Austria holidays, Salzburg, Kaprun, Zell am See and so much more

Things to do in and around Zell am See and Kaprun

2011-10-18T20:34:00.000+01:00

Attractions in and around Kaprun / Zell am See to enhance any Austrian holiday.

1) Visit the Kitzsteinhorn glacier mountain above Kaprun, fantastic views, complete with 3 cable cars to take you to the top. With a further funicular railway to take you down onto the glacier. A new summit restaurant, cinema and viewing platforms opened recently. It is possible to take guided walks to the very top of the Kitzsteinhorn at 3203 Metreswhat a view.

View across to Kaprun and the Kitzsteinhorn glacier beyond.

2) Go up on the Maisikoge l lift, from Kaprun, take your bike and cycle back down the hill, or just go for a hike, routes galore, open winter and summer.

So much to see and do in the Kaprun - Zell am See areas, all year round

3) Sigmund-Thun-Klamm, steep gorge, very pleasant and interesting walk on boarded platforms above the waters. In summer come back for the lighted torch walk! worth at least two visits!! Call in during the day also at the free hydro electric museum, next to the gorge ticket office, for the history of the hydro electric scheme / Kaprun dams going back to the 1930's.

4) Visit the superb Tauern Spa Kaprun it opens its doors all years round, at 80 million + euro investment it will have been worth the wait. Whether after a hard days skiing, a mountain walk, or just for a relaxation and pamper its well worth a visit. Sauna and Spa area, textile and non textile areas.

Tauern Spa Kaprun a visit will enhance any holiday

5) Visit the high Alpine reservoirs, travel over alpine passes, and take a ride in a high level cable, plenty of choice with stunning views, take a further look and click on the attached link. Hochgebirgsstauseen - Tauernkraftwerke

Kaprun reservoirs note the glaciers in the distance well worth a visit

6) Burg Kaprun, visit Kapruns castle, with a history going back nearly a thousand years, worth a visit, events, pageants and parties are held in this location throughout the year.
Kaprun castle, note Zell am See in a lakeside setting in the far distance.

Burg - Kaprun - Castle

7) A blast into the past with Vötters Oldtimer- Car Museum, it is located just down from Kaprun castle on route down to the village centre. There is a train outside the entrance.

8) Grossglockner Pass is a tool road, and is the highest pass in western Europe, ride over it by bus, car, coach, taxi, motorbike or even cycle over for the ultimate challenge, the Grossglockner pass (Großglockner Hochalpenstrasse), whatever your mode of transport expect to be impressed, but choose a sunny day, open from May to October, weather dependent.

In the 2011 Season the Grossglockner High Alpine Road opened on Thursday 21 April 2011. which was much earlier than normal May opening, after closing for the winter snows. It normally stays open until early November weather dependent.

The pass makes a spectucular passage from Salzburgland - Carinthia. There a shops and exhibitions in the alpine nature show and at the restaurants and will normally be open for daytime passages.

Grossglockner Pass fantastic whether to drive or cycle!!

If you are looking for somewhere to stay then please consider www.austria-holiday-apartment.com

Kaprun - austria-holiday-apartment.com

36 things to do on an Austrian winter holiday - and 79 Austrian things to be thankful for!

2011-10-17T22:05:00.000+01:00

Skiing above the Kitzsteinhorn Glacier near Kaprun

Kitzsteinhorn glacier above Kaprun where it possible to ski in the Summer

Thinking about winter holidays? or skiing holidays in Austria? I started a list off to count up the options, of things to do, places to go, got to twenty suggestions and the ideas still came flooding out. But it is reasonable to say that there is plenty to do and see on a winter / ski holiday in Austria.

If you are looking for a list of events and happenings in the Kaprun and Zell am See ( On the internet sometimes spelt ZellamSee ) ski area click on the link here.

Salzburg a superb city to visit whatever the time of the year.

Salzburg in winter, a fantastic city to visit, explore and to shop in.

36 things to do on a winter holiday in Austria

Go in search of Apre Ski. (what you do after a day on the slopes, eat, drink & party).
Visit an Art gallery in Salzburg, Vienna, Linz, or Innsbruck, cities of culture.
Visit a local museum Bad Gastien, Kaprun, Zell am See or Saalfalden are pretty interesting ones.
Visit a Wellness, Spa or Beauty centers, relax, unwind, ease away aches and pains. Tauern Spa Kaprun is new from November 2010 and will be well worth a visit.
Skittles or indoor Bowling great with a beer!
Children's playgrounds, children still like them in the snow!
Visit the cinema, improve your German! some have international day showings.
Cleared footpath walks to follow, stopping at a mountain restaurant for a hot chocolate or something stronger!.
Cross Country Skiing across the valley bottom.
Curling on ice or even on a frozen lake?
Horse riding in the snow, or maybe a sleigh ride.
Ice-skating inside or outside
Ice-sailing something different
Ice-surfing?
Indoor tennis at Zell am see.
Outdoor fitness course, take a run
Nordic Walking - walking with poles, give that body a workout.
Top up the sun tan, bright and sunny in the snow.
Spa, sauna, steam room, Spa-World-Kaprun opened November 2010, or Hofgastein or Badgastein.
? Make this one up for your self? or go and see an ice hockey match
Snow shoeing.
Skiing an independent view point
Hot air ballooning the is annual festival at the end of January in Zell am See and Kaprun
Snow-boarding.
Snow-tubing.
Snow Kiting
Parascending
Visit a Sports centre with a gym.
Squash or tennis.
Swimming pool inside or out?
Sledging or tobogganing.
Winter markets, shopping at Zell am See or Salzburg market in the snow.
Sit down have a hot chocolate, take in the views and relax, you are on holiday.
Have a meal to remember having burnt off the calories.
Hot air ballooning over snowy mountains! Balloon festival at the end of January in Kaprun and Zell am See
Take a cable car to the top of a mountain and take in the view. Schmitten views, history and activities
You are on holiday you decide?

Winter Ski map of the Kaprun and Zell am See area.

Looking for somewhere to stay in the Kaprun area then please consider looking at

www.austria-holiday-apartments.com

Convenient and Spacious accommodation for your holiday stay in Kaprun

Attached was added at a later date and is copied with permission from an interesting blog found at:-

http://hontsr.blogspot.com/2009/12/giving-thanks.html

It has been put together by an American teaching assistant by the name of Rebecca, who was based in the Austrian City of Graz, on her work experience trip in Austria.

"Under the heading I'm thankful" it adds to quite a list of 79 things about Austria.

for a city that's safe at night
for a city that's safe during the day
for a fantastic church home
for a rich national history
for accessible and affordable operas
for affordable housing
for an abundance of castles
for an orderly and cheap laundry system in my apartment building
for Austrian school and office supplies -- so much cooler!
for balls (i.e. dancing balls, like Cinderella went to a ball)
for bike paths
for cheap but good wine and beer
for cheap sparkling mineral water
for cheap, convenient and reliable train travel within Austria
for cheap/easy/convenient opportunities to travel within Europe
for church bells that ring at 7 am, 12 pm, 3 pm, and 7 pm
for consistently good coffee
for cute, quaint villages
for dialect and its accompanying amusements, puzzles and challenges
for everyone who helped me and/or made phone calls to figure out all the bureaucratic visa stuff
for everything pumpkin out of Styria: pumpkin seed oil, pumpkin cream soup, pumpkin bread, etc.
for exclusively Austrian Sturm, Glühwein, Christmas markets, and Buschenschanks
for ex-pats
for friends
for good bread and cheese
for good health insurance and no referrals
for good places to run and bike
for having 38 public holidays
for having the Mur river running though town
for hospitality
for how Austrians will really pull through for you
for incredible scenery
for kebabs
for Labello
for lackadaisical passport control officials
for living in a bike-friendly city
for meeting so many cool people from all over the world
for my connections
for my fellow foreigners
for old European streets, houses, and architecture in general; especially how this everyday cityscape stayed fresh and new for me
for reliable public transportation
for skiing and Austrian-style sledding
for so much free/leisure time
for sturdy toilet paper and tissues
for the abundance and coexistence of kitsch, history, and design
for the Austrians who adopted me and introduced me to Austrian life and culture
for the comfortable pace and quality of life
for the coziness of Graz
for the insanely cheap price of a chunk of fresh mozzarella
for the lack of cockroaches, poison ivy, and poisonous spiders and snakes
for the ubiquitous ice cream stands in the summer
for traditional clothing and accordion music
for tram and bus drivers who will stop the vehicle and wait for you if they see you running to catch a ride
for wearing slippers at home or as a guest in someone's home
for wonderful room mates and a flexible landlady
that Austria takes care of its people
that dogs are so well-behaved here and are allowed to go everywhere
that even in Austria I can be BFF with my bank teller(s)
that Graz was the Cultural Capital of Europe in 2003 and therefore has lots of spiffy new buildings and such
that having a car is so unnecessary
that having a real Christmas tree with real candles is the only tree most of them have ever known
that I can leave my bike simply standing and loosely locked anywhere in the city and it will still be there when I come back
that I can understand German on the phone
that I can walk in to the doctor's office without an appointment and actually be seen
that I could live in the same apartment for over 2 years - longer than any other apartment I've ever had
that I had so many visitors in the past couple years!
that I lived for 2 years without a deadbolt and it never bothered me
that I'm no longer pre-judged on the basis of my president
that it is so easy to split the bill in a restaurant
that my room doesn't face a street
that nearly everything you ever use is recycled
that people have stopped introducing me as, "This is Rebecca. She's American."
that receiving phone calls is free on your mobile phone
that Styria has it all -- mountains, hills, vineyards, thermal baths…
that tax is included in all your purchases and tipping is practically nonexistent
that the country is very stable and doesn't have any severe political or international problems
that there are so many old people who are out and about
that there are very few Americans in comparison with other Austrian cities
that there are very few tourists in comparison with the other Austrian cities"

Quite a list, we would welcome other suggestions about what is good about Austria.

Winter Skiing Kaprun- Zell am See the Europa Ski area.

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Chapel next to Kaprun Castle

The lake side market town of Zell am See and the alpine village of Kaprun have teamed up together for the past 40 years and were aptly collectively known as the "Europa Sport Region". They have now recently changed the focus on the joint marketing of the names of Zell am See and Kaprun.

Between the the lively medieval lakeside resort town of Zell am See and the spectacular Kitzsteinhorn glacier, lies Kaprun. Which is a traditional Austrian village with a pretty church and interesting castle. It is convenient for nursery slopes, pistes for all levels and fast links to near all year round snow sure slopes on the glacier so good for November to June ski holidays and beyond. For some night life check out the Austrian scene oompah bars always turn out to be very special nights!

The skiing area of Zell am See and Kaprun is varied with three distinct Ski areas of:-

i) Maiskogel, where it is possible to ski down into the centre of Kaprun and it is only a 10-12 minute walk away from the Austria holiday apartment

ii) The second area is above Zell am See down from the 2000 metre high Schmittenhoe, topped by a chapel and restaurant. This area has fantastic views down onto the frozen lake of Zell am See, where in the right conditions people will be found walking and skating. There is consideration to the possibility to linking up this ski area to meet up with the adjacent ski resorts of Sallbach and Hinterglemm. It is also possible to upgrade your Zell am See / Ski pass for a few Euros include this additional area on top of the 3 ski areas in Zell am See and Kaprun. There is speculation of new ski lifts and slopes down into Piesendorf extending the ski area even further.

Austrian Traditional Holiday Poster.

iii) The third area is above Kaprun on the Kitzsteinhorn which rises to 3203 metres in height. Below the summit there is the Kitzsteinhorn glacier, which is open all year round and normally subject to weather it sometimes only closes for 2-3 weeks in the summer for maintenance to the ski lifts. So it is possible to ski throughout most of the year, creating the possibility of a longer ski season for visitors and locals alike. This mountain area also has the benefit of a snow park for the ski boarders. For the recent season a new lift had been installed the "Kristallbahn" which had the benefit of heated seats! which made the ride up, nearly as much fun as the ski down! With upgrades and improvements being made year on year to the facilities provided.

Ski resort area Map of Zell am See and Kaprun

The valley bottom between Kaprun and Zell am See is the location of a cross country ski course for an alternative form of skiing the Nordic type.

Tauern Spa Kaprun

New from November 2010 is the fantastic Tauern Spa Kaprun, it is located just to the north of Kaprun, on the road out of the village to Zell am See. Our sister blog at Austria-Spa-World provides further information on this 85 million Euro project, which will enhance any holiday by a visit and the use of its extensive facilities. There is a fantastic spa area, split into a "textile" and none textile (nudist) area.

Tauern Spa Kaprun close to Zell am See

As mentioned there are further additional ski areas in the immediate area the joint resort of Saalbach Hinterglemm and Kitzbuhel. Around 30 minutes away is the Gastein valley, where there is further additional extensive skiing, and it also the benefit of 2 (yes two) world class spa complexes at Bad Gastein and at Hofgastein. Both are thermally thermally heated ( natural) and are definitely worth a visit what ever the time of the year.

Pisendorf and Niedernsill are just a few miles away from Zell am See and Kaprun, and are compact resorts, they tend to be a little quieter and cheaper, than their busier neighbours. A ski map of the area can be found via this link, can be used as a great base to commute to the larger ski areas. It is a good base, along with Kaprun for cross Country skiing with extensive routes along the valley bottom in all directions.

The holiday region Zell am See-Kaprun attracts 2 million overnight stays every year is one of the most popular holiday destinations in Austria. During the summer months you can enjoy a variety of outdoor activities like rafting, golf and hiking. And also in the cold season there is never a dull moment thanks to the possibilities of sleigh rides and hiking tours in snowshoes. Skiers can comfortably reach the 132 kilometres of slopes with powder snow on one of the 56 lifts. Snowboarders also enjoy the perfect high altitude conditions of the Snow-parks on the 2,600 metre high glacier plateau. Even in the summer you can swish down the slopes there.

Ski passes can be brought at a variety of locations in Kaprun and Zell am See, with the Kitzsteinhorn glacier comes a snow guarantee as well!! with an extended ski season into June and October starts for a new ski season possibilities.

Ski slope Cameras

Many holiday resort destinations have internet cameras, for example via the attached Zell am See / Kaprun link the site lead to cameras covering the areas of Maisikogel, the Kitzsteinhorn ( more than one camera to cover different areas of the glacier), the Schmitten, with further cameras looking over the lake at Zell am See. It is a useful resource to see perhaps the weather conditions, visibility, numbers skiing, or if there are and swimmers or skaters in or on the lake.

The renowned German publishing house of 'Falk Verlag' awarded Zell am See and Kaprun the high accolade of the voting the area the most family-friendly holiday region in Europe!

Looking for somewhere to stay? for 3 - 9 persons then consider Austria Holiday Apartment

Austria holiday apartment - Kaprun comfort and convenience

Buying a holiday home in Kaprun & Zell am See - Austria

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Austrian Holiday Apartment under construction April 2008

Austria holiday Apartment bringing a plan into reality http://www.austria-holiday-apartment.com/

A while ago we were approached about writing an article about buying a holiday home in Austria. The attached link details some of the trials and tribulations in the process of finding the ideal place. buying a holiday apartment in Austria

After following a number of property programs on TV, attending the "Place in the Sun " holiday home exhibition. We had made the decision that we were looking for somewhere which had the potential to rent all year around. We were tempted by the Canary Islands, Cyprus and Crete, but in the end we were persuaded by the arguments for an extended rental period, summer through to winter in a Ski resort.

