The province of Tyrol is located in the western part of Austria. The neighbors of this province are the countries of Germany, Italy and Switzerland, the Austrian provinces of Salzburg, Carinthia and Vorarlberg. The length of Tyrol from west to east is 210 kilometers, and from north to south – 110 kilometers.

The beauty of Tyrol will conquer any person, it is not for nothing that it is also called the “Heart of the Alps“. Fans of active recreation can ski here in winter and go hiking in summer. The province is also beautiful because here you can simply relax in the fresh air by a mountain stream, gain strength and immerse yourself in an unforgettable world of harmony.

Tyrol is rich in its history and culture. Kaisers, patrons of the arts, who helped artists, composers, and architects lived here.

In the capital of Tyrol – Innsbruck you can see the imperial Hovburg Palace, the Triumphal Arch, and the court Hovkirche. Innsbruck is considered a legend of alpine skiing, as this city has hosted the Olympic Games twice. There is also a town of Wattens in the province, where the Swarovski Crystal Worlds museum is located, located in a cave that is a labyrinth. In this museum, everyone will be amazed by Salvador Dali‘s Flowing Clock, and the crystal crystal will shake with its size, it is considered the largest in the world.

All regions of Tyrol differ in the traditions of the people, their way of life, and dialects. But still, the people in this province are very cheerful, hospitable, and comfort and sports reign everywhere.

Tyrol is famous for its extremely beautiful lakes and national parks, which are located among the glaciers and valleys of the Alpine Mountains.

If we talk about lakes, the largest is Lake Achensee, surrounded by the Rofhan and Karwendel mountains, and Lake Tristacher See, located in East Tyrol in the Dolomite Mountains. You can enjoy swimming in the lakes Walchsee, Schwarzsee, Pillersee.

Hohe Tauern National Park

The center of the Hohe Tauern Park amazes with its waterfalls, flora, fauna, glaciers and Alpine valleys. Once in the park, you will never want to leave this fabulous place. The area of the Hohe Tauern is 1187 sq. km, it will take a lot of time to get around it. Excursions are organized in the park, where you can enjoy all its charms, see amazing plants, animals, go hiking in the mountains, take part in various programs held in the park and much more.

How to ski in the most pathos resort in Tyrol and not go broke

Forty years ago, these places were known only to climbers and mountain tourists. Snowy, but not too harsh winters, convenient transport location, combined with the pragmatism of local residents, turned Ischgl from an ordinary Tyrolean village into one of the most glamorous ski resorts not only in Austria, but also in all of Europe. On the main street of Ischgl, shining with the windows of pretentious boutiques and nightclubs, you can often meet the characteristic heroine of jokes about blondes – with a Yorkshire terrier and expensive, almost rhinestone and snake skin, skis under the arm. And on the stage, mounted high in the mountains above the city, concerts of world pop stars are constantly held.

But you should not perceive Ischgl exclusively as a vanity fair. A thoughtful approach to the matter and knowledge of some subtleties will allow ski lovers to correctly form a budget for the trip and, for an acceptable amount, relax on hundreds of kilometers of well-groomed slopes in the heart of Tyrol.

A walk through the valley, or let’s decide on the terrain

The name of the Austrian state Tyrol with the capital in Innsbruck has long become synonymous with the word Alps. The region borders three countries: Italy, Germany and Switzerland. Here, on the border with the latter, separated from it by the Samnaun and Silvretta ranges (these words constantly flash in tourist advertisements and on signs), lies the Paznaun Valley, in which the town of Ischgl is located. And at a distance of several dozen kilometers – several more villages. The population of Ischgl itself is only a couple of thousand, in other villages – a few hundred. At the same time, according to the director of the Ischgl Tourist Board, Andreas Steibl, up to 15 thousand people are on the slopes at the same time on a winter day near this town alone.

In the case of Austria, there is no need to list the number of slopes and lifts. What is there to talk about if the length of the slopes in Paznaun is hundreds of kilometers, and the lifts are dozens. And new ones are built every year.

Ischgl

The main skiing area in the Paznaun Valley is located above its “capital”. From Ischgl, skiers are taken there by several gondola lifts. Their lower stations open directly onto the main street of the town. Along the way, the gondola cabins crawl over gorges covered with huge fir trees. Finally, they reach a flat area surrounded by sharp peaks – the Idalp Plateau at an altitude of 2,300 m. The huge number of chairlifts that diverge even higher is impressive. The chairs floating in the air most resemble a swarm of some kind of insects.

