There are not many ideal places for skiing in the world. Therefore, every successful item quickly becomes world famous and popular. This happened with Sölden, a picturesque corner of Tirol. How is the rest in these places different from any other?
Why exactly Sölden?
One of the most attractive places for outdoor activities is considered to be western Austria. Sölden is located right here in Tirol, which is located in the eastern part of the Alps. During the ski season, the resort gathers many winter sports fans. Tourists begin to flock here in mid-autumn. In November, the World Cup is held here, the most important competition for all who are interested in downhill skiing. Austria, Sölden - an address known throughout the world for this very reason. However, here you can not only ride. Rock climbing and snowboarding in Sölden are equally popular. A large resort town located in a valley among snow-capped mountain peaks, ideal for all winter sports.
Resort Features
These places have long been loved not only by Austria itself - Sölden is known throughout the world. The resort administration is constantly working on the modernization of the technical base, making large investments, so new funiculars always work on the tracks. Every year new skiing tracks appear, and existing ones are kept in perfect condition. Their diversity allows you to choose a suitable place for descent, even novice athletes. This allows you not to fear an insufficient level of training. Each visitor will find a suitable activity for himself when he arrives at the Sölden ski resort. Austria opens it for tourists from December to April. Out of season, normal life flows in the city, and only in winter the streets are crowded with skiers.
Sölden Trails
Over the past ten years, the resort has become one of the largest ski centers in Europe. Visitors are offered more than one hundred and forty kilometers of excellent tracks of various levels. The local cable cars are capable of transporting about seventy thousand people per hour without queues, so that any influx of athletes does not reduce the level of comfort. The resort has several main categories of tracks. Fifty-three kilometers of blue ones are considered quite light, red ones are designed for an average level of training, their length reaches sixty-three kilometers, and finally, the hardest blacks are twenty-eight kilometers. This diversity easily explains the popularity of the resort among visitors from all over the world.
Ski areas
In addition to the tracks of several difficulty levels, different ski areas are also distinguished. So, Gigiyoh created specifically for beginners and skiers with average experience, as well as for snowboarders. The slopes of Gaislachkogl are better suited for professionals. The most interesting is the area associated with the lift called Golden Gate to the Glacier or Golden Gate to the Glacier. As the name implies, this is the territory where you can reach the glacial slopes located at an altitude of three thousand two hundred and fifty meters. But this is not all that the ski resort of Sölden, Austria has to offer. Guest reviews note that the glacier is divided into two spectacular zones: Rettenbach and Schwarze Schneide. There is a track with a length of more than twelve kilometers, the height difference on which is almost two thousand meters.
Fun and relaxation
Skiing and other sports are not all that the resort of Sölden offers its guests. Austria in general is a very hospitable country with a developed infrastructure, which is why various entertainments are offered here in abundance. The resort has seventy-five restaurants, fifty-one eateries, thirty-one pubs, two nightclubs and fourteen cafes. There is also a cinema. From outdoor activities, tourists can choose a
horse-drawn sleigh ride
. The toboggan run is five kilometers. In addition, there are routes specifically for hiking, their length is more than three tens of kilometers. It is worth paying attention to the Freizeit Arena complex, where there is an outdoor pool, a spacious gym with exercise machines and several tennis courts. Tourists can also visit the sanarium or
Finnish sauna, sunbathe in the solarium or play bowling. There are indoor and outdoor ice rinks and a curling area. Most of the establishments are located in the immediate vicinity of the funiculars, so you can switch to another occupation immediately after skiing or in front of it.
Resort Accommodation
Like the rest of Austria, Sölden is distinguished by the highest level of service. All conditions for living here are thought out to the smallest detail. Tourists are offered rooms for every taste and budget. So, you can stay in a five-star hotel, and in a guesthouse, and in private apartments. The picturesque nature surrounding the city makes living in any area enjoyable. Getting to the slopes is very convenient, from the center of Sölden you can get into all ski areas. In addition, for the maximum convenience of visitors, professional instructors work at the resort. With the help of such a specialist, during your stay in the city you can significantly improve your skills in any of the winter sports offered.
Climate and weather
Sölden, Austria - A resort with amazing weather conditions. The season of skiing on the slopes here lasts from November to March-April, but in areas with a glacier the snow does not melt all year round and you can ride there at any time. The climate here is quite mild, a little frost allows you to feel the breath of winter, but does not cause discomfort during a prolonged stay on the street. However, if someone freezes, hospitable restaurants and cafes with hot and appetizing traditional cuisine will always come to the rescue.
The city's attractions
Like the whole of Austria, Sölden is full of sights and ancient objects. In your free time from skiing, you can see, for example, the Timmelsjoch road, also known as Passo del Rhombo. It connects the Ătztal Valley with Passiria and Merano, located in the Italian province of Bolzano. This is the highest mountain road in the Eastern Alps. In Sölden, a water mill of almost two hundred years ago, which currently serves as a museum, has also been preserved. It is worth taking a look at the monument in honor of Auguste Picard, who landed on the local Gurgl glacier on a stratosphere balloon on May 27, 1931. In the village of Obergurgl, located nearby, there is the church of St. John of Nepomuk, which is considered the highest in Europe. Nature lovers should take a walk in the protected relict pine forest. Pines of a century ago will allow you to briefly distract from the vibrant pace of the ski resort. The territory under the name Zirbenwald occupies twenty hectares and since 1963 is considered a national natural monument. The location of the discovery of an ancient human mummy frozen in ice, which was called Etzi, also became Sölden, Austria. Reviews of tourists note that a memorial sign is now installed on the glacier where the find occurred. Finally, it is worth seeing the church on Mount Rothkegl. As the plate installed on it says, the building was built by Hans Fender, who fulfilled the vow in gratitude for the return from captivity.
Zwieselstein
Not all skiers love the atmosphere of a crowded popular resort. In this case, it is worth paying attention to the surroundings of Sölden. For example, nearby there is a picturesque quiet village called Zwieselstein. It is also located in the Ătztal Valley, and Sölden is very close to it. Zwieselstein is located at an altitude of one thousand four hundred and seventy meters. In addition to Sölden, from the village you can quickly get to another popular ski center - Vent, which also has its own ski areas. Together, these two resorts can offer visitors more than three hundred thirty kilometers of pistes of varying difficulty. The picturesque surroundings with national Tyrolean chalets and a small old church dating from the eighteenth century create a special atmosphere, while the village even has its own gallery of modern art. In these conditions, a break from the hustle and bustle is necessary. If you travel by car, moving around will be even more convenient. You can rent apartments in Zwieselstein at a very competitive price, and the money saved can be spent on vacation and incredibly tasty local cuisine.