In carrying out our detailed research across a number of countries we found the Global property website a very good reserch tool. It enabled us to make comparisons between buying in different areas i.e. Austria, Switzerland and France. It gave lots of useful information to analyze, and it was a useful resource to tool, direct further research.

In looking at ski areas we were advised to go for an area where there was glacier skiing, in other words the snow would be guaranteed and the ski season would be extended into May or even June, and start again in the October.

We wanted to be near a number of airports, so in the end with these criteria in mind, we settled on the Zell am See and Kaprun area, it had the combination of the Kitzsteinhorn glacier ski area, the lake at Zell am See for water sports. Excellent transport links by road and rail to Salzburg, Innsbruck just over a hour away, and Munich coming in at around 2 hours. With the news that a new Tauern spa Kaprun complex was scheduled to built in a couple of years time made our decision easier to decide upon, another reason to buy in the area, was the adjacent 36 hole championship golf course of Zellamsee-Kaprun

Further we liked the area, and the contrast between holidaying in the summer and then returning in the winter was something that we would not have got in Cyprus or the Canary islands, i.e. swimming in the Zell am See lake in the summer and then walking across the frozen lake in the winter!

In looking for actual properties in Austria, the internet made life a little easier, we liked the "Live Austria" site. "Amazing Austria" was another website that gave us a good overview and plenty of information. But in the end we went with Ellmer an estate / developer based at the aerodrome between Kaprun and Zell am See, we found the approach of Christian very helpful and liked the build quality that he and Austria offered.

So after much thought, chats with friendly bank managers in the UK and Austria ( we even get birthday cards from the Volksbank at Zell am See!) after a 18 month search we found ourselves moving into our holiday rental home in Kaprun. There are still the occasional worry, drop in the £ sterling against the Euro, and the absence of bookings, with bills to be paid. But overall we are delighted with the apartment, area. Running a holiday rental business is challenging but the rewards of an appreciation from a content guest makes it more the worthwhile.

We have publicised the apartment with our website (see below and we also run two blogs Austria-holiday-apartment-blogspot ( we could have come up with a snappier title) and another based on Austrian spas and in particular the new Tauern Spa Kaprun, which is just the other side of the village from our apartment in Kaprun.

So do your research, do your sums, be prepared to put in the hours to market the apartment, it quite a journey to take, not without worries, but great scenery to look at on the way!!

House For Sale Austria

We have friends in Austria, close to Kaprun and Zell am See, they have just put their house on the market, it a fantastic house, in a great location with some superb workmanship. To take a look at the linked pictures

take a peek or contact Gernot at atg.schermer@sbg.at who would be happy to provide further information.

View from the terrace of the Apartment we eventually brought of the Kitzsteinhorn glacier

If you looking for some where to stay for 3-9 persons then please consider staying with us at www.austria-holiday-apartment.com

Austria Skiing all year Round

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Skiing is a winter sport right? well yes but there are opportunities to ski into the winter, spring and even the summer. The skiing won't be as extensive and the weather won't be as cold, but it is certainly possible to ski outside the recognized ski season of mid December to the Easter holidays.

In Austria there are a number of glaciers in the Tyrol, but the only glacier ski area in the Salzburg area is the Kitzsteinhorn above Kaprun close to Zell am See. The facilities on the top of the mountain come newly refurbished with even a cinema complex now added.

Summer Skiing in the Austrian Alps

If you are selective a choose an area where there is glacier skiing, the attached article "Summer Skiing in the Austrian Alps" gives plenty of suggestions to make the most of the opportunity to get in that extra ski holiday, or perhaps the start of a ski career by having a lesson or two!

A place to summer ski is on the Kitzsteinhorn rising to 3203 metres with a glacier so it is possible to extend your ski season and ski on in April, May June and beyond weather dependent further on into the year. In some years weather dependent it is possible to ski most of the year round. In the case of the Kizsteinhorn, it normally shuts down for weeks in the summer when maintenance takes place on relocating the ski lifts which have been sliding down the glacier!

Kitzsteinhorn glacier normally open from October through to June or even July for Skiing!!

The lifts for skiing at the Kitzsteinhorn are operating all year round - the first ascent is at around 8.15 a.m.

Usually in April almost all lifts are open. In summer generally the main cable-cars and a few ski lifts at

the very top (at approx 2900 metres) of the glacier are operating – approx. 3,5 piste km slopes.

The number of open lifts and pistes is always depending on the actual snow situation.

They cannot give you an exact preview for summer skiing as this is very much weather dependent, its recommended that you contact the Kitzsteinhorn ski lift company direct to get the latest situation

Then they can tell you the exact piste situation or you can also have a look on http://en.kitzsteinhorn.at/news/openedlifts.htm.

For further information and the Live-Panorama from the Kitzsteinhorn please have a look on www.kitzsteinhorn.at.You will also find out more about events, weather, snow and the feeling, to be 3000 meters above it all.

Summer map of the Kitzsteinhorn glacier ski area close to Kaprun and Zell am See

For an interactive map of the Kitzsteinhorn in the summer click on the attached map link where it is also possible to use it to plan your alpine walks.

Many spring and summer visitors, like to take up the opportunity of an extended ski season, but they also like the possibility of a combination of activities. Skiing, walking, a round of golf or even two for at the Zell am See, Kaprun golf courses there are two 18 hole championship golf course!

Other possibilities are cycling, swimming in a mountain lake in one of the local spas or pools. In the case of Kaprun and Zell am See there is the new Tauern-Kaprun-Spa world, which opened in November 2010.

In Austria there are 8 glacier ski areas, where it is possible to have an extended ski season.

The majority of of the resorts are in are in the Austrian Tyrol area, with the Kitzsteinhorn being in the Salzburg area, and the Molltaler Gletcher being in Carinthia.

Tyrol Summer Skiing

The Tyrol summer ski areas are at Dachstein, Kaunertaler, Hintertuxer, Solden, Piztaler and the Stubaier glacier ski resorts, the Tyrol area is the area around Innsbruck. are in the Innsbruck area of Austria

For further information on somewhere to stay please see www.austria-holiday-apartment.com
The apartment sleeps from 3 to 9 persons with a view of the Kitzsteinhorn glacier from the terrace.

With a view of the Kitzsteinhorn.

Finding a flight to Austria?

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There are numerous places to find summer flights and winter ski flights to Austria on the internet.

The Austrian Tourist board website keeps an updated list of flight options in and around Austria. With separate pages for summer flights and winter flights, with convenient additional links on railway information.

Click on the links below to find further Austrian ski / summer flight information.

Salzburg Airport flight info lists all the departures and arrivals. Access straight onto the motorway, and it is possible to be for example to be in Kaprun or Zell am See in around 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes. With a rail transfer from Salzburg taking a similar period of time.

Innsbruck Airport flight information cover the western part of Austria, in the Tyrol it lists the charter and scheduled flights. An alternative airport is to get your ski flight to Munich in Germany. Around a 2 hour transfer time depending upon your resort location in Austria, with a convenient motorway direct from the airport to Innsbruck and Salzburg and beyond.

Graz Airport flight information easy to use site which lists destinations by country and airport. Just off the motorway and about 1 hour from Salzburg, covering the central parts of Austria

Klagenfurt Airport flight information site not so user friendly, but takes you to southern Austria closer to the Slovenian and Italian borders.

Blue Danube Linz Airport flight information handy again for Southern Austria ski resorts and getting to Slovenia.

Vienna International Airport flight information this site available in a number of different languages. Vienna being the historic capital of Austria, located close to the Slovakian border has excellent interconnecting links with the rest of the country, by rail, road and river!

Other alternatives are flights to northern Italy, Venice Marco Polo Airport which is around a 3-4 hour drive to Austria.

Another choice is Munich International Airport there are plenty of flights to this "hub" airport from around the world. This airport / flugplatz is around a one to one and half hours away from the Austrian border linked by motorway.

Austria has a great road network, making for easy driving or easy transfers to your chosen resort. Along with a modern railway system making which i have heard described is like a figure of " 8" around the country with trains going in both directions, it is convenient and reliable mode of transport, with the added benefit of some fantastic views, it makes getting around Austria a joy.

I have put in the following links to help you find that Austrian holiday flight booking

1) Ryanair.com 2) Easyjet.com 3) Thomsonfly.com 4) Jet2.com and 5) flybe.com 6) Air Berlin 7) German wings

Air Berlin

do regular flights to and from Austria. The mjost convenient for Zell am See and Kaprun are Salzburg with a resort transfer time of around 1 hour 15 minutes. Innsbruck and Munich have slightly longer transfer times.

GermanWings.com

For further information on accommodation, if you are looking for somewhere for 3-9 persons to stay please consider looking at :- www.austria-holiday-apartment.com

Austria Holiday Apartment in the Kaprun - Zell am See Salzburg Area

What's new in Zell am See and Kaprun?.

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The Austrians are a hard working nation, and looking to improve and enhance facilities, on an annual basis, from the upgrading of ski lift, the provision of new cycle lanes, extension and modernization of hotels, with new infrastructure being constructed each year.

The major recent changes for for Kaprun and the Zell am See area include:-

1) New Tauern Spa Kaprun now open

The new 85 million Euro spa complex opened November 2010, and will enhance any stay in the area, the attached blog link gives more information http://austria-spa-world.blogspot.com/. Great for a session of relaxation after a hard days skiing, or perhaps in the summer after a strenuous day of hiking / cycling, or just go and relax and unwind, after 36 holes on the adjacent golf course!

Tauern Spa Kaprun opens late at night.

Stop by at Tauern Spa Kaprun, hotel rooftop infinity pool.

The Tauern Spa website English website can be found at this spa link. The German version of the same website can also be found via this link, If you visit have a great time and let us know how you get on!

2) New Kitzsteinhorn new lift station

On the top of the Kitzsteinhorn mountain at 3000+ metres and famous for its glacier, a new cinema complex!, viewing galleries and refurbished restaurant has opened in December 2010 the attached article from the Zell am See - Kaprun tourist board provides further information.Go on a sunny day to take in all the views.


Kitzsteinhorn Gipfelwert 3000

The Kitzsteinhorn company run their own website to find out the latest, prices, weather reports or events click on the link.

3) New Maiskogel toboggan run

The Maiskogel ski lift which comes right down into the middle of Kaprun, (is about a 10 minute walk from Austria-Holiday-Apartment) is benefiting from the extra facility of a brand new toboggan run, it opened in the middle of December 2010, ready for the Christmas and New year holiday period. It is designed to be used summer and winter. For further information click on the Maiskogel website link

Maiskogel toboggan run open winter and summer opened December 2010

The start point for the ride is in the car park adjacent to the Maiskogel ski lift close to the centre of Kaprun. The ride starts from the valley bottom with a "tow" up the the hillside, before the ride starts for proper with an exhilarating ride back down to the start point with plenty of twists and turns on the way.

Future Developments planned

For the future plans in Zell am See and Kaprun, it is reported that:-

There is future talk of ski lift and a Proposed Schmitten to Piesendorf link

This would take you up from the valley bottom at Piesendorf, up to the top of the Schmitten, with a view down onto Zell am See. Click on the above link to see the proposals in a map form

A new multi-screen cinema close to the aerodrome is being planned,for the area between Zell am See and Kaprun

Along with an extension to the 36 hole Zell am See - Kaprun by a further 9 holes!

Zell am See - Kaprun Golf course, fantastic views and adjacent to Tauern Spa Kaprun

So if you are considering visiting Austria again please consider staying with us?

Austria Holiday Kaprun apartment

If you are looking for somewhere to stay for 3-9 people in the Kaprun and Zell-am See areas? With the benefit of three bedrooms and three bath / shower rooms. For further information on the area, please see www.austria-holiday-apartment.com

22 to 23 reasons to have a winter / ski holiday in Kaprun, Zell am See in Austria.

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20, 22 and now 23 reasons, to have a winter / Skiing holiday in Zell am See / Kaprun area. It is one of those lists which will go on and on, there is the obvious skiing and snowboarding. A trip to Salzburg by train is less obvious, and a ride down to the Gastein valley to enjoy the hot thermal waters, or a day out skiing in Sallbach and Hinterglemm, or shopping in Innsbruck. Anyway it is a list for starters and others may want to contribute ideas and suggestions of their own.

So 20+ reasons to holiday in the Europa Ski area of Zell am See and Kaprun here goes:-

1.Quick transfer times from the nearest local airport of Salzburg which is just over 1 hour away, just over the German border is Munich airport at just over 2 hours away, Innsbruck airport is a little closer, making the holiday area easy to get to and from.
2.Plenty of flights out to and back from Austria from a wide range of airports.
3.Skiing in three distinctive areas of Schmittenhohe above Zell am See, the Maiskogel where you can ski direct down into the village centre of Kaprun, and the Kitzsteinhorn where at a height of 3204 metres the snow is guaranteed, and the glacier allows for all year round skiing. For a ski map on the area and further ski info click on the link, it is worth looking on the map and identifying the 3 lifts with the heated seats!
4.Skiing for all abilities, a mix of slopes and varied terrain to cater for beginners, intermediate, and expert making it an excellent family ski area.
5. Lovely Austrian village of Kaprun and the ancient lakeside market town (Fridays) of Zell am See.
6. Walking, skating, horse riding or curling on the frozen lake (see) at Zell, which normally freezes in the middle of winter.
7.Walking across the frozen lake to Thumersbach for a coffee and cake.
8.Having a hot chocolate or mocha in the Grand Hotel at Zell am See.
9.Three acclaimed snow parks up on the Kitzsteinhorn for you to show off your snowboarding stuff.
10.Marked walking paths, tree lined slopes to help you find your way about.
11.Marked and maintained cross country skiing trails.
12.For something a little different why not try snow shoeing?
13.Two toboggan runs one for Kaprun and another for Zell am See.
14.Try curling on the frozen lake or outside a hostelry!
15.Swimming or having a sauna in Zell am See, or at the new 85 million Euro Tauern Spa Kaprun or take in the thermal waters of the the two spas in the Gastein valley only a short ride by train, car or taxi.
16.Go and watch a ice hockey match in Zell am See, very competitive and great fun.
17.Walk the 7 miles around the lake, stopping for a mulled wine.
18.Enjoy the alpine apres Ski activities, the Austrians know how to enjoy themselves.
19.Go up on the cable cars and enjoy a meal and take in the views.
20.Glacier skiing your guarantee of snow.
21.Shopping in the market in Zell am See, every Friday, and Christmas markets as well.
22.Relax you are on holiday and enjoy yourself.
23.Enjoy the Austrian scenery and winter sun you will not be disappointed.

Another item to embellish on is spa-world-kaprun, which at a 83 million Euro investment, covering an area 18,600 metres square and with a water area of 2060 metres square, it promises to be quite an all year round attraction, in a stunning location, making the area even more of a all season resort. To see further information on this blog about Tauren Spa World Kaprun please click on the link or here.

The final link is of a video from the Kitzsteinhorn glacier enjoy it for yourself, at your own pace.

For 30+ reasons to visit Kaprun and Zell am See in the summer, or for that matter in the spring or autumn please click on the reasons to visit link.