Only when you are there do you realize why, together with the ski pass (lift pass), they persistently offer a map of the slopes and lifts. Indeed, a good skier, without understanding, can get so far that then you have to return to the last flights of the lifts almost by running. Moreover, having become carried away by skiing, you can imperceptibly jump over the mountain range and find yourself in Switzerland – in the Samnaun Valley.

Near Ischgl there is the famous Eleven trail (“eleven”). On it, starting from the Idalp Plateau and having covered 11 km, you can stop already on the main street.

Kappl

The village is almost at the exit from the valley. The lifts take skiers to a height of up to 2700 m. Somewhere at an altitude of 2000 m there is a small ski park for the little ones. Thanks to it and the small size of the village below, Kappl looks family and quiet. Although the slopes in the upper part of the ridge are quite impressive.

Galthur

A village in the upper reaches of the valley. Here, nature is harsher – there are fewer forests: the highlands are significant. The “feature” of this skiing area is a large children’s ski school. The village also has areas for lovers of skiing on virgin snow on the slopes under the mountain peaks – freeride.

How to reduce costs

Accommodation

“Don’t focus on hotel “stars”. If you think that by paying for a 4 * room in Tyrol, you will get almost five-star service, but a little cheaper – this is not so. Almost all 4 * hotels are actually high-quality 3 *. If “stars” are not important to you, then before making a reservation, write down the accommodation parameters (hotel address, area and room equipment) and study the hotels of lower “stars” next to you on the street. It may turn out that you will find something better and one and a half times cheaper. Some hotels already include sky passes in the cost of accommodation. So it turns out another 1-2 euros per day cheaper.

If you are traveling with a group of 4-5 people, it makes sense to try to find an apartment in the town. It can cost only 500-800 euros per week.

Travel

If a group is traveling, rent a car from the airport in advance by ordering it online. The key word is “in advance” – such a car will cost about 30 euros / day (compare with 100-120 euros / day if you rent a car on site). If you only need a car to get to the hotel – rent it for a day, get to the place, sleep, and the next morning drive the car to the nearest return point, returning by bus (7-10 euros). To words – gasoline costs from Munich to the ski regions of Tyrol – about 75 euros. Similarly, you can organize a transfer in the opposite direction. As a result, instead of 300-600 euros, you will get 150-300. It all depends on your desire to save. But do not skimp on spending money on toll highways (10 euros for 10 days). There is an option for free travel by car, but it is extremely uncomfortable.

Let’s talk about public transport. If you are not yet 26 years old or you are already a pensioner with a certificate, you can buy a preferential student or pension card at the train station. It gives a 50% discount on travel and costs about 20 euros. Imagine the savings at least on the example of moving to Landeck, which costs 60 euros one way.

If you do not have a car and want to ride on other resorts, then find out if there are free sky buses there. For example, if you live in the Paznaun Valley, then you can travel for free with a sky pass between all settlements and skiing areas – Ischgl, Kapplem, See, Landeck (Fenet resort).

Sky pass

It is better to take the “6 days out of 10” or “4 days out of 7” program for almost the entire skiing time. Such a sky pass allows you to take a break of 1-2 days whenever you want, without losing money.

Food

If you have the opportunity to cook yourself, then for 100 euros for two you can easily live a week. The most profitable way to buy food is in the supermarket chain Hofer (in Germany it is called ALDI). If there is no such store nearby, then most likely you will find supermarkets Billa or Spar, which are a little more expensive. However, all these options are economical).

Equipment

Don’t fall for the magic figures in sports stores. Clothing and other accessories for mountain skiing in the season (from late November to April) are incredibly expensive, discount days at this time are a rarity. But if you do not disdain used “gear”, then you can negotiate at the rental – it will cost significantly cheaper than a similar new model (up to 70%).

How to get there

The axis of all Tyrol is the Inn River. It originates in Switzerland, crosses all of Austria and flows into the Danube already in the territory of Germany. The wide Inn Valley is the main transport artery of the country, along it take off and land airliners in “Kranebitten” – the main airport of Tyrol.

The usual flight scheme from Kyiv to Innsbruck involves a transfer in Vienna and currently costs $550-600. But every year with the beginning of the winter season, the national air carrier of Austria opens a direct connection between Kyiv and Innsbruck. As explained by the airline representatives, a direct flight from Kyiv will be operated every Saturday from December 28 to March 8 and will cost 2950 UAH (about $360). The second flight option is via the airport in the German city of Memmingen, which is located near Munich (200 km from Ischgl). It is attractive because the well-known Ukrainian low-cost carrier flies there 3-4 times a week. Ticket prices (as of January) is within the range of only $ 135-200. And in February-March – even cheaper.

