Page 261 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide 2016 - Austria

T Y ROL and VOR a RLBERG  259

the protection of the natural
environment. As a rule, the few
hotels and pensions accept
only regular guests in their very
limited number of rooms. The
exclusive nature of the resort,
its elegant cafés, restaurants
and a famous discothèque
provide truly world-class après-
ski entertainment, while the
expansive ski slopes and the
fairly heavy snowfalls over many
months attract dedicated winter
sports enthusiasts. Austria’s
first chair lifts were built in Zürs Lünersee, a reservoir lake at the foot of Schesaplana
in 1937 and the first skiing
competitions were held here late May, which connects the popular resort with excellent
as early as 1906. Lifts and cable Montafon Valley – where Schruns skiing areas in its environs.
cars take you to a number of is the best-known resort – and An 10th-century document
excellent viewing points. the Ill river with the Trisanna survives in which Otto I gives the
Valley. The road drops by Bishop of Chur a church “in loco
1,000 m (3,280 ft) over just Plutenes”. During the reign of
f Arlberg 15 km (9 miles). Friedrich IV the Poor, the town
The area around the Silvretta- became an administrative centre
See pp260–61.
Stausee, a reservoir on the and power base for the region.
Bielerhöhe Pass at 2,036 m Despite several devastating
(6,680 ft), has been made a fires, Bludenz still has some
national park; the ski runs in interesting historic sights. The
the Silvretta massif start here. oldest building is Oberes Tor
The most beautiful views are to (Upper Gate), which houses the
be had from Hohes Rad, 2,934 local history museum (open in
m (9,626 ft). The high mountain summer). Inside St Lawrence
section of Silvrettastrasse ends church (1514) are two original
in Galtür, a lovely village on altars made from black marble
the Ballunspitze. and paintings (1510) showing
the Marriage of the Virgin Mary
and the Visitation. The seat of
h Lünersee the regional authorities is
Road map A5. @ Gayenhofen castle, a medieval
building remodelled in Baroque
Lünersee lies at the foot of style in 1643.
Ischgl, one of Austria’s most attractive the Schesaplana peak (2,965 Today, the town is permeated
skiing resorts m/9,728 ft), at an altitude of by chocolate smells
1,907 m (6,257 ft). Once this from the Suchard
g Ischgl was the largest lake in Eastern factory, producers
Austria, surrounded by rugged of the famous
Road map A5. * 1,550. £ mountains criss-crossed with confectionery
Tel 050990-100. ∑ ischgl.at
ravines. The dam built here in and organizers
Ischgl, on the Trisanna river 1958 raised the water level by of an annual
at the eastern end of the 27 m (89 ft), creating an artificial chocolate
Silvrettastrasse, is one of the reservoir that now powers festival.
loveliest Austrian resorts. An Lünersee and Rodund
international ski centre, at an power stations.
altitude of 1,377 m (4,518 ft),
it provides access to 200 km
(120 miles) of ski runs and 40 j Bludenz
lifts within the Silvretta range Road map A4. * 14,000. @ £
on the Austrian–Swiss border. n Werdenbergerstrasse 42 (05552)
The town is also an ideal starting 63621-970. _ Chocolate Festival
point for a drive along the (early Jul). ∑ bludenz.at
Silvrettahochalpenstrasse, a
hairpin mountain road, often Beautifully situated at the
snow-covered – and therefore confluence of five Alpine valleys, The octagonal tower of the
closed – from November until the town of Bludenz is now a Laurentiuskirche in Bludenz

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