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.

No one knows the iconic ski town of Alpbach better than the locals, so we asked Alpbach-native Christina to divulge a few secrets about her hometown and its “Ski Juwel Alpbachtal Wildschönau” Ski Resort to share with you.

The notion of getting in shape for the ski season is hardly new. Physiotherapists Bettina Sandner and Florian Gastl, our contributing editors for this guest blog post, offer an innovative twist to a timeworn concept. These five exercises are a great way to get a ski-specific workout in your own home. It makes ski fitness so much fun; you’ll forget you’re working out! What’s more, they will take the guesswork out of your ski and snowboard conditioning program: Take a cue from the experts and learn all about super sets and injury prevention.

Thomas Eberharter aka "Beckna", a ‘godfather’ of snowboarding and Mayrhofen resident, shows us around his favourite hometown spots. He reveals the local history of snowboarding and explains why Mayrhofen is to snowboarders and freeskiers what Kitzbühel is to downhill skiers. Beyond the ski resort, Thomas has some fine dining and lodging suggestions to share.

Many people imagine that a mountain hut consists of nothing more than a wooden shack with an outhouse. This preconceived notion is nonsense, of course, as these Alpine Association lodges well demonstrate. Some are so beautiful that they are listed as historical monuments; others inspire with their sustainable and modern construction: in other words, first class architecture.

On his snowboard, photographer and terrain park designer Rudi Wyhlidal shows us around the favourite spots of his adopted hometown Sölden. Here are his tips to give yourself that insider’s edge once you get here and start exploring this world famous destination for skiing.

Meadow lasagne instead of food from the microwave, chamois dumplings instead of fast food and wildflower soup instead of everyday mishmash. These taverns use products from their own gardens, fields and stables for cooking. Some of the innkeepers hunt their own game, while others fish trout to order from the waters behind their establishment.

The T-bar is an endangered species in Tirol. This winter, a new tri-cable gondola whisks skiers up to the top at Stubai Glacier Ski Resort, new border-erasing gondola lines create Austria’s largest ski resort in St. Anton and Giggijochbahn Gondola in Sölden boasts a wheelchair accessible loading area. Somewhat sad for lovers of yesteryear’s T-bars and rope tows, these improvements will completely transform the guest experience for the 2016-2017 winter season.

Heavy snowfall, stoked freeskiers and a place that shaped the history of modern skiing: Known worldwide as the ‘Birthplace of Alpine Skiing’, St. Anton, our destination of the week, packs some serious ski heritage. Our expert guide of the ski resort is Rosanna, 29, who grew up in St. Anton and knows the resort peak to pub to pillow. On our way, we meet a ski guide and a women’s only freeskiing camp and explore the charming and vibrant village center of St. Anton am Arlberg.