From the airports to Paznaun you can get in different ways. Simple and expensive – by taxi. It will cost about 120 euros on the route Innsbruck-Ischgl and 180-200 euros if you go from Memmingen. A more tiring, but less expensive option is the train and bus. From Munich to Landeck (the closest train station to Ischgl) the fare costs 60 euros. If you fly in Innsbruck, then a train ticket to Landeck will cost 15 euros. And from Landeck to Ischgl we go by bus (7 euros).

Holidays in the Tyrolean Mountains

Despite its leading role in the field of ski holidays and a 200-year history of tourism, Tyrol continues to create more and more unique opportunities for tourists for a carefree vacation. More than 100 ski resorts and almost 5,200 kilometers of slopes of all levels of difficulty await skiers next winter.

In the coming In the ski season, the popular resorts of the Austrian Tyrol will offer many new things to winter vacationers.

So, after the reconstruction, several new cable cars will open at once. One of them, the Gigijochbahn in Sölden, is claiming a world record. This single-cable cable car, leading to a height of 2,283 meters, has become a real architectural masterpiece, as well as an outstanding technical achievement: the road has a capacity of 4,500 people / hour. In Sölden, skiing has already begun – the height of the snow cover is about a meter.

Another new Flexenbahn cable car, built in The Arlberg, together with the new Trittkopfbahn lift systems, will connect St. Anton and Zürs. Thanks to this, skiers can enjoy the largest combined ski resort in Austria with a length of 305 kilometers with dedicated slopes, 87 lifts and ski lifts.

The snowmaking system on the Kitzbüheler Horn slope in the Kitzbühel resort, built in the summer of 2016, guarantees skiing for children, young people and family groups at an altitude of 1,996 meters. The slopes throughout the entire KitsSky resort are carefully prepared for the season, and more than a thousand snow cannons are also ready.

In turn, Zillertal offers skiers and snowboarders 508 kilometers of perfectly prepared slopes with a wide selection of slopes for any level of fitness. The only Zillertal Super-Skipass – an all-inclusive card that covers 179 lifts.

The biggest advantage of Tyrol is the large-scale nature of its ski resorts and the variety of their opportunities. As a rule, ski areas start at an altitude of 2,000 meters and reach 3 250 meters, which guarantees snow for the entire winter season and for the whole family, as the high-altitude ski stations also have areas for beginners and children.

The largest ski area opened in the Austrian Tyrol

After ten years of negotiations, four Austrian ski resorts have combined their slopes, creating the largest ski area in the country. This was made possible by the construction of the TyroIS lift, which connected Leogang, Saalbach-Hinterglemm and Fieberbrunn and enabled the free movement of tourists to neighboring slopes. The total length of the slopes after the merger of the resorts exceeded 270 kilometers.

The new gondola lift has expanded the possibilities of snowboarders from Leogang and Saalbach-Hinterglemm, who will be able to do freeride on new, previously inaccessible slopes. Those who do not want to overpay for accommodation, it is better to settle in the economical Fieberbrunn and ride from the slopes of neighboring resorts.

Sölden: a hot spot of the Alps

Arriving in Sölden, you will discover endless trails with a total length of 145 kilometers, breathtaking panoramas of 250 three-thousanders, leisurely walks along the shopping street of Sölden, as well as culinary masterpieces of Tyrolean cuisine. So, gourmets are in a hurry to please the opened in December 2013 the gourmet restaurant “ICE Q”, at an altitude of 3048 m, and the glacier slopes – Rettenbachferner and Tiefenbachferner have been open for skiers since September. The ski season is scheduled to open on all slopes on November 22. Traditionally, this event will be accompanied by numerous events, including the Electric Mountain festival and the avant-garde performance “Hannibal” on the natural stage of the Rettenbach glacier.

Zillertal: slopes and mountain inns

The perfectly prepared slopes with a skiing area of 489 km can be covered on the “Zillertal Super Ski Pass”. Whether you are a beginner or a professional – guaranteed snow up to 3,250 meters promises незабутнє задоволення абсолютно всім. Це широкі і довгі схили, спуски для карвінгу, “харакірі” по самому стрімкому схилу Австрії на курорті Майрхофен.

