Holidays are not only the sea and remote islands: there are definitely those who prefer to enjoy the snow and the ski slopes. Among the ideas for future holidays, why not consider a trip to Lech, in Austria? It is a very famous place for its ski facilities, which have hosted the world championships in the discipline, those of Europe and also those dedicated to snowboarding. In any case, that’s not all: art and culture lovers will also find their happiness in Lech, given the many historical sites present and the events to participate in throughout the year.
About Lech in Austria
The municipality of Lech in Austria is also known as Lech am Arlberg and is located in the district of Bludenz in Vorarlberg, which is one of the nine federal states into which the nation is divided. What can be said about Lech in Austria is that it is a well-known point of reference for ski enthusiasts: it hosts many slopes on which the World Cup, the Cup European Alpine Skiing Championships, the Snowboard World Cup and the Austrian Alpine Skiing Championships. Obviously, in addition to the more technical routes, in Lech there are ski slopes suitable for everyone. Not only that: Lech is also a place of considerable historical interest.
What to do in Lech in winter
The main activities that attract visitors to Lech are skiing and winter sports: the so-called Lech am Arlberg skigebiet, i.e. a Lech ski area, which encompasses well over three hundred kilometers of slopes distributed between the resorts of St. Anton, St. Christoph, Stuben, Lech himself, Zürs, Warth and Schrocken. The locality of Zürs near Lech is particularly interesting: it is a hamlet which has experienced a particular increase in alpine tourism over the years, above all due to the construction of the famous track called Weiße ringinternationally known as The white ring – L’white ring. To know the snow conditions and go to Austria, just consult what is called in Austrian Lech am Arlberg Schneehöhen, i.e. the Lech am Arlberg online snow report. If all this concerns above all what to do in Lech in winter, summer is no less in terms of what is on offer for the visitor.
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What to do in Lech in summer
So what to do in Lech in summer? An experience in the green region of Vorarlberg during the summer should certainly not be underestimated. Here it will be possible to make excursions, Trek and enter what is called green ringit is the “green” version immersed in nature of the famous white ring ski area. It will also be possible to cycle along the cycle paths of Lech am Arlberg, visit lakes, such as Formarinsee – an alpine lake with incredible deep blue waters – and “oper air” art installations. In the summer it is definitely worth buying the Map of Lechi.e. a card that offers the possibility of using public transport, such as buses and cable cars, access to the municipal swimming pool, Lechmuseumto Walsermuseumto SkySpace as well as taking five hikes accompanied by local guides and attempting a tour in electric bike, all at a really advantageous price. In Lech, therefore, there is the old parish church in the Gothic style from the 14th century, renovated in the the eighties but with some original frescoes still present, as well as 18th century style inserts Landrokoko.
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Near Lech there is also the Kästle mountain museum, the characteristic Huber-Hus museum which illustrates the typical rural view of the place in a house with original objects from the 16th century, which belonged to the Huber family, and the reserve nature of Gipslöcher – “chalk holes” – with sinkholes up to one hundred meters in diameter, more than thirty deep and numerous species of orchids, populated by marmots. At the beginning of the winter season there is a festival of animated shorts, visuals and music on the chairlifts, the so-called Cinematographic gondolaswhile he SkySpacementioned above, is an installation by the artist James Turrel which aims to connect heaven and earth through a cavernous circular structure: here a space of light is created and a circular bench is found from which to observe the sky from different perspectives depending on the rotation of the earth.
Hotel Lech
In Lech, the best hotels for those who want to access the ski slopes are located right next to the ski lifts: in this case, it may also be worth booking a hotel in the center of Lech am Arlberg. For those arriving in the summer, finding accommodation further down the valley might allow you to better explore the unspoiled nature of this piece of Austria.
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