Looking for somewhere to stay? then please consider staying at Austria Holiday Apartment in Kaprun it sleeps from 3 - 9 persons in comfort, and has the added benefit of 3 bath / shower rooms as well.

Convenient location close to Supermarket, Ski bus stop and Kaprun center

Zell am See and the Kaprun ski areas

2011-09-02T19:43:00.000+01:00

Skiing resort Areas

Kaprun and Zell am See are located in the heart of the Alps in the province Salzburg, they sit close together in a spectacular mountain in one of the prettier ski areas of Austria.

The holiday region of Zell am See-Kaprun has over 14,000 beds and two million overnight stays are recorded each year is one of the more popular holiday destinations in Austria. There is an abundance of fantastic views, beautiful flora and fauna in an Alpine setting. The Lake Zell offers opportunities for relaxation and well-being. Golfing, hiking, and bathing are at the focus for the summer time program, but visitors can choose from many more activities as well.

During the winter seasons, 56 cable car and lift facilities take visitors up onto the mountains, with 136 kilometres of pistes. Skiers and snowboarders enjoy the perfect conditions of the Kitzsteinhorn Snowpark on the 2,600-metre-high glacier plateau. Even in the summer you there is the possibility of skiing down the glacier. Both resorts are family friendly.

Location map of Zell am See and Kaprun.

The lakeside, ancient market town of town of Zell am See and the alpine village of Kaprun, are located about 7 kms ( 4 miles) apart, next to the Hohe Tauern mountain range, with the key ski mountains peaks of Kitzsteinhorn 3.203 m, complete with glacier, the Maiskogel at 1.675 m both located above Kaprun, back across the valley above Zellamsee is the Schmittenhöhe / Schmitten which rises to 2.000 metres, and is topped by the Empress Elizabeth Chapel.

Empress Elizabeth Chapel on top of the Schmitten Above Zell am See

These are two charming resorts come with distinct traditional Austrian features. Both resorts are well linked by bus and have access to the 138km of ski runs, in three distinct ski areas, offering a variety of changes in scenery, altitude and attitude!

For those learning to ski there is a choice of ski schools with easily accessible nursery slopes, plenty of intermediate slopes and of course challenging black runs and with off-piste areas.

View from the Kitzsteinhorn glacier, Kaprun in the valley bottom and Zell am See in the distance

Kaprun and Zell am See the Europa Sport Region Skiing Area 25 facts

For further information on the ski area and ski map click on the link

Skiing Altitude 755m-3000m
Resort Altitude 755m (Zell am See)
Piste length 138km
Number of runs 53
Nursery Slopes 13%
Blue 40%
Red 34%
Black 13%
Number of Lifts 57
Drag lifts 30
Chair lifts 15
Cable Cars 12
Direction of predominately slopes N/S/E
Terrain Parks yes
Half Pipe yes
Cross Country Trails 200km
Glacier skiing yes
Night Skiing yes
Mountain Restaurants 20
Snow making 80% of runs covered
Resort Ski Bus yes, included in ski pass price
Bus Linked Resorts Zell am See, Kaprun, Schuttdorf to the Kitzsteinhorn glacier
Après Ski yes in both resorts
Austrian Alpine atmosphere yes.
Spa / wellness yes Tauern Spa Kaprun opened its doors in November 2010.

Tauern Spa Kaprun opened November 2010 well worth a visit

Apartment Rental Accommodation in the Zell am See - Kaprun area?

Looking for somewhere to stay for 3-9 people? With the benefit of three bedrooms and three bath / shower rooms, please consider staying at www.austria-holiday-apartment.com

Austria Holiday Apartment in Kaprun sleeps from 3-9 with a view of the Kitzsteinhorn

30 great reason to visit Zell am See and Kaprun in Austria in the summer

2011-07-29T22:00:00.000+01:00

Tauern Spa Kaprun just superb

Chuch in Kaprun

Plenty of cycling routes

Lake at Zell am See

Thirty great reasons to visit and stay in Kaprun / Zell am See in the Austrian summer.

Scenery to inspire.
Fresh clean alpine air to relax in.
The sports centres, indoor pool, spa and recreation center in Zell am See.
A trip to Salzburg
A trip to Innsbruck
Swimming and bathing fun in Lake Zell
Water sport-swimming, sailing, surfing, diving, water skiing on the lake at Zell.
Hiking trails at all altitudes, with different challenges, and different views.
Cable cars up to 3,000 m above sea level
One of Austria’s premier golf clubs with two 18-hole golf courses in a spectacular location.
Over 200 km route of the bike cycle route called the "Tauernradweg"
Over 700 km of well defined mountain bike routes some used in the mountain bike downhill World cup competition.
Over 25 km of bridle paths, for you to enjoy horse riding.
Over 40 different types of sports for all the family to enjoy.
Summer skiing up on the on the Kitzsteinhorn glacier.
Kaprun castle festivals.
Village, lake, city and alpine festivals.
Concerts, theatres, exhibit, museums, galleries locally and in Salzburg and Innsbruck.
Canyoning, river rafting, climbing, mountaineering, paragliding, mountain biking and so much more.
Fun and varied program for children
A visit to Kaprun’s reservoirs.
Railway trips Salzburg or Innsbruck.
Visit Krimmel waterfalls perhaps taking you cycles on the train, and cycling down the valley with a day to remember
An alpine drive over the alps on a road only open May to September!
Castles to visit, including Werfen castle with the display of falconery
Visit a large ice cave above Werfen castle only discovered just over 100 years ago.
Many great places for all the family to visit.
A 7 mile walk around the lake at Zell
Sit and have a coffee and take in the view
Relax you are on holiday.

For further information and ideas link to the article 22 - 23 reasons to visit Zell am See, Kaprun and surrounding areas for a winter holiday see this link.

Tauern Spa-world-Kaprun

Another great reason to visit the area will be the opening of a brand new spa complex , it will is called Tauern Spa-world-Kaprun, the cost of the development comes in at around 85 million euro.

The spa covers a site of 18,600 metres square and with a water recreation area of 2060 metres square. It promises to be a superb enhancement to the area, make it an even more attractive place to holiday throughout the year.

The site of the spa is just a few minutes walk from the center of Kaprun, it sits in the valley bottom, surrounded my majestic mountains, and a stunning view of the Kitzsteinhorn glacier with its glacier.

I feel sure that it will be worth the wait to visit.

Things to do in a week in Kaprun, Zell am See and the Salzburg area

2011-06-29T14:28:00.001+01:00

We’ve just returned from our second visit to Austria and stayed in an apartment in Kaprun, which is perfectly positioned and very comfortable.

We are a young family and have two girls aged 7 and 5, so here’s a few notes from our trip in the Zell am See / Kaprun Salzburg area:-

Mountains, lake and valley to explore in Kaprun and Zell am See

1. The main activities for us this year were walking and swimming so we purchased a Kaprun Zell am See “Hike and Swim” ticket for a total of €176. It might sound expensive but one return ride on a cable car is £40 and one visit to the lido in Zell am See is £20 and as we can manage both in one day it’s cost effective, it gave us "free" access to lots of the attractions in the immediate area.

2. Our first walk was one for the children “Schmidolin’s Feuertaufe”, it’s new this year and has a fire breathing dragon theme. There are 11 game action stations on a circular walk which is situated between the City Express (Mittelstation) and Areitbahn gondolas. We all enjoyed this walk (route no. 56) and the children loved it especially when they each received a certificate at the end, which they were both very pleased with. If we had more time we probably would have done it again. For more info in German click here, the English link is above.

3. The next day the Schmittenhohebahn wasn’t running but the TrassExpress was which runs to its left (this isn’t shown on the summer map but is visible on the winter map). We then walked up the mountain to the St Elisabeth church at the Schmitten summit where we then followed the very short Empress Sisi walk (route no.1).

4. Our next walk was from the top of the Schmittenhohe along the ridge to the Sonnkogel chairlift (Erlebnisweg Hohenpromenade, route no. 67). This is mostly downhill and there are multiple information points along the way (including tunnels to explore) which can engage the children and at the top of the Sonnkogel there is a zip wire and slide. Also here is a place where you can have your photo taken by the webcam, here’s ours!

We stopped off for coffee and apple strudel at the café/restaurant and then took the chairlift ride down, which the children loved, at the end of which there is another playground. From here it is the Sonnenalm cable car back to the car park.

Klamsee above Sigmund Thum Klamm gorge near Kaprun

5. On a cloudy and wet day we drove the one mile up the road from the apartment and paid €8, for 4 of us to walk through the Sigmund-Thun-Klamm gorge which is very impressive. From the top of the gorge we walked around the Klamsee (lake) and then drove a very short distance to take the Maiskogelbahn cable car. This is like stepping back in time and at the top by the café there are swings, a number of animals for the children to see (goats, ponies, chickens) and also great views looking down to Kaprun towards Zell am See.

6. Our next trip we gave the children the choice of either taking the train and; bus to the Krimml waterfall or visiting the ice cave at Werfen.

They chose the ice cave so that’s where we went. This is approx 45mins from the apartment in Kaprun. We would advise going as early as possible in the day because we had a lot of queuing. When we arrived at Werfen, near the impressive, imposing castle, we were told to park in the lower car park and take the bus to the ticket office, whilst this cost us an extra €16 in hindsight it was money well spent because the drive up the mountain to the ticket office is not for the uninitiated (steep narrow hairpins avoiding buses for 5km and a narrow busy car park at the top). We paid £50 for our cable car/ice cave ticket and took the 20 min walk to the cable car, which leaves every 3 mins but can only carry 15 people at a time (so a long queue takes time to shift). There is then another 20min walk to the ice cave which itself has hundreds of steps (I felt dizzy for a short period as we got to the top but our children didn’t complain at all). Warm clothing and good footwear is essential. The ice cave is amazing and is only lit by lamps carried by the visitors and magnesium carried by the guide who also speaks English and German.

7. When we weren’t walking we were mainly swimming at the lido in Zell am See which has great facilities. Here we all used the pools, the water slide and swam in the lake. Whilst our children aren’t old enough yet they enjoyed watching the teens being towed by the speedboat on the doughnuts and the banana (and falling off). The views around the lake from here are fantastic, I bet there aren’t many other better situated outdoor swimming pools. We also used the indoor pool in Kaprun but I expect the new Tauern Spa Kaprun resort due to open in November will be much better.

View from the lido at Zell am See swim and sail

8. There is a great atmosphere in Zell am See on Wednesday nights during the summer with music bands, lots of food and drink stalls and entertainers including clowns making balloon animals.

Summer traditional music in the town Square in Zell am See on Wednesdays nights

9. As we had a late flight back to the UK and the weather was poor we drove into Salzburg and visited the Natural History/Science museum which was fascinating for us all. We spent approx 3 hours inside, there are a number of floors with rooms featuring dinosaurs, the ice age, science, space exploration and the Doppler effect, evolution, aquariums amongst others.

10. On a sunnier day we probably would have gone back to Hellbrunn on the outskirts of Salzburg (also adjacent to the zoo) – this has lovely gardens including the summer house from The Sound of Music (“I am 16 going on 17”), a great play area and a house with incredible fountains (see also ).

Some other interesting things that were happening at the time we were there

11. A mountain bike festival in Kaprun, "Bike infection 2010"for links for action packed cycle videos click here.

12. On the 7th August (day of our departure) there was the 2nd lake festival at Zell am See
The date set for 2011 has already been set, and looks to become a regular occurrence.

13. For football fans there were a couple of team that were using Kaprun as a training base whilst we were there, German Bundesliga side FC Nurnberg and Romanian Liga II side CS Concordia Chanjia

Other info

14. Parking – is free on the roadside in Zell am See on Friday afternoons, all day Saturday and Sunday and after 6pm on other weekdays. At other times it is very cheap but the maximum stay is 3 hours. It also is very busy so spaces are rare but it is a much cheaper alternative than the underground covered car park. In Kaprun the parking is much easier and parking was free at the apartment where we stayed.

Whilst this has been our second visit we still have plenty more to do including the Kitzsteinhorn glacier the Kaprun dams and reservoirs; the train ride upto Krimml waterfalls, cycling around and boating on the lake; the spa, walks and castle in Kaprun; Saalbach-Hinterglemm etc. etc. etc.

Looking forward to returning again sometime!

Jeremy Emma and family

View from the apartment where we stayed of the Kitzsteinhorn complete with glacier

If you are looking for somewhere to stay for 3-9 people? which has the benefit of three bedrooms and three bath / shower rooms please consider www.austria-holiday-apartment.com. For a down loadable brochure click on the Kaprun holiday apartment link

Weather in Zell am See - Kaprun and Austria

2010-12-16T23:11:00.001Z

Austria enjoys a moderate continental climate featuring the four seasons. Summers are generally warm and pleasant with cool nights, if it gets too hot you can go up onto the mountain tops to cool off or visit a glacier! Its great for walking, cycling, swimming in the lakes, outdoor adventure activities, and sitting out over an evening meal in a warm balmy summer evening.

Seasonal weather in Zell am See - Kaprun

Winters are sunny, with reliable and frequent snowfalls making it perfect for skiing in winter, both Kaprun and Zell am See have extensive snow making facilities enhancing the skiing.

Further weather information is available from the ski companies for the Maiskogel , the Schmitten and the Kitzsteinhorn. The Kitzsteinhorn glacier comes with its own snow guarantee! Also weather forecasts for the area can be downloaded via the following link

Weather updates also available from the Kitzsteinhorn website.

In the colder years the lake at Zell am See freezes over making extra opportunities for ice skating.

No matter what time of the year you are visiting, there is plenty to do and see. If you are looking for somewhere to stay with 3 bedrooms for up to 9 persons, with the benefit of three bath / shower rooms?.

For further information please see www.austria-holiday-apartment.com

Winter Ski holidays Austria - Kaprun - Zell am See

2010-11-01T20:31:00.001Z

Kaprun church worth a visit

Maiskogel ski area - great for family skiing

View from the Kitzsteinhorn glacier

Ski holidays in Kaprun and Zell am See - Austria.

The ski area at Kaprun consists of an area accessed direct from the village centre via ski lifts up the Maiskogel bahn. A much larger and higher ski area complete with glacier is on the Kitzsteinhorn which is accessed from just up the valley from Kaprun, with a regular ski bus service, from Zell am See through the village. The glacier provides the possibility of year round skiing and an extended snow reliability and a snow guarantee in early or late seasons.

The views from the glacier at Kaprun are impressive with the lake at, Zell am See and the highest mountain in Austria the Grossglockne all visible. With the snow guarantee and terrain parks for snowboarders the area caters for skiers of all abilities.

The sister resort from Kaprun is Zell am See with a magnificent lakeside location and majestic mountains all round, the ski holiday resort of Zell am See (Zell by the lake) is renowned as one of the most attractive holiday locations in Austria, with drinking quality water.

In summer the lake with a 13 km (7 mile) walk around and its many activities provide a focus for this all year round holiday resort. In winter whilst the lake is a perfect backdrop to the mountains, it provides great scenic value from all directions. and allows visitors to walk, curl or skate across on a fantastic natural ice rink. The ski resort of Zell am See directly accesses the slopes above with a number of lifts going straight up from the town resort. The attraction of of the area is the myriad of skiing opportunities that includes Kaprun and the Kitzsteinhorn glacier forming jointly what is known as the Europa Sportregion.