Майрхофен розташований в долині річки Циллер. Це третє за величиною містечко землі Тіроль, яка славиться своїми гірськолижними курортами. У долині Циллерталь є траси на будь-який смак. І для тих, хто тільки встає на лижі, неважливо, дорослі або діти – наприклад, в районі Ахорн. І для тих, хто більш-менш впевнений в своїх силах – в Пенкене. І для асів – на льодовику Хинтертукс. Саме тут знаходиться одна з найбільш складних чорних трас Європи. І саме звідси в топ Youtube потрапляють найбільш захоплюючі ролики. Сноубордистам тут теж є де розгулятися. Для них відкрито Burton Park Mayrhofen, де також є зони і для профі, і для любителів, і для початківців: халф-пайп, рейли, трампліни.

Вибір готелів теж різноманітний: від фешенебельних п’ятірок до цілком якісних трійок. Для сімейного відпочинку, наприклад, можна вибрати готель Neuhaus. Тепла домашня атмосфера, прекрасна кухня, свій невеликий кінозал, джакузі, баня, боулінг і більярд.

Курорт знаменитий своїми apres-ski-вечірками. Одне з культових місць – «Айсбарен», що прямо у нижньої станції гондольного підйомника на Пенкен. Сюди запросто приходять в лижних черевиках, як то кажуть, з корабля на бал. Для публіки солідніше підійде «Шлюссельальм», де можна тихо посидіти і за стаканчиком глінтвейну обговорити свої спортивні успіхи.

А ще тут є відкриті льодові катки, криті тенісні корти та майданчики для гри в сквош, а також манеж, де можна покататися верхи.

Більш того, Циллерталь обіцяє справжнє задоволення від відвідування гірських трактирів. А численні точки WIFI уможливлюють поділитися враженнями з друзями і тими, хто залишився вдома.

Кіцбюель: легенда гірськолижного відпочинку

Kitzbühel is an Alpine sports and leisure town, famous for its mystical Hanenkoffspitze (German: Rooster’s Crest), where the annual ski race of the same name takes place. Alongside designer boutiques and authentic Tyrolean establishments, Kitzbühel continues to write its history in the old streets of the town, on fantastic ski slopes and in excellent restaurants, awarded a total of 18 culinary “toques”. This place attracts celebrities from all over the world, while simultaneously broadcasting tradition and innovation. World-class events such as the Snow Polo World Cup or a classical concert with the participation of opera diva Elina Garanča – make Kitzbühel a holiday destination for the best.

Ski resort St. Johann in Tirol

The ski resort St. Johann in Tirol is a great place for winter leisure. The beautiful and hospitable town is nestled comfortably on the edge of a picturesque valley between the slopes. The ski slopes have a total length of up to 80 kilometers and are characterized by constant snow cover. There are well-equipped lifts here, which carry out the movement of travelers.

The resort is a great choice for a family vacation, as well as for beginner skiers. Wide and comfortable routes for learning, as well as steep slopes – will suit every taste of visitors. The resort also has cross-country ski trails, several sled runs, carving tracks and a snowboard park.

The resort’s infrastructure is very diverse. Guests are given the opportunity to visit swimming pools, saunas, wellness centers. And for lovers of noisy fun and bright impressions, discos, fashionable clubs, various restaurants and bars are always open.

A pleasant and unforgettable vacation for skiers and fans of active pastime in the winter season will be presented by the wonderful resort of St. Johann in Tirol.

Stubaital Valley: competence and diversity

The Stubaital will fulfill the wildest dreams of a vacation. Its location near Innsbruck and easy transport accessibility make this place ideal for a vacation. Winter sports deserve much more attention in the resort. The valley has four main ski resorts: Stubai Glacier, Schlick 2000 Ski Center, Serlesbahnen Mieders and Elferlifte Neustift with a program for skiers, snowboarders, freeriders and sledgers. Perfectly prepared slopes with a snow guarantee from October to June and a wide range of offers will make your holiday unforgettable.

After skiing: what to do in Tyrol

Stay overnight in an ice hotel at the top

On the slope of Mount Ahorn, at an altitude of two thousand meters, a hotel has opened in this real ice corner. Don’t be afraid that it will be cold – the hotel will provide you with warm blankets and sleeping bags. You can stay in the corner as a couple (wrapping yourself in one sleeping bag is a real romance!), or as a group of four – it’s more fun and warmer together. Those who are not ready for extreme sports can simply spend time with friends in the ice bar: drink a cocktail and admire the views.

The journey from Ahorn to Mayrhofen will take just a few minutes – all thanks to the new lifts.

Feel the Christmas spirit

You’ve probably sung (or at least heard it performed) Silent Night, Holy Night. But you probably don’t know that this world-famous Christmas motif was born in the Zillertal, and its author is Myrna Strasser. Now in the Strasser family house near Hippach you can have dinner, drink coffee and cake, sing all the Christmas carols and listen to amazing family stories.

