In aceasta iarna, mii de britanici se vor intoarce la SkiWelt – si vor gasi noi alergari la schi, indiferent de cate ori au fost acolo. Nou-venitii vor ajunge si vor fi pur si simplu uimiti de cat de mult schi exista.

Ingloband sapte varfuri majore si noua sate, vasta SkiWelt este cea mai mare zona de schi legata din Austria si printre cele mai mari din lume – o surpriza pentru multi care cred ca Franta are un monopol pe astfel de lucruri.

In estul Tirolului, nu departe de granita cu Germania, fetele de roca impozante ale falnicului Wilder Kaiser formeaza un fundal spectaculos al schiului. SkiWelt este plin de partii intermediare, sistemul de 91 de ascensoare care acopera satele Going, Ellmau, Scheffau, Soll, Itter, Hopfgarten, Westendorf si Brixen im Thale – este posibil sa schi toata ziua fara a lua acelasi lift sau acelasi alearga de doua ori. Exista, de asemenea, o mica zona de schi la fermecatorul sat din Kelchsau.

Desigur, nu trebuie sa plecati pe un schi epic. Va puteti bucura pur si simplu de rularile locale care sunt centrate pe fiecare din sate. Fiecare are propriul sau caracter, de la micul rustic Going la cel mai plin de viata Soll, mult timp favorit cu schiori britanici si la bord.

Array

Alergarile de deasupra Soll sunt printre cele mai inalte si, in general, mai provocatoare si sunt orientate spre nord, isi mentin zapada bine. La Westendorf, pe Choralpe, exista si cateva probe grozave de testare, inclusiv cele mai abrupte din SkiWelt, Alpeseitul. Si desi schiul pe intregul sistem are reputatia de a fi de tip non-dramatic, exista inca emotii de gasit si o multime de off-piste in multe zone – precum si trei funparks.

Recordul de zapada al acestor sate este surprinzator de bun, dat fiind faptul ca niciunul nu este deosebit de mare. In primul rand, acesta este schiul insorit si distractiv pe partii rulante, impadurite, neimputand cu ascensoare si alergari care se intind cat se poate de bine – schiul familiei prin excelenta. Si are o caracteristica care o diferentiaza de multe alte zone imense legate – schiul se afla pe o gama integrata de munti inconjurati de satele sale. Deci, daca va aflati departe de casa cand lifturile se inchid, nu este un dezastru. Trebuie doar sa schiati pana in cel mai apropiat sat si sa ajungeti acasa cu autobuzul sau taxiul ieftin.

Array

Iar harta unica a partiei care acopera intreaga zona este acum mult imbunatatita. Asadar, ai sanse corecte de a-ti gasi drumul in jurul celor 279 km de alergari. Oriunde alegeti sa stati in SkiWelt va va oferi un acces bun la schi, cu gondole care leaga in retea sau in cazul Ellmau o cale ferata de munte. Ellmau este o statiune atractiva a cladirilor traditionale in stil chalet, cu partii de pepiniera la usa si o multime de activitati alternative, cum ar fi mersul pe timp de iarna pe potecile curatate si schiul de fond.

Scheffau este unul dintre cele mai frumoase sate, centrul fermecator aflat la un kilometru distanta de gondola principala. Este posibil sa schiati pana la statia de lift, dar trebuie sa va intoarceti cu autobuzul.

Westendorf a fost mult timp un favorit urias pentru incepatori si intermediari. Este un sat traditional fermecator (declarat odata cel mai frumos din Europa), cu partii excelente de pepiniera – si are, de asemenea, un acces bun la restul SkiWelt.

Odata a fost nevoie de un transfer de autobuz intre Westendorf si restul SkiWelt, dar o legatura cu gondola dintre sat si Brixen a schimbat asta.

Te simti peckish pe partii? Nicio problema – in mod uimitor, exista peste 70 de colibe de munte imprastiate pe SkiWelt, toate administrate de familie si multe cu servicii de masa.

Mancati, beti si dormiti SkiWelt

In toate satele, alegerea cazarii, a gaurilor de udare si a restaurantelor este atat vasta cat si tentanta. Oferta si gama de oferte inseamna ca concurenta este dura si o vacanta in SkiWelt este intotdeauna o valoare buna.

Mananca SkiWelt

There are some surprises to be sprung here – and you can treat yourself to gourmet dining of the very finest. At Soll, the award-winning Schindlhaus restaurant has exquisite dishes prepared by brothers Christian and Marcus Winkler – dining is an adventure here. But there is excellent more modest cuisine to be found – great Italian at the Bella Vita, the Pizzeria Venezia and Giovanni. You can eat well in the Dorf Stub’n and the Postwirt, with good home-cooking too in the Eggerwirt. And another top tip is to eat at the Kornkammer, next to the bottom station at Soll, where chef Andi Lechner prepares delightful food in atmospheric surroundings.

The famous Stanglwirt hotel at Going has a great, and very atmospheric, restaurant. The historic Lanzenhof in Going is also excellent.