The ski area at Zell am See offers the opportunity to ski down through the forest pistes ideally suited for beginners and intermediates with the challenges of black runs for the more experienced skier. The views from the peak at Schmitten Pfiff with its Empress Elizabeth picturesque chapel are spectacular, overlooking the lake, with the glaciers toward the Grossglockner Austria's highest mountain in the distance.

The neighbouring ski holiday resorts of Kaprun and Zell am See are inter-linked by free ski buses, for skiers and share in a common lift pass..

The holiday resorts of Zell am See and Kaprun offers lively après ski with a mix of nationalities.

Further afield around from Kaprun there is access to the extensive ski resorts of Sallbach and Hinterglemm where it is possible to ski clockwise or anti-clockwise around the valleys in the form of a ring, and a little bit further is the Gastein valley ski resorts of Hofgastein (around 30 minutes by car from Kaprun), Bad Gastein and at the very top of the valley Sports Gastein. The Gastein valley is famous for it's hot thermal spas which are naturally occurring.

A new superb spa complex "Tauren-spa-world-Kaprun" is ~~in the process of being~~ built in Kaprun, it is located in a fantastic "sunny" setting close to the village centre, with a lovely vista of the mountains around, it will be a 5-10 minute walk away from Kapruns village centre. The new spa lays claim to being one of the largest in Austria. Having visited a number of other spas in Austria, I know that you will not be disappointed, with the new spa which opened in November 2010.

For further information on the area and if you are looking for somewhere to stay, take a look at :- Austria-holiday-apartment.com it sleeps from 3-9. in comfort

Austria Holiday Apartment in Kaprun

Mountain Bike world championships coming to Salzburg’s Pinzgau

2010-09-30T23:18:00.000+01:00

Grossglockner alpine pass a cycling challenge of a lifetime?

The 2012 are to be held in Saalfelden - Leogang area of Salzburg of Austria, just to the north of Zell am See. It has been announced by the International Cycling Union (UCI).

This is the second time that this international competition will come to the Pinzgau region. Eight years ago in 2008 the alpine village of Kaprun hosted this prestigious sporting event.

According to the areas tourism manager Peter Donabauer this recent announcement will bring new direction to the area: "The cross country track which will be constructed will not only serve for the world championships. In the coming years we could develop international training and teaching tracks."

Two existing routes in the Leogang Bike Park will be used for the championships. In addition to the new cross country route a trial will be set up in Saalfelden town centre. The facilities will be tested in early summer next year in 2011.

The 2012 championships will take place between the 29th August and 9th September, and will cost an estimated 1.2 Million euros to host.

Salzburg Region for Cycling

The Salzburg region is becoming a sporting Mecca for cycling enthusiasts. At Wagrain there are state of the art mountain track circuits to challenge cyclists of all abilities. Similarily in Kaprun the mountain bike route has been recently extended from the village to the the top of the Maisikogel lift, from there the track continuous onto the Kitzsteinhorn first lift stage at 1976, a ride of over a 1000in altitude. For those who like a bigger challenge there is also the mighty Grossglockner pass for those who like a challenge, weather dependent it is normally open from May to October or November time.

In the Sallbach Hinterglemm and Leogang area the winter ski area has been developed and enhanced to provide a top class mountain bike terrain. With this announcement it is expected to be an enhancement to the whole area with plenty of scope for forest tracks to put on the map as part of an extended cycling circuit.

For those who prefer to stick in the valley bottoms cycling the Tauern Cycle route is a possibility, it passes through the area, starting at the Krimml fall down to, Zell am See / Kaprun on to Salzburg and then on to Passau.

Tauern Cycle route Austria

With the opening of Tauern Spa Kaprun in November 2010, it will be a further attraction to all visitors whether cycling or non - cycling.

If you are looking for somewhere to stay in the Kaprun area for 3-9 people? With the benefit of three bedrooms and three bath / shower rooms, and cycle storage facilities take a look at www.austria-holiday-apartment.com

Austria holiday Apartment in Kaprun

Ski and Snowboarding Schools in Kaprun

2010-09-29T22:51:00.014+01:00

Learn to Ski or improve your skiing in Kaprun Austria

Ski - Snow boarding Schools in Kaprun Austria

Updated ski school list for Kaprun. Most of the ski schools will be able to provide English speaking instructors along with provision for instruction in French, German and Italian, check out their websites for further information, or the joint Zell am See / Kaprun tourist office can be found at
http://www.zellamsee-kaprun.com

Ski and Snowboard School Sport-Alpin Kaprun
office@skischule-kaprun.com Tel. 06542 550 733 0676 841805220

Ski- and Racing School Oberschneider
office@ski-kaprun.com Tel. 06547 8232

Ski- and Snowboarding School Kaprun, Gernot . Schermer
skischool@kaprun.at Tel. 06547 8070 0664 3414638

Kaprun Ski and Snowboarding School Recognized by their yellow Jackets

Hartweger`s Ski & Board with us!
ski@snowboard-kaprun.at Tel. 0664 3381 582

Ski School Maresa Handl-Kaprun
handl.ski@sbg.at Tel. 06547 7562 0664 4026955

Ski- Racing school Thayer
skischule@thayer-kaprun.at Tel. 06547 7361 0664 34 25 317

The oldest Ski school and the one we are happy to recommend to our guests is run by Gernot Schermer, and is the Ski and Snowboarding Kaprun School the 30 - 45 experienced Ski instructors are easily recognized by their Yellow Jackets, The instructors cater for all abilities with a range of languages to match their clients.

For further information don’t hesitate to contact the local tourist office on the following telephone number 43 6542 770

If you are looking for somewhere to stay for 3-9 people? with the benefit of three bedrooms and three bath / shower rooms. For further information please see www.austria-holiday-apartment.com

Austria holiday Apartment - Kaprun holiday rental for up to 9 guests

46 things to do in Spring, Summer & Autumn in Kaprun, Zell am See area.

2010-06-20T13:45:00.004+01:00

Kitzsteinhorn Ski lift above Kaprun

Salzburg a super City to explore and enjoy.

Kitzsteinhorn ski lift above Kaprun

A while ago we produced an article entitled "30 great reasons to visit and stay in Kaprun / Zell am See in the Salzburgerland area of Austria in the summer" a bit of a long winded the title! but the article got some interest and comments. Of course as time goes by, we have discovered that there were more and more things to do on your holiday.

So this list has been updated, and will be added to from time and time, and of course, the area is not just great for the summer, there is plenty to do either side of the winter season in the Autumn and Spring so here is the updated list of 43+ suggestions, please do suggest your own and other peoples ideas for inclusion:-

View from the Kitzsteinhorn Glacier in Summer - lake Zell am See in the far ground

Scenery and views to inspire you.
Climb a mountain, walk a ridge, mountain holidays give you natural highs!
In the summer moonlit walks down from the Schmitten mountain
Fresh clean alpine air to breathe in.
Paddle in a stream, swim in a village lido or mountain lake
New restaurants and foods to discover with perhaps a glass of or beer?
The sports centres, indoor pool, spas, Tauern Spa Kaprun is in an outstanding world of its own, with a smaller communal try the one at Zell am See.
A trip to Salzburg a mix of history, culture and shopping.
Sit in a mountain meadow, listening to the cow bells ringing.
Drive the Grossglockner high alpine road go and see the glacier (motorbike, car or cycle!), take the scheduled bus from Zell am See?
A trip to Innsbruck, to see the golden tiles, and soak up some history, sit by the river, take a mountain railway ride.
Open air bathing in a mountain lake:- Zell am See Lake Zell
Water sports galore, sailing, windsurfing, canoeing and wild water rafting.
Swimming in an Austrian mountain lake
Adventure sports canyoning, rafting, climbing, mountain biking.
Hiking trails at all altitudes, with different challenges, and different views.
Cable cars up to 3,000 m above sea level
Play at one of Austria’s golf clubs with two 18-hole golf courses in a spectacular location at Zell am See - Kaprun.
Over 200 km route of the bike cycle route called the "Tauernradweg", hire an e ( electronic ) bike to take the strain.
Over 700 km of well defined mountain bike routes some used in the mountain bike downhill World cup competition. See bikemap to check out the many the different routeing options.
Over 25 km of bridle paths and tracks, for you to enjoy horse riding with a number of stables to choose from with two close to Kaprun castle.
Over 40 different types of sports in the area for all the family to enjoy, Parascending is one such sport.
Summer skiing up on the on the Kitzsteinhorn glacier (weather dependent)
Sit on the summer snow beach and get a tan on the Kitzsteinhorn, borrow a sledge in your swimming costume!
Kaprun burg / castle festivals.
Village, lake, city and alpine festivals.
Visit a gorge, there are many, to visit and the Sigmund-Thun-Klamm is close to Kaprun, on the route up to the Kitzsteinhorn glacier. In summer they do a much acclaimed candlelit walks.
Concerts, theatres, exhibit, museums, galleries locally and in Salzburg and Innsbruck. Summer street bands on Wednesday nights in Zell am See in July and August
Taxenbach canyoning, river rafting, climbing, mountaineering, paragliding, mountain biking and so many more adventure sports in and around Kaprun.
A varied program of events for children and their parents.
A game of crazy golf, or 36 holes on a championship golf course.
A visit to Kaprun’s reservoirs, go on a sunny day to take in the views, prepare to be impressed with the engineering and scenery! walk inside the dam wall, see the glaciers.
Railway trips Salzburg or Innsbruck check out ORB for railway tickets, sometimes cheaper at quieter times after 09.00 or at weekends..
Visit Krimmel waterfalls perhaps taking you cycles on the train, and cycling back down the valley what a day to remember. A great 30 minute walk up from the bottom to a half way restaurant, mind the spray!
Go on the Salzburg Sound of Music tour, better than you would think?
An alpine drive over the Alps on the Grobglockner a road only open May to October!
Alpine wellness, spas, relaxation a time to chill, two!! in the Gastein valley, also Tauern Spa Kaprun free admission on your birthday, take proof of age.
Visit a Salzburg Salt mine, ride a railway and mega slide underground!
Castles to visit, including Werfen castle with the display of birds of prey and falconry displays.
Visit a the superb ice cave above Werfen castle only discovered just over 100 years ago.
A 7 mile walk around the lake at Zell, places to stop and rest, unwind and relax.
Sit and have a coffee at the Grand Hotel and take in the views and ambience.
Keep up to date with Kaprun and Zell am See on Twitter?
Take a hike, the train up to Krimml waterfalls, highest waterfalls in Europe
Relax you are on holiday.

Summer Map of the Zell am See and Kaprun

Map of Kaprun , Zell am See, & the mighty 3000m+ Kitzsteinhorn complete with glacier

And for the future

46. A brand new new spa / wellness complex, called Tauern Spa World Kaprun has now opened its doors, it promises to be an all year round attraction and at a 90 million Euro investment it is something very special!! worth coming back to the area to visit, and to see what is new?

Tauern Spa Kaprun Opened in November 2010

A separate list is required for the a similar list of things to do in the winter watch this space.

Some places have variation of opening times depending upon the time of year and weather conditions, you are advised to check out in advance of your trip.

Salzburg Holiday tourist poster

View of Salzburg complete with castle from a LNER holiday poster from the 1920 or 30's?

Looking for somewhere to stay in Kaprun ? then please have a look at Austrian-holiday-Apartment-Kaprun it sleeps from 3-9 guests in comfort, and has the benefit of 3 bedrooms and 3 bath / shower rooms.

Fantastic Cycle routes in and around Austria

2010-06-17T19:06:00.007+01:00

This cycling blog article information, comes mainly from the radtouren / Austrian Cycle touring website, and this link gives further information on the many route options.

To add to your route options and to find suggested localized rides take a look at at the Bikemap website, it also has the added option that you can add your own route to record your travels.

There are over 20 recognized long distance, cycles routes in Austria, and this article sets out 14 suggested cycles routes in and around Austria, the journey's in total cover 1000's of miles of possibilities. Contrary to some peoples thoughts, Austria is fantastic for cycling, with fantastic scenery, well thought and mapped cycling routes. Great food and plenty of friendly biker / cycling places to stop, with the added benefit of courteous drivers.
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The OBB Austrian railways are equally geared up for the transport of bikes. So it is possible to get a lift to the head of a valley and cycle in an easier manner!!

For example the Tauern cycle route starts at Krimml after a train ride up from Zell am See, the route then continues down to Salzburg and then on to Passau, from there you can pick up on the Danube Cycle path and for the determined head on for Budapest!
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For those who like one of the European ultimate cycling challenges, it is the climb over the Grobglockner / Grossglockner a high alpine mountain pass to sort out the men from the boys! with it rising to 2505 metres on paved roads, think of the ride back down!!

DANUBE CYCLE PATH - The Stream that connects Europe

To cycle along Danube River is a pleasure for the whole family. Along the river, one rides on a slightly inclining path from Passau to Vienna and the Austrian border near Hainburg. This tour is:- click on the above link to find out more ........
Passau (or Schärding) - Wien (or Bratislava) 434 km (325 km to Vienna)

DRAU CYCLE PATH - Through Austria's Sunny South

The unique Drau Cycle Path follows the Drau River through the untouched nature landscapes of the lofty Lienz Dolomites, leading past beautiful little towns and villages to the warm and crystal-clear:- click on the above link to find out more ........
Toblach - Marburg 366km

ENNS CYCLE PATH - The Grand River Cycling Trip

The Enns Cycle Path is an outstanding and unforgettable 252 kilometres long adventure that takes cyclists through spectacular mountains, emerald green lakes, and dense forests.
Flachau (Gasthofalm) - Enns 252 km

GRENZLAND CYCLE PATH - Across Mysterious Mühlviertel Grenzlandweg

North of the Danube there’s a mysterious place of awesome natural beauty to discover, Upper Austria's Muehlviertel. Rolling plains, densely wooded highlands and lush meadows are interspersed with rock -click on the above link to find out more ..........
Kramesau an der Donau - Neustift/Upper Austria or Arbesbach/Lower Austria 194 km

INN CYCLE PATH -

The Inn Cycle Path is 517 kilometers long and follows the River Inn from its source on Maloja Pass, Switzerland, through Austria’s Tyrol and to Passau, Germany. In its journey the Inn passes through a:- click on the above link to find out more ........
Maloja/Engadin - Passau 517 km

MUR CYCLE PATH - From lofty Mountains to bubbling Mineral Springs

The most versatile cycle path of Austria starts in mountainous and sun-drenched Lungau area, where Mur River, a small but wild brook, and the cycle route are somewhat steep. What concerns contrasts it click on the above link to find out more.......
Muhr - Bad Radkersburg 365 km

NEUSIEDLER SEE CYCLE PATH -

Explore the sunny side of Austria on a stunning 500K network of cycle paths and trails
(38 kilometers on Hungarian territory); almost completely flat, this tour is especially recommended

for families

ROMAN CYCLE PATH - Cycling into Roman Times

History comes to life and becomes comprehensible along the Roman Cycle Path. Pedaling from Passau to Attersee Lake and Wels (and on to Enns as of 2009), you’ll pass by Roman excavation sites, villages.click on the above link to find out more .........
Passau (or Schärding) - Attersee or Enns 242 km

SALZBURG SPORTS WORLD - Bike and Trek

Cycling and mountain biking are the favourite sports in the Salzburg Sports World—if there isn’t any snow! In the summer, the Salzburg Sports World ensures you will enjoy a cycle experience that will .click on the above link to find out more ........ 1,000km, 600km of which are recommended for mountain bikers

SALZKAMMERGUT CYCLE PATH - Lake to Lake

Salzkammergut straddles the border between the three Austrian provinces of Salzburg, Styria, and Upper Austria. Blessed with an inspiring landscape that includes a magical mountain world and unfathomable click on the above link to find out more ..........
345km long; there are many interesting places to visit throughout Salzkammergut Lake District (involving another 300km). The path joins various other cycling routes, enabling shorter trips as well.