Bake Bread

In a Tyrolean house, you will be taught how to bake bread with your own hands in a traditional oven. While the bread is baking, you can take a walk under the stars, imagining yourself as Tolkien’s heroes who have set off on a long and dangerous journey.

Try all the local beers

In addition to the traditional varieties: light beer (Zwickl), dark (Dunkel) and wheat (Weißbier), the Zillertal brewery produces something unusual. A bottle of local beer resembles sparkling beer, and you can try it only in the best restaurants in the valley. For example, “sparkling beer” is served in Sieghard (Hippach village). The restaurant has two “caps” from the Gault Millau guide, Michelin’s main competitor.

Teach a “non-skiing” friend to ski

Zillertal has many slopes for both beginners and experienced skiers. First of all, the valley is suitable for those who are already confident on skis, but if you and your friends are just starting their journey in alpine skiing – no worries. There are several ski schools open for them in Mayrhofen, and you can ski without fear on the gentle slopes of Ahorn.

Surviving after Harakiri

And for those who have already mastered all the ski slopes, there is Harakiri – the most dangerous slope in Austria. The slope is 78% (although from the side it seems that all 90). If you decide to try it – the main thing is not to watch videos, which are full of them on the Internet – there skiers repeatedly fail on the treacherous slope.

Go shopping

Mayrhofen is not only a center for alpine skiing, but also a shopping center. First of all, it is worth buying sportswear and equipment here. You can buy a jacket, pants, and ski protection on the spot, if you don’t want to bring your own – the choice here is much better than in stores in Kyiv and Lviv.

Lake Aachen – the pearl of the Tyrolean Alps

Every traveler probably knows the long way to Italy through the Brenner Pass, but few people are particularly pleased with this journey to sunny beaches and Lake Garda. It is therefore not a bad idea to find a point about halfway in the foothills of the Alps, and Lake Aachen is just such a limit. About 80 km from Innsbruck on the A12 international motorway there is an exit near Wiesinga, the same exit when you go skiing in the Zillertal Valley. But we will go in the opposite direction to the north, where the winding path begins up to the mountain saddle, from where you can see a narrow strip of the lake, sandwiched between the steep mountain giants Rophan and Karwendel. A unique spectacle awaits you – the turquoise shades of the crystal waters of this Alpine treasure.

Despite its relative proximity – no more than 10 kilometers on the main tourist route, this corner of Austriaremains a little away from the main mass of tourists. With its location and profile, Lake Aachen is perhaps most reminiscent of the northern fjords, but swimming here is more pleasant, if we take into account the fact that the water here supposedly reaches drinking water quality.

Lake Aachen is chosen by those who are not particularly keen on active recreation, although there are several ski resorts here, such as Pertisau, Maurach, Achenkirch, Steinberg or Wiesing, which together form a small but comprehensive ski area for less demanding skiers, with 60 km of prepared slopes at their disposal.

Those who enjoy a quiet holiday, swimming, mountain tourism, and in winter, especially cross-country skiing, will also find something for themselves here, with over 200 km of white slopes at their disposal. Tourist signs, signposts and route drawings are everywhere marked with such precision that it is practically impossible to get lost here, and if this happens, then on your way you will certainly find another unforgettable view of the lake and its surroundings.

A popular activity is a trip on the St. Joseph steamer, the history of which dates back to Emperor Franz Joseph I or Maximilian I, who made Lake Aachen their favorite vacation spot. A unique seven-kilometer cogwheel railway leads from the village to Lake Jenbach, overcoming an elevation of 440 meters!

If you are just passing through or stopping on your way south, you may be able to spend the night at one of the local campsites. We recommend Camping Achensee Schwarzenau on the eastern shore, about halfway through the lake. Prices are the same as in the rest of the Alps, around 25-29 euros for two people, a tent and a car.

Tyrolean cuisine

The cuisine of the Tyrol is quite simple, as in past centuries the Tyroleans were poor peasants with farms in the Alpine meadows.

Therefore, many dishes are based on dairy products: they contain milk, cheese, as well as flour and lard. In addition, it is worth trying the local schnapps, cheeses, various types of ham and sausages.

As the Tyrolean proverb says:

“Noodles, dumplings, dumplings and polenta – these are the four Tyrolean elements”

Knödel

Naturally influenced by Germany, so dumplings (dumplings) are a traditional side dish and a separate dish:

Speckknödel – dumplings with pieces of bacon. Usually served with soup.

Spinatknödel – dumplings with spinach.

