Winter in SalzburgerLand is exactly how you imagine winter to be: thick snowflakes, snow-covered valleys, perfectly groomed pistes and carving slopes, rustic huts, peaceful forests, charming Christmas markets and traditional events. This picture-book idyll can be enjoyed to the full whilst skiing, snowshoe hiking, riding in a horse-drawn carriage or tobogganing. The air is clear, cold and refreshing, and stopping in somewhere afterwards is all the more cosy and welcoming for it. Whether with family or friends, complete enjoyment is at the forefront of a winter holiday and Alpine lifestyle at its best is guaranteed.
Treading softly through a wintery forest – aside from the hustle and bustle of lively winter sports resorts, anybody seeking peace and quiet will love the incredibly special winter experiences to be found amidst the snow-covered nature, including guided torch walks, snowshoe excursions through the Hohe Tauern National Park’s virgin forests, feeding wild animals with National Park rangers, solitary walks or romantic horse-drawn carriage rides.
Sliding down one of the SalzburgerLand’s 110 toboggan runs, many of which are floodlit and open in the evening, is an enjoyable experience. Hours of fun for the whole family can also be had ice skating or curling. nationalpark.at
SalzburgerLand’s six thermal spas and wellness oases are real temples of rest, relaxation and wellbeing. Piste and pool are often just a stone’s throw from one another, as is the case in the famous Gastein Valley. Some visit to simply enjoy the peace and quiet, whilst others take full advantage of the luxury of sauna, hammam and body treatments. Water babies can have the time of their lives on giant water slides, climbing walls and diving boards.
The Alpentherme and Felsentherme thermal spas in the Gastein Valley, Therme Amadé adventure spa in Altenmarkt, the TAUERN SPA in Zell am See-Kaprun, the Aqua Salza in Golling and the Heiltherme Bad Viguan all belong to the SalzburgerThermenLand land of thermal spas. www.salzburgerthermen.at
Ice kiting, zorbing or segwaying through the winter landscape. Fashionable and fun sports activities can be tried out at many winter sports resorts.
The cross-country skiing village of Faistenau near to the city of Mozart offers a perfect infrastructure with 70 km of perfectly groomed skating and classic trails, a night cross-country skiing trail, changing room with showers and free bus connections. www.langlaufdorf.at
Christmas is adored in Obendorf bei Salzburg. This is the very place where, more than 200 years ago, the world-famous carol “Silent Night” was written, composed and sung for the very first time. Come advent, Salzburg’s urban and rural areas are sprinkled with Christmas markets, concerts, advent singing and festive performances. Rural-alpine traditions meet high culture in a festive setting. The first snow, the visit from St Nicholas and the Krampus and culinary delights, from “Vanillekipferl” (vanilla crescent-shaped cookies) to “Kletzenbrot” (fruit cake), help time fly in the leadup to Christmas. www.stillenacht.com