TAUERN CYCLE PATH - Cycling with Friends

See amazing scenery, experience peace, and solitude whilst riding along Salzach and Saalach Rivers on the Tauern Cycle Path, visiting old castles, and palaces passing through historical rural villages.
Krimml - Passau 310 km

Tauern Cycle route, nearly down hill all the way!!

TRAISENTAL CYCLE PATH -

Since its opening in June 2007, Traisental Cycle Path has become one of the most popular cycling routes of the Lower Austrian Mostviertel District.
Traismauer (Danube Cycle Path) - Mariazell 111 km

VIA CLAUDIA AUGUSTA - A Jewel of a Cycle Path

In former times, the Via Claudia Augusta started at Altinum Port near Italy’s Venice and leads via Reschen Pass, Landeck, Imst, and Fern Pass to Donauwoerth by the Blue Danube.
Donauwörth (Bayern) - Altino near Venice / Ostiglia approx. 700 km

VIENNA - Joy of Life and a Creative Scene

The unforgettable ending or irresistible stop of your tour along the Danube Cycle Path is the Austrian capital, Vienna, with its countless sights to visit. Beautiful art of bygone eras, innovative:- click on the above link to find out more.......

1000Km

Kaprun - Zell am See are great places for a cycle holiday, they sit at the junction of 6 major valleys, so many different route options to consider. The Tauern cycle route, also goes through this beautiful area.

Looking for somewhere to stay for 3-9 people? With the benefit of three bedrooms and three bath / shower rooms. For further information please see Austria Holiday Apartment - Kaprun

It has the benefit of a secure basement cycle storage area.

Summer Holiday in Austria -Kaprun and Zell am See

2010-06-09T14:44:00.007+01:00

My husband , two older teenagers and myself flew to Munich airport and hired a car and drove to Kaprun in Austria, near to Zell am See for a 10 day holiday, in the Alps. We had wonderful sunny weather and so for the first day, after visiting the tourist information office in Kaprun, we went to a lovely swimming lake at Niedersill between Mittersill and Piesendorf. Here the grassy banks run down into the lake, and there are trees for shade and a sweet little cafe where we had a snack. In the centre of the lake is a fountain which pumped water up about 50 metres. The lake was delightful and the scenery was fantastic. I think this was much more fun than a beach swim, being able to swim and mountain watch at the same time was wonderful.

Niedernsill close to Kaprun and Zell am See a great place to swim

The following day we brought a 6 day a swim and lift pass, which covers the area of Zell am See and Kaprun which enabled free ravel on the cable cars in the area and also swimming lakes and can be used on buses as well. We went up into to the Tauern mountains, on the Kitzsteinhorn. Looking down from the ski lift we saw our first Marmot. Later on the nature trails we learnt that baby Marmots are called monkeys and adult females "Cats" and adult males "Bears". Also that they are hunted for the medicinal value in the creation of ointments.

The Kitzsteinhorn we went to the top Ski lift station

We have been swimming at Optimum Kaprun baths which is lovely but apparently going to partially close when the new Tauern Spa Kaprun opens between Zell am See and Kaprun in November this year (2010). Later in the holiday we hired cycles, and went close past the location of the new spa, and it is in a stunning location in the valley bottom surrounded by mountains.

In the evenings we have entertained ourselves by going to a European Ice Hockey match in Zell Am See, watching Salzburg Red Bull play a team from Switzerland. The score was 4 to 2, and it was a very exciting and fast moving game - but we gave up trying to work out all the complex rules involved. That same evening a Wednesday we went into Zell am See centre where there is a festival on the streets every week and we watched large good natured crowds milling around listen to various musicians / bands playing a range of different music, throughout the town centre. It was all very lively and uplifting.

On Thursday after another walk in the mountains, at night we went to the Porche Congress conference centre in Zell am See to watch an Austrian Folk evening which included songs, dances, cow bells and the typical Austrian horn. We all ended up being dragged on stage to dance or yodel!! It was highly entertaining and good value at 36 Euros for 4 of us. They served drinks at your table during the evening and it lasted about 1.5 hours.

Another day we hired bicycles from Kaprun for 52 Euros for 4 of us and took them up the Maisikogel, lift, we had to pay another 2 euros for the transport of each bike, on top of the 6 day lift passes we had. We then cycled down the cycle route into Kaprun which was really fun. As I am not an experienced cyclist this was an easy route and enabled us to have a peaceful cycle stopping half way to a packed lunch, even though there were two mountain restaurants we could have stopped at.

Kaprun Austria holiday Apartment where we stayed

This is the view from the Austria holiday apartment garden where we where we stayed, we could clearly see the Kitzsteinhorn glacier.

Overall we had a great time and there is lots to see and in and around the area for all ages, our teenage children even said they would like to come back!!

Walking to the top of the Kitzsteinhorn at 3203 metres. Kaprun and Zell am See in the background - worth it for the view

2010-06-01T13:15:00.003+01:00

Friendly locals in the Austrian Alps

2010-06-01T13:10:00.002+01:00

Krimml Waterfalls - Highest waterfalls in Europe

2010-06-01T13:09:00.003+01:00

Walking in the Austrian Mountains near Krimml

Krimml Waterfalls claim to be the highest waterfall in Europe, and allegedly the 5th largest oner in the world, they are located in the splendid Hohe Tauern National Park, about 150 km south west of Salzburg and directly west from the scenic resort lakeside market town of Zell am See. The falls are next to Austrian village of Krimml of the same name.

Krimml Waterfalls are 380 m high. They are split up into 3 parts, the first section is 140 metres high, the middle section is 100m long and the upper section is a further 140 metres in climb. The total drop is in total 380 metres. The noise of the roar of falling water can be heard in its immediate vicinity, and from the path that climb up the west side of the cascade up a large and picturesque pine forested wooded valley.

Krimml waterfalls view from the bottom

Krimml Waterfalls are easily accessible by local train from Zell am See, it is also possible to put bikes on the train up to Krimml station and cycle back down the valley.

The waterfalls from are accessible by paying a small entrance fee of around 2 Euro. There are facilities, next to the pay point:- restaurant, toilet and shop. There is a good wide walking track leading up to the top of Krimml Waterfalls. With plenty of places to stop take in the views and to sit. After a walk of around half a hour there is an excellent Austrian restaurant / hostelry where its possible to have a meal / hot chocolate or something a little stronger. Fit walkers may want to walk further up the mountain trail to the top.

In 1967 the waterfalls were nominated by the European Council as an excellent example of conservation of nature, but for many years the Krimml waterfalls have been a popular tourist holiday destination. So if you are in the area, it well worth the effort to take in the sights. On sunny days you are guaranteed to see rainbows a plenty enjoy.

If you are looking for somewhere to stay in the area please consider the option of Kaprun and Austria-holiday-apartment.com. which can sleep from 3 to 9 persons in comfort.

Kaprun apartment rental, lots to see and do in and around the area.

Family holidays in Kaprun and Zell am See - Rafting - on white Water

2010-04-06T18:58:00.004+01:00

Family holidays in Kaprun and Zell am See click on the link

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sponsored/travel/austriansummer/7563315/Family-activities-in-Austria.html

White Water Rafting

White water rafting along with other outdoor activities including Canyoning, which involves walking up a river / stream the wrong way in a wet suit. One rafting centre is based on the Salzach in the village of Taxenbach which is around 10 miles to the East of Zell am See on the main road down to Salzburg, close to Rauris and the Gastein valley It is a well established company, with the owner Trevor an ex outward bound instructor with the American army, with friendly and well trained staff in a scenic setting.

On the Lofer to the north of Zell am See there is a further white water river available.

White Water Rafting on the Salzach in Austria

Trevor & Crew at the rafting centre at Taxenbach

Cycling in Austria - Pedalling through enchanting valleys! Bikers galore!

2010-03-15T22:46:00.009Z

Contrary to some expectations Austria is a great country for cycling. well defined linking routes, fantastic scenery,with a superb interconnected cycle network, which is being extended year on year. With mile upon mile of routes off the main roads, with stunning views, with the opportunity to stop sand take a lift up a cable car, or have a swim in a lake, or visit a spa / sauna to work on any aches and pains. Complemented by fantastic food and a beer or two to help you on your way. It is also a nation of civilized car drivers with quiet roads.

It is also easy to get around, with some excellent maps and good signposting en-route. It is also possible to put your bike on a train. The Austrian railway network ORB even indicate by means of a cycle symbol which trains can take cycles, and which ones to avoid. So for those that don't like the mountain climbs on their bikes, it is certainly possible to use the train to get to the head of the valley and cycle back down the easy way.

Brian Wasson's excellent website gives a fantastic overview on getting around Austria, Germany and the Czech Republic by train with a bike. Bents Tours is worth looking at if you want to go on a cycling holiday in Germany, Austria, Czech Republic and Switzerland they also organize walking holidays in addition.

Cycling around the Lake At Zell am See part of the Tauern 310 Km. cycle path route

Other cycle friendly accommodation in Austria can be found on the Cycle People website, which a a great site to carry out pre-holiday research.

The Zell am See and the Kaprun tourist board provide a useful website on cycling in the area , the following useful information has been extracted from that site.

Cycle hire shops in Kaprun and Zell am See

Kaprun

Name	Address	Phone
Bike-in		+43 (0) 699-12359756
EuropSport	Nikolaus Gassner Str. 682	+43 (0) 6547-20314
Intersport Bründl	Sigmund Thun Straße 570	+43 (0) 6547-8388-32
Intersport Rent Moreau	Schloßstraße 2	+43 (0) 6547-8715-16
Oberhauser Bikes	Landesstraße 24	+43 (0) 6547-8360

For 2010 a new bike shop has opened in the middle of Kaprun opposite the tourist information shop, it has an extensive collection of bikes and equipment for sale and for rent, and is part of the Intersport group

Zell am See


Name	Address	Phone
Adventure Service	Steinergasse 9	+43 (0) 6542-73525
Bike Shop Sitzenfrei	Brucker Bundesstraße 18	+43 (0) 6542-53151
Bike-in		+43 (0) 699-12359756
EuropSport	Schillerstraße 4	+43 (0) 6542-47267
Intersport Scholz	Bahnhofstraße 13	+43 (0) 6542-72606
Seecamp	Thumersbacher Str. 34	+43 (0) 6542-72115
Sport Achleitner	Postplatz 2	+43 (0) 6542-73581
Sport Gschwandtner	Brucker Bundesstraße 37	+43 (0) 6542-57307
Sport Olympia	Anton Wallnerstraße 1	+43 (0) 6542-73471

Cycling in Austria on top of the world!!

Over recent years, Austria has made a massive investment in bicycle paths opening up new routes and challenges. Now there are around 10,000 km (6,212 miles) of marked bicycle trails throughout the country.

By using the Austrian Federal Railways makes it easy to ride from place to place, getting back to your base with out double backing. In the Austria many hotels and guest houses are more than happy to accommodate bikers these offer a variety of services such as special meals geared to cyclists needs. Most bike hotels can arrange for customers to be picked up or dropped off and perhaps the luggage being moved onto another establishment.

There are many routes in Austria but a recognized long distance route, which runs through the Salzburg state, is the Tauern Bike path which starts at the famous Krimml falls well worth a visit in Hohe Tauern national park, which is the largest nature reserve in the European Alps. From their it follows the valley down past Kaprun and Zell am See following the course of the Salzach river, down onto Salzburg abnd then onto Passau, it is a superb route and has the added benefit of being predominately downhill, starting at a altitude of around 1200 metres dropping down to around 200 metres over a 310 KM (around 175 miles), with scope to extend the route, approximately two thirds of the route is on paved surfaces, and it is more suited to mountain bikes. For further information please see the http://www.tauernradweg.com/ website or another article covering cycling the Tauern Cycle route can be found by clicking on the link.

A wonderful tool to record your cycling journeys to share with others is www.bikemap.net click on the map, and there are loads of suggestions for routes to take with a commentary. There are plenty of other cycle routes in and around for you to discover for yourself, with plenty of places to hire your bikes also.

The cycle festival "Bike Infection" takes place annually in August, this year it is taking place again in Kaprun to find out about the altitude attack, and to follow the route click on the link to find out about the rate of climb, or visit the Bike infection website, video http://www.mountainbike-kaprun.com/ showing the cycle route up to the the Kitzsteinhorn glacier ski lift, quite a climb.

Above the clouds on a mountain bike

Kaprun has been host to the host to the World Cup biking downhill event, since then there has been development of routes in and around the area. Bike parks such as in Leogang & Wagrain have become very popular popular. Kaprun location at the junction of 5 valleys and on the Tauern cycle route, makes it very well placed to optimizes route choice depending on your groups ability.

In Kaprun and Zell am See there are a number of shops that hire bike and will service them also, mountain bikes from Graviti hire is one of those shops, with knowledgeable staff and experienced technicians.

Looking for somewhere to stay? then please consider staying at www.austria-holiday-apartment.com

it sleeps from 3-9, and is in Kaprun on the Tauern Cycle route, with cycle hire shops. The apartment is very close to the start of the extensive Tauern valley cycle routes, so there many routes to choose from close by, with the added benefit of secure overnight storage for bikes in the basement.

Descent plan showing the extent of the downhill route from Krimml to Passau on the Tauern Cycle route

Kaprun information and Trips from Kaprun - Zell am See 12+ things to do

2010-03-03T22:21:00.005Z

Kaprun Information

In 931 it is reported that the village of Kaprun was founded
Kaprun has around 3000 residents
Kaprun is at a altitude of around 800m above sea level
Around 1200 Kaprun castle is built
1828 The date of the first reported climb to the top of the 3029m high Kitzsteinhorn is reported
1938 Start date of the construction of dams and hydro power plant Glockner – Kaprun
1965 The Kitzsteinhorn glacier area opens for public Skiing
2010 Kaprun has 3000 inhabitants it also has accommodation for 8000 visitors.

http://www.tauerntouristik.at/en/

Map of the Kaprun valley showing village, walks, dams, cable cars and reservoir locations

Thing to do a see in and around Kaprun & Zell am See.

There is lots to see and do in the immediate area of Kaprun and Zell am See. But for those who would like to spread their wings a little further how about these for a few idea:-

(Journey times are from the Kaprun / Zell am See area.)

1) Visit to Salzburg about 1 hours and 20 minutes by car also accessible by train with a similar journey time.

2) A visit to the Krimml waterfalls about 50 minutes by car / bus, it is also possible to get there by the quaint local train from Zell, and a further possibility is to hire some bikes, put them on the train and cycle back down the valley, there is a superb cycling network, but I would advise book your place on the train in advance of hire of the bikes.

3) Visit the Ice caves above Werfen Castle, they are the largest in Austria, very worthy of the climb / cable car ride to the top. Located just off the motorway to the South of Salzburg

Werfen castle "Where Eagles Dare" was filmed worth a visit with falconry display.