Eiterbeule

Eiterbeule – literally translated as “boiled”. It is a chop with a filling of cheese, sausage and mustard.

Tiroler Graukäse

Tiroler Graukäse – Tyrolean gray cheese. With a strong aroma, from cow’s milk, gray in color. Produced in Zillertal. Gray color – due to mold. Very low fat content – about 0.5%.

Tiroler Gröstl

Tiroler Gröstl is a traditional roast of boiled potatoes with chopped beef or pork, with chopped onions, fried in lard in a pan. Seasoned with salt, pepper, marjoram and parsley. Usually served with scrambled eggs on top.

Schlutzkrapfen

Schlutzkrapfen, or Schlutzer for short, is a traditional pasta dish, reminiscent of Italian ravioli, which is why they are sometimes called ravioli tirolesi. Usually the walnut-sized ravioli are made from a mixture of rye and wheat flour. The filling is made from veal or beef with potatoes, in South Tyrol often with spinach. There are also versions with onion, nutmeg and egg. In East Tyrol a popular version with turnips, bacon and potatoes is Schlipfkrapfen.

Kiachl

Kiachl is a popular dessert in Bavaria, Tyrol, Swabia. The thinnest pancakes fried in lard. Made from yeast dough, sometimes with raisins, fried in oil. Served sprinkled with powdered sugar.

Prügelkrapfen

Prügelkrapfen is an analogue of the German Baumkuchen. A wooden roller is dipped in batter, browned, then dipped again in batter and browned again, and so on several times. As a result, the structure of tree rings is obtained on the medium.

Strudel

Apple strudel with vanilla sauce is the most popular dessert in this region. It is made from puff pastry with a filling of apples with sugar and cinnamon.

Theresienbräu

Theresienbräu is a local beer.

True delicacies from Tyrol

Cow’s milk mountain cheeses

Hard mountain cheese “Tyrolean Parmesan” 20 months aged (Bergkäse 20 monate), produced in Galtür. Usually used in grated form, for example, served with pasta.
Hard mountain cheese 10 months aged. Served thinly sliced with “hay jelly”.

Hard Alpine high mountain cheese, produced in Galtür.
Soft Alpine blue cheese “Galtür Camembert”, produced in Galtür. Served thinly sliced with “hay jelly”.

Grey cheese, produced in the Paznaun Valley.

Grauschimmelkäse, Alpbach, August 2016, for a report by Erich Kocina

Meat delicacies

Low-fat beef, dried in the open air, produced in Tyrol.
Dried brisket, produced in Tyrol.
Handl meat products – vacuum-packed sausages and brisket.

Handl meat gift set.

Dried Tyrolean venison sausages.

You can try any meat that is not vacuum-packed.

Schnapps from the Paznaun Valley (high-proof alcoholic beverages)

Noble schnapps of the highest purity produced by MAAS.

Schnapps tinctures with fruit and berry flavors “Baumann Schnaps”

Galtür Schnaps gift schnapps.

Most schnapps can be tasted before purchase. Please do not overdo it.

Alpine honey and homemade jam from Galtür:

Alpine hay jam “Bergheu Gelee” (served with cheese slices).

Cowberry jam “Preiselbeeren Gelee”. Often served with meat.

Alpine honey from Tyrol “Alpen Honig”.

Also on sale are various handmade souvenirs from Galtür with the inscription “Galtür”.

Travel with taste – South Tyrol

The masterful combination of Tyrolean and Mediterranean culinary arts makes this cuisine simple and sophisticated at the same time. On the one hand, lard, smoked meats, semolina and corn grits. On the other hand, fragrant herbs, sun-dried tomatoes and noble olive oil. Perhaps nowhere in the world do classic pizza and authentic dumplings coexist on one table so harmoniously as in South Tyrol.

We suggest starting with dumplings. As it turned out, this dish is number one here. Dumplings in various interpretations roam the entire menu – first they are found in soup, then they are offered as a main course with sauerkraut, potatoes and meat, and then as a dessert – with apricot (marilenknedel) or plum (svetschkenknedel) fillings.

We liked the soup version better. There, the dumpling consists of a mixture of bacon and white bread. Of course, this does not mean lard, but lean raw smoked ham – another example of culinary borrowing in the Tyrolean style. The closest thing to bacon is Italian prosciutto. But, again, if in Italy it is consumed as a light snack – for example, with a slice of melon, then in Tyrol bacon is treated as a specific piece of ham and is added almost everywhere, including bread.

