Wood is such a versatile material and available in such abundance in places like Tirol that it is sometimes hard to fathom why not all building are made from it. After all, it is renewable, carbon-friendly and 100% sustainable. Wooden houses and buildings are naturally warm and often have a wonderful aroma, especially if they are made of pine. And, last but certainly not least, wood is so adaptable that many architects choose it for their most ambitious projects. Here are five of the coolest wooden buildings in Tirol.

Take a walk around the Alpine Zoo at Innsbruck while scouting animals that roam large-acreage, natural habitats. With its distinctive hillside setting above town, the zoo is a must-see for animal and plant lovers. You can even discover endangered species that were protected by the Alpine Zoo’s conservation programs. Meet some of the mountain animals that are native to Tirol.

What will the snow be like this year? This is the question on everyone’s lips in Tirol as winter approaches. Finding an answer is often complicated. We set out in search of clues –indoors and outdoors.

Is the ski instructor uniform really a chick magnet and do they actually party all the time? Does the envious or negative imagery that the job title conjures-up have any grounding in reality? We conducted methodical fieldwork to debunk some of the most common myths.

Winter is dark, right? Wrong! The cold months of the year actually offer a wonderful contrast of sunshine and shade, light and dark. Here in the mountains nothing shines more brightly than the sun's rays dancing and reflecting on a fresh coat of snow. Join us on a journey through Tirol's light and landscape in winter.