photography: Esther Wilhelm)
17. Have you ever seen somewhere so ugly?
Picturesque Obernbergersee Lake, a natural gem in a remote Alpine setting, was declared a Site of Special Natural Interest as early as in the year 1935. (Photography: Janine Hofmann)
18. There’s literally nothing to see here.
Standing 29.6 meters tall atop the summit of Buchensteinwand Mountain, Jakobskreuz is a multi-storey building in the shape of a cross. An elevator brings pilgrims on the Way of St. James, art lovers, seminar delegates and visitors up to the viewing platform. (Photography: TVB Pillerseetal)
19. Seriously: Does this country even have a past?
The Court Church in Innsbruck houses Europe’s most notable Emperor’s Tomb. The church, also called “Schwarzmanderkirche” (literally “Black Men Church”), is famous for its namesake “Black Men” – 28 over-life-sized Renaissance bronze statues of important historical figures that flank the marble tomb of Emperor Maximilian I. (Photography: Tirol Werbung)
20. Nothing aesthetically pleasing for miles.
Austria’s highest international border happens also to be one of the country’s highest paved roads. The spectacular serpentine drive reaches the summit of 2,509-meter Timmelsjoch Col and links Tirol’s Ötztal Valley with Passeier Valley in South Tyrol. Along the road, architectural sculptures reveal details about the area’s nature, history, culture, economy and society. (Photography: Timmelsjoch Hochalpenstraßen-AG)
21. It’s also dreadfully hot.
Europe’s first interpretive Waterfalls Walk was opened in 1976 in Prägraten, situated at the heart of Hohe Tauern Mountain Range. Each year, this spectacular natural sight lures 50,000 visitors. Pristine Umbal Valley in Hohe Tauern National Park is the source of Isel, the last free-flowing glacial river in the Alps. (Photography: Tirol Werbung)
Seriously, there is no reason to visit Tirol. And yes, this article is completely serious ;) If you want to visit Tirol nevertheless, here’s an inspiring Planning Tool: www.tyrol.com/attractions
When he is not working, Michael Gams is out exploring this beautiful country, hiking, mountain biking, freeriding and ski touring to the most beautiful spots in Tirol.
Tirol’s lakes are, of course, a great place to splash and swim in summer – but they are also well worth a visit in winter. Many freeze over all winter and can be used for ice skating, winter walking or even a bit of cross-country skiing. Don’t forget to take a woolly hat and a pair of warm gloves as well as warm walking boots and clothing for a fun and enjoyable experience on the ice.
No traffic jams, no stress, no black ice – just lean back and enjoy the scenery; then go directly from the train station to the ski slope. Travelling by train is the best and easiest way to reach many Tirolean tourism destinations. Today we would like to show you five ski resorts you can easily reach by train.
Five Mountain Villages for Wintersports Enthusiasts
4 min reading time
Cross-country skiing on Friday, alpine skiing on Saturday, tobogganing on Sunday – sounds like your kind of thing? Most places in Tirol offer all these winter sports and more, but there are a few villages whose local traditions or spectacular location make them just that little bit better than the rest. Here are our top five spots in the mountains for those who simply love winter sports.
In turbulent times such as these it is easy to lose sight of what is truly important in life – for example, looking after yourself. We have picked five spots in Tirol where you can get away from it all and embark on a journey to inner harmony. After all, your deserve it.
“There must be quite a few things that a hot bath won't cure, but I don't know many of them.” said Sylvia Plath, one of the most renowned and influential poets, novelists, and short story writers of the 20th century.
Ibex, chamois, vulture, eagle and marmot – those are the five animals every visitor to Tirol would like to catch a glimpse of. We have talked to the rangers in the region's nature parks to discover the best walks and hikes with a good chance of seeing these wonderful creatures.
Thigh-burning ascents, thin mountain air and ice-cold showers – Tirol's remote huts don't sound that all that appealing. Yet those who have been to one know that the reward for these sacrifices are fabulous views, untouched landscapes, and total peace and quiet. Here is our guide to huts and refuges in Tirol which are hard to get to but easy to fall in love with.
Mountain Huts Close Up: Neue Prager Hut on Foot of Großvenediger
7 min reading time
Ever an inveterate mountaineer, Wilfried Studer, hut keeper of Neue Prager Hut on foot of Großvenediger, is a true “mountain family-man.” His wife and daughters share his mountaineering adventures on a global scale – in the great ranges of the world. The family philosophy is: “Everything we earn in the mountains, we spend in the mountains.”
Mountain Huts Close Up: Bayreuther Hut at Rofan Mountain Range
7 min reading time
One of the most beautiful moments for hut keeper Anton Herrmann Kraft is very early in the morning, when everything is still peaceful and quiet. Standing on the terrace and watching the sun rise over the mountains gives him strength and encouragement for the long and busy day ahead of him. By the way, ‘breathtaking’ does not begin to describe the view at Bayreuther Hut.