South Tyrolean Apple Strudel

The main desserts here are sweet apple dishes. South Tyrol has always been famous for its famous apple orchards. In May, the entire region seems to be covered in a light pink haze, and a delicate aroma hangs in the air. Local ski resorts often serve apfelkihl – apple slices caramelized with schnapps. Or bisoffene bratapfel – drunken apples in the Tyrolean style.

Innsbruck: a trip to the capital of Tyrol

The capital of the Austrian state of Tyrol can be an interesting stopover on a road trip around Europe.

In Central Europe, there are many cities and regions that are deprived of the attention of our tourists due to inconvenient transport connections for us, Ukrainians. In Poland, for example, these are the Masurian Lakes and the cities on the Baltic Sea coast. У Німеччині – такий цікавий регіон як Саксонія (до речі, якщо судити по карті, це найближча до нас частина Німеччини, вона примикає до польського кордону). І в тому і в іншому випадку, сюди неможливо дістатися ні прямим авіарейсом, ні поїздом.

Все вищесказане повністю відноситься і до Австрії. Для більшості з нас країна асоціюється з Віднем і хіба що ще Зальцбургом (гірськолижні курорти в розрахунок брати не будемо). І все тому, що і по повітрю і по землі нам найпростіше туди дістатися. Та й автобусні екскурсії орієнтовані саме на ці два міста. Ось так, наприклад, Каринтія або Тіроль випадають з поля зору наших туристів.

Тим неї менше, тим, хто планує автомобільну подорож по Європі, радимо: як один з проміжних пунктів подорожі, столиця землі Тіроль, місто Інсбрук цілком заслуговує на те, щоб провести в ньому пару днів.

Визначаємось на місцевості

Віссю землі Тіроль є річка Інн. Вона бере свій витік в Швейцарії, перетинає всю Австрію, і впадає в Дунай вже на території Німеччини. Широка долина є головною транспортною артерією землі, по ній прокладені автомобільна і залізна дороги, вздовж неї злітають і заходять на посадку лайнери в Кранебіттен – аеропорт Інсбрука.

Коли їдеш вздовж річки, на очі раз у раз трапляються покажчики: Циллерталь, Етцталь, Пацнаун. Для недосвідченого вони звучать як армійські команди, а ось для гірськолижника – це чарівна музика. Адже покажчики ці відзначають повороти в бічні долини, де розташовані знамениті зимові курорти. Серцем цього гірського краю і є місто Інсбрук.

Старе місто: Золотий дах і церква чорних людей

Історичну частину міста можна не поспішаючи оглянути години за три. Заблукати і піти кудись далеко в сторону у вас не вийде. Вона окреслена багатокутником, сторони якого утворюють річка Інн, залізничні колії, вулиця Максиміліанштрасе і міський парк. Ось з неї і почнемо розповідь про архітектурні пам’ятки старого Інсбрука.

Тріумфальна арка

Подібні споруди традиційно споруджують після деяких військових перемог. У столиці Тіролю Тріумфальна арка не має відношення до війни. У 1765 році син імператриці Марії Терезії одружується на іспанській принцесі. І треба ж, саме на весіллі помер батько нареченого і чоловік імператриці. Ось вона і встановила пам’ятну арку на місці в’їзних воріт в старий Інсбрук. Сторона, що дивиться на північ, висловлює радість від весілля, а та, що дивиться на південь – траур по близькій людині. Сьогодні через арку відкривається непоганий ракурс на трамплін для стрибків на лижах. Виходить дуже по-австрійськи – в країні уживаються імперська пихатість минулого і хайтек сучасного спорту.

Вулиця Марії Терезії

Починається від вищезгаданої Тріумфальної арки і впирається в іншу пам’ятку міста – міську ратушу, за якою рукою подати до візитки міста – Золотого даху.

Хоча Марія-Терезія штрассе є типовою для будь-якого європейського міста туристичною променадою з належними для такого місця кафе і сувенірними крамницями, але в ній присутнє і суто тірольсій колорит.

По-перше, гірський хребет на задньому плані. По-друге, на тлі гір не можна не помітити дзвіницю Шпіталькірхе (Лікарняної церкви). Хоча в місті налічується більше десятка храмів, саме ця будівля в стилі бароко найчастіше потрапляє на знімки туристів.

Між Тріумфальною аркою і Лікарняною церквою знаходиться ще один важливий для Інсбрука монумент – колона св.Анни. У 1703 році в Тіроль вторглися баварці і місцеві жителі підняли на повстання, яке увінчалася перемогою в День Святої Анни (26 липня).