4) Werfen castle around 40 Km to the south of Salzburg, is a truly awesome setting, if you don't fancy the the walk from the town, there is a funicular railway from the back of the castle. Both the ice cave and Werfen castle can be visited quite easily in one outing.

5) The Olympic city of Innsbruck, again by car, bus or train at just under two hours away. Plenty to see and do, at any time of the year.

6) Close to Innsbruck is Crystal World home of the Swarovski Crystal business.

7) Visit the Gastein valley, famous for it naturally heated thermal springs / spas. There is Ski, mountain Gastein spa complex at the head of the valley in the interesting Victorian spa town of Bad Gastein, accessible by train from Zell am See.

8) If you don't want to travel as far up the valley at Hofgastein there is the Alpentherme spa complex. In terms of both spas set aside 3/4 hours to get the full enjoyment of the "wellness experience. To find out a bit more about the Tauern Spa world Kaprun click on the link to get to the blog, it is due to open in November 2010.

9) Grossglockner Valley pass (the peak of the mountain), starts just a few minutes drive away from Kaprun and Zell am See, from the traditional village of Bruck. To get the most from the trip, aim to do the trip on a day when there is good visibility, there is certainly plenty to see, and different places to stop. The trip up the side road up to the glacier, complete with museum and multi-storey car-park is well worth the effort.

10) A day trip to Venice is not out of the question but an early start is recommended because the car journey comes in at 4 hours! But if you set off at 6.00 am you will be there for 10.00 Am. The quickest route is via Mittersill.

11) Kaprun dams not too far for an outing, open from late May until the Autumn, in a stunning setting and awe inspiring engineering work, to get a better picture of the attraction click on the dam video link

12) Liechtenstein Gorge is not only one of the beautiful gorges, it is also one of the deepest and wildest chasms in the Alps. It is a magnificent natural phenomenon and very much worth a visit. It is close to the alpine town of St Johann im Pongau and the alpine resort of Alpendorf.

13) Another possibility is to take a flight from the Aerodrome which is located on the local road between Zell am See and Kaprun. Parachuting is even a further possibility!

14) In Kaprun there is the castle, village church, village museum and a motor museum all worth a visit in their own right.

There is lots more to see and do in and around the area, there are mountain walks galore, plenty of cable cars to take in the views, glacier skiing on the Kitzsteinhorn, where it is possible to ski all year round. A trip to Munich, perhaps for the beer festival, or to Hitler's Eagle nest are all extra possibilities.

For sporting possibilities, to give you a clue the area was formerly know as the Europa-Sports region, which does give you a direct idea to the further possibilities. There are too many to list, a separate article would be required.

If you are looking for somewhere to stay for between 3 - 9 persons, then please consider staying at Austrian holiday apartments in Kaprun

What a view of the lake at Zell am See

Parachuting above the lake at Zell am See, Austria

Ten Ski holiday myths

2010-01-24T00:11:00.000Z

Picked up on this original article from the following link, the attached has been amended, tweaked a little bit.

Kitzsteinhorn Glacier ski area above Kaprun, Austria

If you are new to skiing, the whole idea of going on a ski holiday can be quite daunting. On a number of occasions I have seen people who have never skied before worry about things which just aren’t true. So here I expose the top 10 ski myths:-

1. A skiing holiday has to be expensive?

Things have changed in the world of skiing – no longer is it an elite sport for the rich. It is quite possible to take a family of beginners skiing and for it not to break the bank. How?
- Go self catered. Self catered ski accommodation is often excellent and doesn’t cost very much per head. You can also choose to squeeze more people in on sofa beds to bring the price down even more. Don’t book via large tour operators – go directly to local estate agents or independent property suppliers.
- Drive. With four people in a car, and if travelling to areas in the Northern Alps, driving is a very cost effective way of getting to a ski resort. – Try and avoid the main school holidays (Christmas, New Year, Half Term) if at all possible.
- Keep an eye on when budget airlines release their flights and book early!
- You don’t need to go to the world’s biggest ski area if you are beginners. Go to a smaller resort where you willÂ find everything in resort (lift pass, ski hire etc) to be a lot cheaper.

2. Skiing is dangerous

Although skiing does involve travelling downhill on planks of wood without any breaks, the vast majority of skiers who learn to ski with instructors and ski within their limits will have a happy lifetime of incident free skiing. Yes accidents do sometimes happen, but more often than not ski related accidents are less to do with the actual skiing and more to do with amounts of alcohol consumed and not taking care on icy surfaces etc. If you learn to ski properly, you will also learn to ski safely.

3. The weather is cold and horrible when skiing?

Well, yes, the weather is usually cold. And sometimes it can be snowing. That is a fact about holidaying in the mountains in winter. However, when the sun comes out in the mountains there is nothing like it. Alpine sunshine, clear blue skies and temperatures of -5 degrees can certainly feel a lot warmer than a UK winter day when the temperature might be 10 degrees. That is why people come back from ski holidays with sun tans!

4. I won’t understand what the ski instructor tells me?

Gone are the days when your only choice of ski instructor would be a moustachioed instructor who’s only English was “Bend ze Knees”. Now there are many progressive English speaking ski schools and independent instructors, indeed there are many excellent British instructors working out in the Alps.

5. If I don’t enjoy the skiing, my holiday will be rubbish?

If for any reason you don’t get on with the skiing side of a skiing holiday, wintering in the Alps is still an excellent experience. Most resorts have plenty of non skiing activities on offer such as dog sledding, snow shoeing, thermal springs, ice diving, para gliding. Plus many alpine resorts are very picturesque and so sightseeing and shopping aren’t out of the question.

6. Because of global warming, there won’t be much snow

It is true that global warming was blamed for the bad winter of 06/07 in the European Alps. However, this was down mostly to lazy journalists not researching their facts properly. The bad winter that year was down to the weather, and not the climate. Plus, the skiing wasn’t actually bad – it just wasn’t as good as it could have been. The last few years have seen some of the best winters for skiing on record. Global warming MAY start to affect European skiing over the next 50 years, but at the moment there is no real evidence that it has started.

7. It is a lot of hassle on a ski holiday?

It doesn’t have to be any hassle. You can opt for a catered chalet holiday where all you need to do is get yourself to the airport. The rest is taken care of by the chalet hosts. You are picked up at the airport and taken to your chalet, they arrange your lift passes and ski hire, they cook for you, they clean for you and they take you to the slopes every day. Where is the hassle in that?

8. My kids will have problems in French / German speaking in the crèche / ski schools?

Like the point about ski instruction, things have changed a lot in the world of Alpine childcare. Crèches and kids’ ski school usually have English speaking staff, and it is not unusual to find a number of British kids in classes during the school holidays. Teaching your kids to ski at a young age is one of the greatest gifts you can give them!

9. I don’t like mountain food?

Nowadays, eating out in ski resorts isn’t all about cheese and ham (although there is plenty of that on offer for those who look forward to their annual fondue or raclette). Most resorts now sport a wide variety of restaurants – some with real cosmopolitan ambiance and menus. And if you don’t want to eat out every night, a trip to the local supermarket will reveal that the gap between German / French and British food shopping has narrowed considerably over the last few years.

10. I can’t take a baby skiing?

Nearly all ski resorts have excellent crèche / nanny facilities. And for those people who worry about the cold/altitude etc, don’t forget that babies are born in the mountains every year and they do OK!
Hopefully the above will help to dispel the main worries of a nervous first time skier. And if you never try it, you might never know what you are missing!

I liked the article and thought is was well written, I recall Stephen Fry of BBC fame who recently was advocating the joys of a ski holiday even though he did not ski, enjoying the scenery, food, drink and banter!

If you are looking for somewhere to stay then please consider Austrian Holiday Apartment in Kaprun ideal for 3- 9 guests.

Austria Holiday Apartment in the village of Kaprunhttp://www.austria-holiday-apartment.com/

Snow History in Kaprun and Cross Country skiing in the Austrian Tyrol

2010-01-16T19:13:00.000Z

Kitzsteinhorn Lift station and restaurant complex above Kaprun

Snow History in Kaprun

Naturally if you are going on a ski holiday, you want to have an idea of what snow conditions you can expect. The igluski gives a detailed breakdown of the snow conditions from November 2006, through the winter months into spring, upto to the present day. So if you are looking for a Skiing holiday in Easter or November the site gives you a bit of guidance to go on.

Don't forget that with Kaprun there is the Kitzsteinhorn glacier rising to 3000+ metres it gives you even an even longer extended ski season into the summer. With the possibility of skiing into the summer or in the Autumn season. Don't just take our word for it, the attached you tube video of Skiing on the Kitzsteinhorn gives you of what skiing is like in the middle of April (2006), it puts some pictures to the statistics.

Certainly the possibility of glacier skiing gives an extra assurance for a late or early ski holiday.

Cross Country Skiing not for the faint hearted

Interesting link, on the sport of cross country skiing or nordic skiing, some may think this is a soft option as opposed to charging down a mountain to pieces of plastic resembling planks. But the article
puts the case that it is not an easy option but physically demanding, with its on unique technique and style.

Cross Country Skiing in the Tyrol

In the Kaprun-Zellamsee area of of the Salzburgerland there are cross country ski courses following the valley bottoms. They actually follow the cycle routes which are used in the summer. In addition there is an area set aside on the Kitzsteinhorn glacier for nordic skiing

Nordic skiing on the Kitzsteinhorn glacier above Kaprun

Looking for somewhere to stay for 3-9 people then please consider staying at www.austria-holiday-apartment.com

Who visits Zell am See and Kaprun?

2010-01-15T23:24:00.000Z

Kitzsteinhorn glacier ( note the snow!) where it is possible to ski throughout the year.

Kaprun and Zell am See are popular tourist destinations within Austria. With the opening of Tauern Spa Kaprun, the Kitzsteinhorn glacier, a 36 hole championship golf course, winter sports, cycling and the lake at Zell am Zee the area is seen very much as an all season all destination what ever the time of the year you visit.
Around 2 million visitors holiday in the area in each, with slightly more than half of these visiting in the November through to April ski season.

A great place to visit

Winter Visitors

For this six month period taking advantage of the winter sports and the extended ski season with the glacier on the Kitzsteinhorn, around a quarter of visitors are from Germany, followed closely at arpound 15% of the total being Dutch guests, after that around 10% are Austrian and another 10% visitors from the United Kingdom, closely and in more recent years an increasing number of Polish and Rumanian visitors, followed by Scandinavian visitors. English is widely spoken across Austria, and Austrians are famous for their hospitality.

Visitors come for the winter sports, Christmas markets, wellness breaks, culinary experiences and just to relax unwind and to soak up the scenery

Summer Visitors

In the months from May through to October around 900,000 take advantage of the area in and around Kaprun and Zell am See booking accommodation. Again unsurprisingly German visitors are most popular about a third of the overall total. Next most popular at about 1/8th of visitors is the home market for Austria, with the British taking up around 10% with the Dutch taking in excess of 7% of the accommodation.

Krimml waterfalls awe inspiring

Over the last few years there has been an increase in the number of visitors to the area. With the new spa complex opening in Kaprun in November 2010, at a cost in excess of 85 million, and the extended ski season allowed by the Kitzsteinhorn glacier, it it is expected as a driver to confirm Zell am See and Kaprun as an all year resort.

The area has been marketed as the Europa Sports Region, and the name sums up the abundance of sporting activities which includes :-wild water rafting, canyoning, golf, cycling, walking and numerous water sports on the lake at Zell am See, and summer skiing also a possibility on the glacier

If you are looking for somewhere to stay in the area for 3-9 people? With the benefit of three bedrooms and three bath / shower rooms. Please consider staying at www.austria-holiday-apartment.com ?

Zell am See & Kaprun a visitors view.

2009-12-20T23:23:00.008Z

Street map of Kaprun, 2 ski lifts come down into resort, with others close by.

The contents of this article on Zell am See and Kaprun was written by Brian R Stevens came from "content Caboodle", where another one of Brian's articles can be found here, they give an interesting overview of first impressions of the Zell am See ski area. The links in the article I have put in to provide further information to the reader. Enjoy!

"The first time I visited Zell am See I was actually staying at a small town further north going back towards Saltzburg called Lofer bie Martin. I was actually staying in the Schloss Grubhoff castle

www.panoramio.com/photo/1224116

Schloss Grubhoff castle, Austria

which was once owned by the king of Bavaria but has now been converted into luxurious apartments which can be rented out as holiday lets. I was enjoying my stay at Lofer and in particular the quaint ski facilities there, which incidentally would be no challenge for anyone who considers themselves good intermediate or advanced level but is well worth a visit for curiosity's sake, it really is oldy worldy Austrian skiing facilities and you will not find much of a presence there beyond the Austrians themselves.

The marked difference I noticed in visiting Zell am See was the level of activity there, lots more people, a thriving little town in a gorgeous setting and much more to offer the higher level skiers, still not a majorly serious challenge for the advanced skiers but certainly enough to keep them happy for quite a few days with some decent blacks and reds to go at.

The resort in my opinion is much more suited to the intermediate level skier with plenty of reds and blues plus those blacks for when you want to give yourself a bit of a challenge, you should be able to ski from the top of the mountain to the bottom without too much trouble as well. The top of the mountain (called Schmittenhohe) gives you access to a number of runs which you can circuit and if you do prefer a longer run you can ski down to Schuttdorf and get lifts all the way back, or of course you can ski back to Zell am See or to the gondola. I class myself as intermediate and there was enough there for me to visit this resort on 3 separate occasions.

It's not a bad resort for beginners either, other than if you want to ski all the way back to town then you might find it a bit tricky with some fairly steep slopes near the bottom that have to be negotiated, the alternative being some very shallow cross country tracks which can be really hard work and may put a lot of people off so they might decide to just come back to the bottom on the lift.
That aside, the slopes at the top of the mountain do cater for beginners and if I was a beginner again I certainly wouldn't rule out Zell am See particularly if you are moving towards intermediate level, it may just present you with the challenges you need to get you to that next level.

The addition of the ski lifts from the centre of town (in place for a few years now) has provided a much needed boost to the convenience level the resort has to offer, previously there was a long trek to the top of the hill going out of the town where you could get the gondola. This is still running and is serviced by a regular bus service or is accessible by people with a car available, personally I would not consider it walking distance from the town centre particularly if you are having to wear ski boots and carry skis, (although I am sure there are probably a number of people who could prove me wrong).
If you do park at the gondola there is a sort of cross country track that goes out to it from the main piste (number 4) but there are sections of it that are actually flat to uphill and no decent run that lets your speed carry you through those sections, so a lot of puffing and panting goes on. The alternative is to come down some of the steeper slopes or to ski to the bottom and then get the bus back up. If you caught the bus or walked (mad fools) then there is no problem.

View of the Kitzsteinhorn Glacier above Kaprun

Another bonus of staying at Zell am See is that you are pretty close to Kaprun, where if the worst occurs and there is no snow you have a glacier, although whenever I have been there snow has not been a problem. You are also quite close to Salbaach-Hinterglemm which is another great resort that has pistes either side of the valley where it is located, it also offers a few more challenges to the experienced and advanced level skiers as does Kaprun. Both of these resorts can be reached on the ski bus which can be used off the back of your ski lift pass at no extra charge, the ski pass also gives you free parking in the ski areas. If you have your own transport you can go visit Lofer which I mentioned earlier or you are also not too far away from, Bad Gastein, Bad Hofgastein, Wagrain, Schladming and Obertauern.

