IIt is the most important holiday destination in all of Austria - and the friendliest one for
families in all of Europe, too:
Zell am See-Kaprun belongs to the most perfect holiday
locations on an international scale. Since 1966, the two communities have been ‚going
together' as the
Europa-Sportregion'. Guests from all over the world are thronging to get
into the heart of the Pinzgau year after year.
About 132 kilometres of pistes and a unique offer of activities away from the trails characterise
the region's multi-facetted face. The local mountains, Kitzsteinhorn and Schmittenhöhe,
are ideal for descending down into the valley on super powder snow. As early
as October, skiers and snowboarders start into their snow-white season. At the foot of the
mountain, visitors meet an abundance of choices, for example cross-country skiing, tobogganing,
and hiking.
But it is not only winter fans who are excited about Zell am See and Kaprun. Germany's renowned
publishing house Falk and Austria's Ministry for Economy and Labour are praising
the region and awarded it for its family-friendliness. It is hard to believe that the two neighbouring
communities started off quite small: Zell am See served as an up-and-coming
market place, while Kaprun became rather well-known as a mountain guide village at
the beginning of the 20th century.
Life is good in Zell am See - and healthy, too! The picturesque community in the majestic
Alpine valley has been a spa resort since 1961. But not only that! Lake Zell also provides
the town with a natural reservoir of 175 million cubic metres of the purest of drinking water.
Naturally, the 4.3 square kilometres of its water surface are also wonderfully suited for ice
and water sports.
Right at the gates of the town, you will find Schmittenhöhe rising up to 2,000 metre high.
Some 77 kilometres of ski pistes are only a stone's throw away from downtown Zell. But it is
also well-worth your time, to spend a little of it in town. The shopping streets of Zell am See
make for a nice stroll and there is a very popular Christmas fair taking place in the town
square every year in December.
Zell am See is integrated into an ample network of cross-country ski runs and hiking trails
which go all the way to neighbouring communities. But why should you go to distant
shores if everything you need is right here at your fingertips? The town with its Parish Church,
St. Hippolyt, and the town's museum at the Kastnerturm also constitutes a cultural destination,
while sports fans come here to watch ice hockey games at the national league
club in town.
Situated at the foot of Kitzsteinhorn, Kaprun is a prime tourism destination in Europe, featuring
5,000 guest beds and approximately 650,000 overnight stays per year, which makes
it one of the economic powerhouses of the Alpine republic. A special attraction for holidaymakers
from all over the world is the glacier skiing grounds at a height of 2,900 metres
above sea-level. This is where winters sportsmen meet the best of conditions for unclouded
fun in the snow.
Even in the summertime, it is perfectly possible to use the pistes; they cover a distance
of 40 kilometres. About 15 km of the fluffy snow are to be found on Maiskogel, the little
brother of mighty Kitzsteinhorn. This family mountain with its gently ascending slopes constitutes
ideal grounds for those who are just about to start doing winter sports. Getting up to
the peak is a piece of cake: the ski bus takes the guests directly to the lifts and cable cars.
The village can look back on an eventful history going back many centuries. Its figurehead
is its castle, ‚Burg Kaprun'. The building, which had a total overhaul in 1975, had
been erected on a prominent piece of rock in the 12th century. Even up until today, it has
been serving as a platform for many cultural events. Its eastern tower, which is called ‚Turn
ze Chaprunne', was built in the Romanic style. It is said to have been erected as a compensation
for attacks by the Velber Family.