Золотий дах

Але візиткою Інсбрука № 1 вважається не будівля або монуімент, а невелика прибудова, так званий Золота дах. За великим рахунком, це і не дах зовсім, а розкішний еркер, критий позолоченими листами з міді. На них зображені тодішній правитель цих земель, його дружини, всіляка флора і фауна.

Історія появи Золотий даху така – приблизно в 1500 р імператор Священної Римської імперії Максиміліан з нагоди свого одруження наказав прилаштувати цей «балкончик» до резиденції одного зі своїх попередників. У будівлі з легендарним балкончиком поміщається пара музеїв, причому абсолютно різнопланових – музей імператора Максиміліана і експозиція, присвячена Олімпійським іграм (вони двічі проходили в столиці Тіролю)

Поруч із Золотим дахом знаходиться і вежа Ратуші – куди ж без неї в європейському місті? Зараз це один з популярних оглядових майданчиків міста на висоте 30 м. Найвигідніший вид на місто відкривається з неї ближче до вечора.

Якщо від будинку з Золотим дахом і Ратуші повернути праворуч, паралельно річці, то вулички виведуть до ще одного комплексу історичних будівель – масивного палацу Хофбург, собору св.Якова, Палацової церкви (Хофкирхе).

Вона будувалася для гробниці Максиміліана I, але зараз тіло імператора спочиває в іншому місці. У церкві ж можна побачити уклінну скульптуру правителя, в оточенні 28 статуй вище людського зросту, відлитих із бронзи. Вони зображують реальних і легендарних предків імператора. Через ці статуї храм називають ще «Церквою чорних людей» (вхідний квиток – 3 євро).

Сучасне місто: фунікулер і світ кришталю

Музей Сваровскі

Другий за популярністю музей країни (після Шенбрунна) розташований в 15 км від Інсбрука в містечку Ваттенс. «Кришталеві світи Сваровські» не можна назвати музеєм в традиційному сенсі слова. Ніхто не буде тут розповідати відвідувачам про славну історію і успіхи фірми. Головний і єдиний об’єкт експозіціі- сам кришталь (якщо бути зовсім точним – скло з добавкою свинцю) у всіх його іпостасях. Автори придумали казкову підземну країну і заповнили кілька залів блискучими скарбами. Чесно кажучи, далеко не завжди розумієш – що за штуковину бачиш перед собою. Але в будь-якому випадку кожен експонат виглядає дуже ефектно.

Вхідний квиток в «Кришталеві світи Сваровські» коштує 11 євро, для дітей до 15 років вхід безкоштовний. Дістатися до музею можна на мікроавтобусі-шатлі який курсує кожні дві години від туристичного інфоцентру на Марія-Терезія штрассе (проїзд в обидва кінці – 19,5 євро).

Нордкеттенбан

Якщо дозволяє час, то дуже радимо піднятися на фунікулері «Нордкеттебан» на гору Хафелекаршпітце (2256 м), яка нависла над Інсбруком з півночі. Для тих, хто жодного разу не був в Альпах, це прекрасна можливість побувати в горах без будь-яких незручностей або фізичних зусиль. Приблизно за півгодини вагончик підніме пасажира до справжніх альпійських луків. Дивне виникає відчуття – тільки що був в місті серед помпезних палаців і людської метушні, а зараз навколо тебе альпійські луки і могутні хребти на горизонті. Але така ідилія очікує мандрівника тільки в теплу пору року. Досить довго на такій висоті все ще лежить сніг. Нижня станція фунікулера знаходиться за Старим містом, біля Міського парку і Палацу конгресів.

Чи не менше альпійських пейзажів новачків в Інсбруку вражає архітектура станцій фунікулера. Вони створені Захі Хадідом – найвідомішою в світі жінкою-архітектором арабського походження. Захі стала автором багатьох вражаючих споруд у всьому світі – від США до Китаю і Азербайджану. Найбільше будівлі інсбруского фунікулера нагадують космічні кораблі прибульців.

Оскільки ми знаходимося в столиці гірського краю, то і зоопарк тут відповідний – AlpenZoo, чи то пак альпійський. Установа це виявилося невеликою, але дуже доглянутою (як і все в Австрії). Його огляд займає максимум 2 г.

Знаходиться AlpenZoo біля підніжжя Хафелекаршпітце і добиратися сюди зручніше все тим же фунікулером «Нордкеттебан». Тільки вийти потрібно на відповідній зупинці. Квиток (підйом / спуск) на вершину Хафелекаршпітце обійдеться в 29 євро, а комбінований квиток в «Альпійський зоопарк» (вхідний квиток плюс підйом і спуск на фунікулері) – 11 євро.