I have to say I really enjoyed my skiing at Zell am See but I also really enjoyed the apres ski and evenings out as well, there are loads of bars and restaurants to choose from and the place has a real buzz to it. If you are there at the right time of year you might be lucky enough to see some of the traditional Austrian celebrations, for example the seeing out of the winter and welcoming in of the spring, I have memories of the band coming into the bar dressed as chickens and playing music aimed at getting everyone to have a good time and into the street to join in with the locals dancing.

I hope you have found this review useful and that it has given you a flavour of one of my favourite ski resorts in Austria, I have skied in a few different places and countries, including Italy, Bulgaria, Germany and Canada but cannot think of anywhere that delivers the full package quite as well as Zell am See, although to be honest I would not knock any of the other places I have been to either all of them have their special characteristics and are also worth visiting in their own right"

To see another of Brian's article please click here on the link.

If you like the area and are looking for for somewhere to stay? then please consider Austria holiday apartment it sleeps from 3-9 in comfort, and has the benefit of three bedrooms and 3 shower rooms.

Three night break in Austria? Salzburg City and mountain resort area.

2009-12-09T19:06:00.007Z

Austria Pre-Christmas Trip Report

Friends and i went to Austria for a long weekend staying at the Austria-Holiday-Apartment in Kaprun, close to Zell am See. We found the accommodation on the web and got an early cheap pre-Christmas flight with Ryanair from Stansted at a bargain £50 return!

Salzburg a fantastic place to visit any time of the year

We flew to Salzburg in 1 hour 40 mins (arriving 20 mins early) and hired a car from Avis (100 Euro for 4 days) and spent the day sight seeing in Salzburg. The weather was perfect, crisp and sunny with clear blue skies.

Everywhere was trimmed up traditionally for the festive season and very tastefully too with the white lights twinkling against the frost and snow in the background. There was plenty to see:- Christmas market, ice rink in the square, food stalls. Make sure you try the mulled wine or schnapps or both! The goulash soup is worth trying too, a local dish and the meat was excellent.

There are shops galore all tastefully decorated for those of you who want to shop, we decided to look rather than

buy and spent our time exploring all the side streets. There was also Salzburg castle, museums, galleries and casino to visit perhaps on another occasion.

I recommend you walk down by the river and have a coffee at the roof top cafe / bar at the Hotel Stein which overlooks the town and river. Great views and rugs are provided for those who feel the cold.

Austria holiday apartment in Kaprun sleeps from 3-9

Kaprun Apartment

We arrived at the apartment in Kaprun late afternoon after a 75 minutes drive from Salzburg. The apartment was new, well appointed, clean and warm with under floor heating. Plus a store room for boots and skis etc. The rooms are en-suite and there are views of the mountains from the front windows.There is a supermarket close by for all your needs and it is only a 5 min walk into the town centre via the bridge.You park the car in the basement and the drive is heated so there is never a problem with ice and snow to hinder your entry/exit.

The next day we woke up to 4 inches of snow. A picture perfect Christmas card, wunderba! everywhere looked magical. It brought the child out of us all. The roads were cleared with typical Austrian efficiency.

The snow plough and gritters had been out during the night, so driving was not going to be a problem.

Europa Ski Area cover Zellamsee and Kaprun

Zell am See

We headed out to Zell am See for a look round. Beautiful town, again trimmed up tastefully for Christmas (white lights only) with a Christmas fair also that opened up at 4pm with brazier fires,surrounded by cabins and bars. We headed for the lake for a walk then a hot drink at the Grand Hotel on the lakeside with great views. We didn't have time to take in the 7 mile walk around the lake

Bad Gastein fantastic thermal spa well worth a visit

Bad Gastein

For lunch we headed for Bad Gastien, the old spa town where the German Kaiser use to holiday. Lots of snow and a stunning waterfall run through the town, as pictured in the poster. We didn't visit but the Towns Spa areas are something special and are also thermally heated, very spectacular. Apple strudel is a must for lunch.

Hofgastein Spa

Late afternoon we headed for Hofgastien spa world in the valley floor. Another pretty town with an indoor and outdoor ice rink, with tasteful Christmas lights. The spa is quite something, an experience I will never forget. To swim outside in hot spa waters, with snow on the ground, mountains and trees in the background and the snow falling on your face while you float on the warm waters, is magical. It certainly put a smile on my face. I managed to get a 1500m swim in another outdoor 25m pool. Stainless steel with underwater lighting - very special.

We went late in the day to savour the lighting and atmosphere, which I highly recommend.. To finish off we tried the saunas and steam room ( nude area - not for the squeamish! ). There is also a rest room with waterbeds and a ladies only area. We opted for the 2 hour session which was not long enough (23 euro included towels). There was also a large family area for the kids with a pool cinema in the water dome, plus slides and chutes, one of which is very fast! so fast that we had to check it out twice!

Skiing on the Kitzsteinhorn, above Kaprun open most of the year for skiing

Kitzsteinhorn glacier ski area

For our last day we drove 10 mins away to the ski lifts for the Kitzsteinhorn mountain 3200m. We headed for the summit to walk through the tunnel to the glacier and viewpoint. (You can check the weather on the web cams on the TV in the apartment) We were above the cloud level and could see for miles to the horizon. Spectacular. Don't forget your camera. Very cold so wrap up well. The cafe is excellent, or like us, you can take a picnic and eat where you like. The facilities are very good and warm. We walked part way down the mountain, then used the lifts for the rest of the way.

The views were stunning, the skiing looked great, catering for all abilities and boarders, with plenty of jumps and routes. Pity we weren't skiing ourselves - there is always a next time.

We spent the evening in Kaprun wining and dining. The food was very good, particularly the steaks. We had 'deer'- venison well it was the festive season! We found the the hotel bars and après ski are excellent, with plenty of choice of venues.

Kramprus and St Nicholas celebrations

An interesting twist to the evening was the Krampus Celebrations. A mixture of 'good versus evil' where St. Nicholas arrives at on a horse drawn sleigh. The evil characters look like something out of Pans Labyrinth! - quite scary. Certainly frightened some of the younger ones!

Can't recommend the the area more highly. Will be back to try the skiing and hiking, water sports and biking in the summer.

Nick, Scarborough.

Looking for somewhere to stay then please consider http://www.austria-holiday-apartment.com/

Krampus, Christmas or New Year in Austria?

2009-11-30T07:53:00.004Z

Austria Christmas and the New Year

Austria is a great place to enjoy the Christmas and New year festivities.

The snow adds to the atmosphere, the hot mulled wines, the Christmas markets, the Christmas Carol singing, traditional music, Christmas trees, the idea of a white Christmas all add to the appeal of a Christmas in Austria.

The Christmas tree has been a Germanic tradition for at least the last 300 - 400 years, but many areas across Europe pagan traditions have held evergreens to be a symbol of life during the long winter months. This symbol was adopted by early Christians and the decorated trees have become symbol of eternal life.

In 1841 Prince Albert, German husband of Britain s Queen Victoria, introduced the the custom of the Christmas tree to the British royal family. From there the idea the tradition of having Christmas Tree appears to have spread far and wide across the world.

In 1850, a coloured etching of a decorated tree at Windsor Castle was published and the "Tannenbaum" became a necessity for every fashionable Victorian home. It was a tradition quickly embraced by Victorian England. Trees were set up for the Christmas season decorated with lighted candles, covered with tinsel, ribbon, paper chains, and sweets.

Christmas in Austria in some ways takes you back to the Victorian traditional Christmas, wooden toys, with wooden letters, fun filled sledging, ice skating on a frozen lake, a snow ball fight on the garden, a log fire to warm yourself around, mulled wine.

Krampus

Krampus in Austria

In certain areas of the Alps there is still the "Krampus" tradition a mix of pagan and the Christian Saint Nicholas, (Father Christmas, Santa Claus), bearing gifts for the children, and ornate Krampus costumes of ghoulish figures, with frightening masks, carrying ringing bells on on their belts, and with whips to "beat"the occasional passeby!!

The "Krampus runs" take place in the first week of December but in particular on the 5th December.
While St. Nicholas brings presents to those children who haven been good during the course of the year, it could be said that the Krampus figures frighten the ones who have been bad! They quite often arrive together in an open slay being pulled by horses, to a village square, with an open fire, thumping music and an expectant crowd.

The two of them are a curious couple, good and evil travelling together! but Advent times wouldn't be complete without them in Austria, or Christmas trees, decorations and an Advent wreath either.

In the Gastien area the celebrations rotate round different villages each year.

The Zell am See-Kaprun area holds fast to the tradition of the Krampus' run, for more photographs click on the link. The following events are typical:-

03/12 6:00 p.m Krampus run for children, village square Thumersbach
04/12 7:00 p.m Krampus run, village square Thumersbach
05/12 6:00 p.m Krampus run, Salzburgerplatz Kaprun
05/12 7:00 p.m Krampus run, centre Zell am See

"Run" times for Krampus will be publicised by the local tourist office, and a list of other events given can be found here.

In some ways the tradition of Krampus has similarities with the Halloween celebrations else where in the world, they perhaps share the same Ghoulish, heathen origins.

The idea of Austrian Christingle markets, Skiing or snow boarding over Christmas and into the New Year will also appeal to many. It is well worth thinking about, but if you wish to go, you will need to book early.

If you are looking for somewhere to stay please consider www.austria-holiday-apartment.com it sleeps from 3 to 9 persons in comfort.

Snow Park Mellow Park on the Kitzsteinhorn above Kaprun opens.

2009-11-05T23:18:00.002Z

The Mellow Park ski park on the Kitzsteinhorn glacier above Kaprun opens its doors this weekend. So kicks of the the start of the new 2009 - 2010 ski season.

With reports of snow "Snow looking Pretty good" across Europe, it sets a white back cloth to build on.

Planet Ski reports that RyanAir is offering A free ski transfer with flights booked over the next few days. Looks like an extra incentive to get that ski holiday booked?

If you are looking for somewhere to stay, please consider looking at www.austria-holiday-apartment.com

Snow park on the Kitzsteinhorn glacier above Kaprun wins award

2009-10-09T15:42:00.000+01:00

The German magazine ADAC Reisemagazin in its published Ski guide reports on the testing Euorpe's ski resorts terrain parks. The Kitzsteinhorn glacier Ski area above Kaprun has been judged for the year of the report. The Kitzsteinhorn has been very successful and has won in the category of "Snowpark" in front of other leading resorts such as Les Deus Alpes and Davos/Jakobshorn.

To summarise the Kitzsteinhorn Mellow Park is considered to be world class!

If this is not enough there are plans for the snow park areas to be extended and the "park shapers" are waiting for their turn to build up again the Glacier Park, the DC Central Park

To have a look for yourself please have a look at the web cam via the attached link to the Kitzsteinhorn Mellow Park

News update:-

New Superpipe Being Built at Austrian Ski Resort of of Kaprun

The Kitzsteinhorn stands at a height of 3203 meter with it's glacier offers the ability to ski all year round. The area shuts normally (weather dependent) for 2-3 weeks a year in June to allow for the ski lifts to be relocated higher up the glacier slopes.

Come and discover this area for yourself, the Skiing is great and the views superb don't just take my word for it have a look at the attached you tube clip of the parks, the film is rated 5* who am I to disagree? For those who prefer their videos in German here is a separate clip to give you a flavour of the Kitzsteinhorn ski area.

For further info on the 3 ski areas of Kaprun and Zell am See known as the Die Europa sportregion, which consist of the Schmitten, above Zell, the Maiskogel where you can ski down into Kaprun or the Kitzsteinhorn with its glacier see the attached link for a map and further info

Looking for somewhere to stay? consider staying at www.austria-holiday-apartment.com

Safe places to holiday in? - Austria

2009-09-09T22:51:00.005+01:00

Interesting link listing the 10 safest places in the world for travellers. The list is a bit objective but comes up with the following countries:- New Zealand, Denmark, Norway, Iceland, Austria, Sweden, Japan, Canada, Finland and Slovenia.

The list seems to pick up on the best places with some common themes:- i) Nordic countries ii), Alpine countries, or iii) Tundra countries. The top ten list comes from a survey of 144 countries and they look at 23 specific areas as indicators to come up with their favourites.

Political Map of Austria, showing adjacent countries

When it comes to Austria, it has the following in favour, politically stable country, population community orientated (as opposed to "my" rights orientated), Austria is a religious county counting on the number of beautiful Catholic churches, secondary indicators include the absence of litter and the "graffiti" index, the Austrians come over as friendly, honest, kind law abiding, and are very proud of their nationality.

Looking for somewhere to stay? For 3 - 9 guests, then please please consider staying at Austrian Holiday Apartment - Kaprun.

Kaprun Zell am SeeWeather and Snow reports

2009-09-03T23:14:00.002+01:00

Kaprun & Zell am See Weather / Snow Reports

The Kaprun snow report and weather forecast is available from a number of sources.

If you are anything like us we are always curious and excited to find out how much snow has fallen in the days leading up to your holiday. Check out the latest weather forecast and Kaprun snow report in the resort and on the mountain.

There are many sites which offer this facility, have a look at these?

Try this one: www.snow-forecast.com/resorts/Kaprun.shtml

Or try these two sites for a live camera at various locations across the Kaprun/Zell mountain: www.kitzsteinhorn.at

and www.schmitten.at

For historic snowfall data click here.

http://www.alpenverein.at/portal/Wetter/Sat-Bild.php (weather forecast)

http://www.windfinder.com/forecast/zell_am_see wind forecast

If you are recommend any other sources for the weather please let us know and we will update this page.

For further information please see www.austria-holiday-apartment.com

Cycling in Austria, fantastic scenery, great routes

2009-08-28T19:53:00.005+01:00

Along the valley bottom or up on the tops Austria is fantastic for Cycling

The attached article came from the Austrian Tourist board website link

it gives very detailed information and links on how to get the most from a a cycling holiday in and around Austria. It complements an earlier article on cycling holidays in Austria.

On a note of recommendation for those less athletic cyclists I would recommend hiring bikes in Zell am See, catching the Tourist train from Zell am See heading up the valley towards (Krimml) waterfalls, the train does not go all the way, to the waterfalls, but the ride back will alll be down hill.! But do have a look around the highest waterfalls in Europe! and then a steady cycle down the valley back to Zell?

There are a couple of really excellent swimming lakes on the way back, so if you get to hot why not stop?

Tips for Cyclists in Austria

Across the arid grasslands of the Puszta, around gleaming lakes or through spectacular alpine mountain sceneries. Austria offers an almost unlimited choice of cycle paths and tours for all ages and interests. Below you will find the pick of the crops from Austria’s provinces.

Rides to remember up a mountain or down a valley your choice !

Cycling around the lake at Zell am See with time to stop for a hot chocolate.

SALZBURGERLAND

Tauern Cycleway

The scenic Tauern Cycleway leads from the Krimmler waterfalls along the Rivers Salzach and Saalach past, Kaprun and Zell am See, with numerous sights and attractions to the city of Salzburg and on to Passau to the start of the Danube Cycleway route heading down on to Budapest and beyond.

