The holiday town of Maria Alm is located amidst the majestic mountains of the Steinernen Meeres, the Hochkönig and the Pinzgauer Grasberge. Around the highest church tower in Salzburg County, tradition and customs are an integral part of village life. This can be fully experienced at the annual harvest festival. Family-friendliness is a tradition here as well.
Paradise for Hikers and Bikers
In summer, Maria Alm is a paradise for hikers and bikers. Endless possibilities are on offer on the numerous tours, themed paths and trails. The cable cars provide both the safest and most comfortable way up or down. You can rapidly mountain bike downhill in the Flowtrail on the Prinzenberg Natrun, or slide down in the world’s first forest slide park. The summer sporting highlights in Maria Alm are quite unique. The HochkönigMan – a breathtaking trail running event opens the sporting summer, followed by “Hundstoa biag di” – the toughest uphill mountain bike race in Pinzgau, and finally the “Jakobiranggeln” wrestling on the 2,117m high Hundsstein.
Hiking Tip: Jakobiranggeln
The Jakobiranggeln on the high Hundstein, at 2,117m above sea level, occurs every year on the Sunday around Jakobi (25th July). It is probably the most traditional sporting event in SalzburgerLand and draws thousands of visitors in all weathers that climb the peak of the Hundstein from all sides. It might seem archaic; this wrestling of the strong guys in the natural arena below the Statzerhaus but it’s not for nothing that this event has been recorded in the list of intangible cultural heritage events by UNESCO. The four-hour ascent from Unterberg to the Statzerhaus needs some strength in the calves but is well worth it!
Hochkönig Winter Kingdom
In the cold winter months, winter sports reign in the holiday resort of Maria Alm. This ski region offers 120 connected ski pistes with perfectly groomed slopes, 40km of cross-country skiing trails, night skiing, floodlight toboggan runs and ice curling rinks, as well as numerous romantic winter hiking trails. The absolute winter highlight is the Königs’ tour which, with its 35 km of slopes and 7,500 metres altitude, was awarded the most beautiful Alpine ski circuit. Maria Alm is the ideal starting point for this Königs’ tour and additionally provides the option of night skiing and boasts the Funslope Schönanger and the beginners Park Natrun. The international FIS national ski teams also make the most of these facilities and regularly come to Maria Alm for their training every winter.