For a lively atmosphere and good food, you’ll enjoy the Gasthof Lobewein in Ellmau and the Ellmauer Alm is always popular. The Hotel Bar (Bear) has gourmet cuisine and the Hochfilzer never fails to please. But for an extra special treat, book a table at the Kaiserhof – a hotel whose gourmet restaurant has won Austria’s Restaurant of the Year title.

At Scheffau try the Weberbauer in the village centre for excellent good-value Tirolean dishes, and the Hotel Kaiser. In Hopfgarten, the vaulted Zeitlos restaurant is housed in a 16th century building – Zeitlos, appropriately, means timeless. In the Gasthaus Oberau try to book a table in the wine cellar, which seats just 15. If you like pork, order the Schweinsstelzen, with plenty of crispy crackling. Astrid in Hauser Stuberl is well-known for her Tyrolean specialities, and the village also has a Chinese restaurant and a pizzeria.

At Brixen they are justifiably proud of the Hubertus Stub’n, where chef Rainer Goy concentrates on Austrian dishes using local produce. The Talhof is always popular too. Although Itter is small, there’s a good range of places to eat. Hans Ager at the Itterwirt presents venison from Tyrolean forests, freshly caught trout from local streams (Hans is a keen angler), and the substantial Brauernbratl, roast pork, potatoes, carrots and leeks. TheTirolerhof has international cuisine and the Rossl has a very Austrian menu.

The Fuchswirt in Kelchsau, housed in a building dating back to the 14th century, has become something of a gourmet restaurant under chef Klemens Konrad with modernised Tyrolean specialities. The village also has a pizzeria, the Dorfwirt. In Westendorf, the Klingler and Berggasthof are highly recommended.

Drink SkiWelt

Apres-ski starts on the slopes by early afternoon – and some SkiWelt huts are of particular note, such as the famous Rubezahl, on the main run back to Ellmau. It’s a popular film location and open late for a last beer or gluhwein before the final slope home. Also in Ellmau, head for O’Malleys, the Heldenbar with live music, Pub 66 and Otzi’s nightclub.

Scheffau boasts the Tanzbodenalm, near the top gondola station, as well as the excellent Waldhofalm and the Red Bull by the base area. Make a note too of Garry’s Inn on the nursery slopes at Westendorf or the Moskito Bar in the village where the partying goes on until the early hours, as well as the popular Bruchstall. From afternoon until the early hours at Soll there is the Hexenhalm, the Moonlight Bar, the ever popular Whisky Muhle (recently refurbished) and the lively Salvenstadl with live music and live football on the big screen.

For apres-ski the Bar-Pub Ambiante in Hopfgarten is cosy and popular, the Rundell is good for coffee and cakes after skiing as well as beer and schnapps, and the Silver Bullet in the village centre, often with live music, has been attracting skiers and boarders for more than 20 years.

The Six Pence Old English Pub is also well-known for ice-cream, coffee and cakes. The Salvista Stadl in Itter can be busy from mid-afternoon and stay that way until midnight. Kelchsau has the Apres-Ski Hut, which does what it says on the tin.

The Papalapub in Brixen has everything you need for apres with a terrace and umbrella bar to boot (and the Brixner Stadl rocks too!).

Sleep SkiWelt

From basic, clean and comfortable to sheer luxury – it’s all here. In Soll the historic Hotel Postwirt, the oldest building in town, is in the centre and full of character. The Hotel Tyrol is quietly located just 200-metres from the centre and you’ll be well looked after there by the Schernthaner family. The luxurious Alpen Schlossl is fabulously set, although way out of town.

At nearby Going, the five-star Stanglwirt is both famed and fabulous and the place to treat yourself to some luxury – great food and an excellent spa too.

Or you can also taste five-star pampering at the Hotel Kaiserhof – and ski down to the main lifts. We also enjoy the Bar at Ellmau as well as the central Alte Post, the Hotel Sport Ellmau, the Hochfilzer and the Schonblick.

In Scheffau, there’s the stylish Hotel Kaiser in Tirol while many love the Chalet Hotel am Leitenhof, which has modern and spacious private chalets or suites that are ideal for families.

In Westendorf, the four-star superior Absolut Vitalhotel Schermer on the outskirts of the village has a fabulous spa and indoor pool. The four-star Hotel Schermer is extremely welcoming and renowned for its superb cuisine and fresh farm produce.

As well as hotels, most villages in the SkiWelt have accommodation in farmhouses – usually extremely comfortable and a great way to keep costs down and get to know the real Tyrol. The accommodation in farms can be self-catering, bed and breakfast or sometimes half-board.

Mountain facts

Blue runs – 120 kms

Red – 132 kms

Black – 11 kms

Ski routes – 16kms

Nursery slopes in every village

Total length of pistes – 279kms

Ninety-one lifts in total, 210 kms of run covered by snowmaking, more than 70 mountain huts.

Every village in the SkiWelt has a toboggan run, some up to 7.5 kms long. Two are floodlit, with tobogganing possible until the early hours. Soll has Austria’s biggest night-skiing area, with 10km of runs.

For more information visit our Austria resorts section of the Crystal Ski website or come and join the community on Facebook.

Resort guide by Rob Freeman

ARTICOLE SIMILAREDE LA ACELAȘI AUTOR