Highlights along the way include Liechtenstein gorge, Hohenwerfen castle, if you have time remember to visit the Werfen ice caves, worth the detour and delay, also the Gastein valley is worth a diversion, with two fantastic thermal spas to ooze away any aches and pains.

For those who like a challenge a short diversion takes you Grossglockner, highest pass in western Europe and not for the faint hearted
After all this the beautiful city of Salzburg beckons. The 270-kilometre long Tauern Loop, which leads from Salzburg via Lofer back to Zell am See, is also becoming more and more popular.

Tauern Spa Kaprun located close to Zell am See opens its doors in November 2010, so if you complete the loop, you will deserve the spa treatment and a pamper.

Grossglockner pass a cycle ride to remember

Cycling in SalzburgerLand

SalzburgerLand not only boasts superb cycleways but also a great number of cycling events including everything from bike festivals to Classic race. For detailed information on cycling route and events in Salzburg click on the above link and click here www.radwandern.com

Mozart Cycleway

The Mozart Cycleway – which starts in Salzburg – is 450 kilometers long and features several stations from the live of the genius composer. The route is marked with the head of Mozart and leads through the pristine Salzburg Lake District via Oberndorf into Bavaria where it continues along Lake Chiemsee. The cycleway then follows the River Inn upstream to Rosenheim before returning to Austria. The route then heads to Kufstein and continues via Lofer and Bad Reichenhall before reaching Salzburg.

Salzkammergut Cycleway

This cycleway through the pristine Salzkammergut leads past 13 incredibly beautiful lakes which offer welcome refreshment on hot summer days, with maybe time tor a dip and swim.

SalzburgerLand – Paradise for Mountain Bikers!

The Salzburg area boasts an incredible 4000 kilometers of mountain bike trails for all levels of experience and countless events for bikers. With Bike Park Leogang, Europe’s leading bike park, the adidas freeride park on Reiterkogel (Saalbach Hinterglemm) and the new Mountain Bike Park in Wagrain, free-riders will find plenty to keep them entertained in SalzburgerLand! All bike parks, all mountain bike regions, 23 excellent bike hotels and over 200 mountain bike routes are listed on www.bike.salzburgerland.com website

BURGENLAND

Cycling enthusiasts can explore the diverse landscape and scenery of Burgenland on 1,000 kilometers of asphalted and signposted cycleways between the Neusiedler See-Seewinkel national park and the Thermenwelt region.

Map of the Central part of Austria - Tyrol, Salzburgerland and Carinthia to the South.

CARINTHIA

Drau Cycleway

The 366-kilometer long Drau Cycleway starts at the source of the River Drau in Toblacher Feld in Italy and follows the course of the river all the way through Osttirol and Carinthia to Maribor in Slovenia. The Drau Cycleway forms part of the R1 European cycleway and is one of Europe’s most beautiful routes thanks to its great scenic and cultural diversity. Depending on your level of fitness and interest in the cultural attractions along the way it takes about four to seven days to complete the entire route.

Alpe Adria Bike

In 6 days and across 3 mountain ranges from Salzburg via Carinthia and Friuli to the Adriatic Sea: this transnational tour offers splendid sceneries, cultural attractions and culinary highlights which reflect the special features of each region.

Mine Biking
Bike into the mountain – Carinthia opened its first abandoned mine to bikers! A ride into this 7-kilometer deep mine always makes for a memorable experience!

Road Cycling in Carinthia

Carinthia’s roads cater to race cyclists of all fitness and experience levels. To find out more about Carinthia’s most beautiful road tours visit:

LOWER AUSTRIA

Cycling Routes à la Carte
Lower Austria boasts seven wonderful routes through landscapes of great natural beauty: Danube cycleway, Eurovelo 9, Kamp-Thaya-March, Traisental, Piestingtal, Triestingtal, Gölsental and Thermen route.
All roads are well signposted and there are plenty of inns and taverns along the way as well as a steadily growing number of service stations and good train connections for cyclists.

Danube Cycleway: Culture & Nature along the Blue Danube

This is Europe’s most popular cycleway and not without good reason: it has magnificent scenery, fascinating places to visit and a wide cultural diversity. Parts of the route lead through Wachau and Donau Auen national park, both UNESCO world heritage sites. Along the way you will pass the castle ruins of Aggstein and Dürnstein, splendid monasteries like Melk, Göttweig and Klosterneuburg and impressive castles like Artstetten and Schallaburg and the baroque castles of Marchfeld. En route you will find a great selection of eating options including everything from exquisite award-winning restaurants to friendly inns and quaint taverns to suite every taste and pocketbook.

Traisental Cycleway: Through the mild and wild Mostviertel

The 111-kilometer long Traisental cycleway leads from the shores of the Danube to Mariazell, linking the lower with the upper Traisental. The route travels through lovely scenery and diverse landscapes: the Traisen marshlands near Traismauer, the vineyards and cellar lanes in Traisental, the baroque and modern city of St. Pölten, the pre-Alpine fields and meadows of Mostviertel, the majestic Ötscher Mountain and the lovely pilgrimage town of Mariazell. As the route follows old pilgrimage trails there are plenty of hotels, guest-houses and inns along the way. If you do the trip in reverse, i.e. cycle from Mariazell towards the Danube, you can enjoy easy downhill cruising with a 700-meter difference in altitude between start and finish.

UPPER AUSTRIA

Danube Cycleway

The route through the Upper Austrian Danube Valley is always slightly downhill with tailwinds making cycling here an easy and enjoyable experience for the whole family. Highlights include the famous Schlogen Danube Loop which offers wonderful views of the surrounding countryside and the old boater town of Grein.

Salzkammergut Cycleway

A pristine world of glittering lakes, majestic mountains and world-famous holiday resorts awaits cyclists in Salzkammergut.

Inn Cycleway

Upper Austria’s Inn Cycleway leads through unspoiled marshlands and a unique bird paradise. The River Inn is lined with splendid old towns which once were important trading towns.

Grenzland Cycleway

Grenzland Cycleway winds its way trough the mystical granite formations of Mühlviertel. Starting at the Danube this route leads through the gently rolling hills of the Bohemian Forest and invites you to explore a fascinating primeval landscape.

Roman Cycleway

This great cycleway takes you on a journey into the past! It connects the city of Passau, which is located at the confluence of three rivers, with pristine Lake Attersee and features old Roman attractions on the way.

Enns Cycleway

Once the valley of the River Enns was filled with the banging sound of iron hammers which had brought wealth and richness to the region. Today cyclists pedal push their way through the unspoiled mountain valley. The route starts at the Limestone Alps and ends in Enns, Austria’s oldest city.

Cycling in Austria mountain, lake and valley

STYRIA

R2 Mur Cycle Path
The 365km long Mur Path Way is Styria’s longest cycle way and follows the River Mur from its source in the scenic Hohe Tauern Mountains all the way to Bad Radkersburg, Styria’s southernmost point. Enjoy scenic cycling through spectacular and diverse scenery from spring through fall.

R7 Enns Cycle Path

The 252km Enns Cycle Path starts at 1200m above sea level at the foot of the Niedere Tauern and leads via Altenmarkt and Radstadt to Schladming, a true paradise for cyclists amid the Dachstein-Tauern region. The picturesque ride takes you past the majestic Grimming Mountains, through the spectacular Gesäuse national park and the idyllic Reichraminger Hintergebirge to Enns. Along the route you will find plenty of interesting sights and attractions well worth a stopover.

Hill Cycling in the Weinland Region

This route is only 63km long but due to its many steep hill climbs rather demanding. This ride focuses more on pleasurable side of cycling: the region not only boasts idyllic vineyards but also plenty of cozy taverns where you can sample wine and local food.

Donnersbachwald

10 cycling and mountain biking routes in the Donnersbachwald region offer first-class cycling fun for all levels of ability. Ask your host for the Donnersbachwald Card comprising cycling and mountain biking routes as well as hiking and outing tips. The Dachstein-Tauern Region Cycling Map is available at the tourist office.

Timeless Beauty – Cycling in Styria

Visit Styria for some first-rate cycling fun and discover the outstanding natural beauty of this province with all your senses. A great experience for body and soul, for your mind, palate, and thirst!

Snow covered Grossclockner pass not for the faint hearted cyclist!

TIROL

Leisurely Cycling along the Inntal Cycling Path
The Inntal Cycle Path leads from Landeck to Passau and forms part of the “Bike Trails Tirol”. The route travels through the Tirolean Inntal valley and past such charming cities and towns as Innsbruck, Hall, Schwaz, Rattenberg and Kufstein. Although parts of the cycle path run through scenic mountainous landscapes, there are only few moderate climbs.

“Via Bavarica Tyrolensis“: Cycle all the way to Munich

The new cross-border “Via Bavarica Tyrolensis” cycle path is another step towards a united Europe. The Europe Cycle Path extends over 220km from Munich through the gentle Alpine foothills into the Isartal valley and along Lake Tegernsee into the heart of the Alps. Once in Austria, the cycle path travels through the picturesque Achental valley and past Achensee, Tirol’s largest lake, and continues on through the Inntal valley towards Wiesing. As there are only few and moderate climbs, the route is ideal for families with children and recreational cyclists. To make a great cycling day complete there is a great choice of cozy Tirolean inns, serviced mountain huts and snack stations catering to the hungry pedal pusher. Many of these eateries specialize in Tirolean specialties prepared with the best of local produce available.

Mozart Cycle Path

The cross-border Mozart Cycle Path takes you through Salzburg’s charmingly beautiful Lake District and the Bavarian Chiemgau region. A small part of the ride leads through the Tirolean Kaiserwinkl where the route follows the shores of pretty Lake Walchsee. The ride offers a great mix of beautiful landscapes, invigorating country air and cultural highlights.

Bike Trail Tirol
The Bike Trail Tirol offers superb mountain biking fun on 1000-kilometers of diverse and scenic trails. The trail leads in 32 stages through almost all of Tirol’s regions and takes in some of the country’s most beautiful sceneries. Cyclists can start at every stage town and choose the routes according to their fitness level. The trail uses a standardized trail sign system to make navigation as easy as possible.
For detailed information (packages, stage descriptions, bike guides, mountain-bike friendly establishments, GPS data, etc.) visit www.biketrail.tirol.at

VORARLBERG

Bodensee Cycleway
This popular cycleway is travels along the Austrian, German and Swiss shores of Lake Constance and is lined with numerous attractions (don’t forget to bring your passport!). Parts of the route can be done by boat, shortcuts are possible at Konstanz-Meersburg and Friedrichshafen-Romanshorn where you can take the ferry. Especially charming are trips with a boat from the “White Fleet” (= ferry Friedrichshafen (GER) -Romanshorn (CH) or Meersburg (GER) - Konstanz (GER). In addition there are regular trains operating along the shores of Lake Constance which offer bicycle transport.

The Lake Constance region offers a great choice of accommodations including hotels, guesthouses, penions, youth hostels, private accommodations and campsites. Advance booking is highly recommended in the holiday season. For a list of accommodations in the Constance region visit: www.bodensee-tourismus.com und www.bodensee-radweg.com

Bregenzerwald Cycle Path
From Egg cycle along the former tracks of the old Bregenzerwald train to the Andelsbuch reservoir and continue along the L 200 to Sporenegg. Turn left into the cycle path to Bezau and follow the shores of the Bregenzer Ache to Reuthe and on via Holzbauwerk, Herburg (moderate climb) and Hinterreuthe to the wooden bridge to Mellau where you cross the L 200. In Mellau the cycle way leads trough the town, past the ski lifts and to Hirschau where you have to cross the L 200 once more. Continue to Schnepfau. Cross the bridge to get back to the left shores of the river where the most scenic part of the trail starts. The route now travels along the beautiful shores of the river all the way from Au to Schoppernau.

Montafon Cycle Path
The Montafon cycle path is no loop trail – this means if you wish to return to the starting point you will have to backtrack or take a train to/from Tschagguns. The cycle path takes you from Partenen to Gaschurn and along the River Ill past Gortipohl to St. Gallenkirch. Continue through the districts of Galgenul and Gartniel to Tschagguns. From Tschagguns the path follows the River Ill to Vandans and the Vens chapel where you take Böschisstraße road to Lorüns. In the Bludenz motorway area, junction Montafon, you could pick up the cycle path to Walgau-Rheintal.

Austria great for cyclists

Bikepark Kleinwalsertal

At the Bikepark by the River Schwarzwasserbach you can practice jumps and tricks. Guided tours and classes are available. The bike map contains 9 tours which vary in length between 11 and 72 kilometers and climb between 200 and 2200 meters in altitude. In Hirschegg-Au there is a bike park near the sports field which boasts an approx. 300-meter long 4X, two table, a seesaw and skinis.

Cycling Accommodation adjacent to the Tauern Cycle route, with secure parking of bikes overnight, makes an ideal base for a week of activities and the possibility of cycling to the Krimmler falls and an attempt at the mighty Grossglockner pass. Cycle hire shops within a short distance of the apartment

Looking for somewhere to stay, then please consider www.austria-holiday-apartment.com the apartment sleeps from 3-9 persons and Tauern Spa Kaprun just a few minutes away along the cycle route.

Cycle routes galore in and around Austria

Tauern Spa World Kaprun construction update - NOW OPEN December 2010

2009-08-16T20:54:00.011+01:00

Work progresses on the construction of the new Spa-World Kaprun complex. It is costing 85-90 million Euro to construct and it sits proud in the valley bottom close to Kaprun. It is in a stunning setting looking out on the Kitzsteinhorn with its glacier standing at oner 3000 metres in height, which is in the Tauern Hohe National Park, the largest nature reserve in the Alps.

The 36 hole championship golf course of Kaprun and and Zell am See is adjacent, across the valley guarding the approach is Kaprun Castle or in German Burg Kaprun well worth a visit and paegents are held throughout the season.

The spa complex is due to be completed in November 2010, and promises to make Zell am See and Kaprun even more of an all year round resort.

To find out more and to keep abreast of developments please see our sister website Spa-world-Kaprun blog.

If you are looking for somewhere to stay then please consider staying at www.austria-holiday-apartment.com, the apartment consists of 3 bath / shower-rooms and 3 bedrooms and can sleep 3-9 in luxury and comfort. The apartment is a 10 minute walk away from the centre of Kaprun.

Tauern Spa Kaprun

Water sports & Swimming in Austrian lakes

2009-08-08T17:20:00.005+01:00

Austria is great for swimming out in the open, the lakes are clean with a fantastic panorama around as a setting. The Salzburg tourist office gives regular updates of the water temperature and the facilities in and around the lake.

For example at the time of writing the temperature of the lake at Zell am See was given at 20 degrees centigrade, and a water quality of "A" which is a drinking water standard. The site tells you also what facilities beaches, boats etc. are available and open.

For those who are tempted by wilder waters it is possible to go Canyoning, walking up the river the wrong way in a wet suit, and then swimming / walking / floating back down. Sometimes this is done with the benefit of a rubber ring or other flotation ring. For further information on canyoning, rafting and other advanture sports click on the Adventure Sports link. There is also the Rafting Centre at Taxenbach, they not only do rafting, but they will organize "Pirate Rafting" aimed at younger adventuresrs, along with mountain biking, parascending. It is possible to do a session of cycling, canyoning and wild water rafting in one day.

If you are looking for somewhere to stay for your group please consider staying at Austrian holiday apartment in Kaprun, close to Zell am See, with lots to do in and around the area.