You could ride a miner’s train deep into a mountain, or turn your world around in an up-side down house or see how nobility lived 3-400 years ago?
These are just a few of the suggestions we have for you. Tyrol is much, much more than ski resorts or hiking holidays. Moreover, if the weather isn’t the best, there are plenty of activities to keep most happy and busy for a day or three. We went out to see what there is to do on a rainy day in Central Tyrol. The distances are small, so you can easily visit 2-3 of these attractions on the same day. Between Wattens and Schloss Traztberg it’s only 19 km (12 mi).
(Click on the images to enlarge)
Haus steht Kopf
The up-side down house is a really weird experience. They have literarily built an entire two-floor house up-side down, including a garage with a car in it. You get dizzy roaming around the house, walking on the ceilings. While looking up on the sofa or a bed. Opening the fridge and all the contents are “standing” there the wrong way … or are they, makes your head spin. It’s hard to explain, just go there yourself and see it!
Check out their website, for more info: Haus am Kopf
Swarovski Kristallwelten (Crystal Worlds)
The crystal producer with its headquarter in Tyrol has built a well-known world-wide brand since its foundation in 1895. You can’t visit the actual factory, but the company has built a crystal-themed museum, next to its factory in Wattens. The museum is not an historical museum about the production of crystals etc., but more like a gallery featuring different crystal art. In addition, there is a lovely park with sculptures, playground and of the course the Giant!
Check out their website, for more info: Swarovski Kristallwelten
Schloss Tratzberg
The magnificent white palace/castle is clearly visible from the A12 motorway, only about 35 km from Innsbruck. It was originally built as a castle in the 12th century, but it got its present look after a fire destroyed most of the castle. During the 15th century is was rebuilt and renovated into a palace. The guided tours give you an insight to the life of the nobles during the late middle age and the following centuries. There are some remarkable furniture and interior from the baroque and renaissance on display, including a weapon collection.
Read our article about Tratzberg Castle
Bergwerk Schwaz
The little town of Schwaz flourished about in the Middle Ages and had its peak around the 15th century. At that time Schwaz had 20.000 inhabitants and was the second largest city in the Austrian Empire, just outnumbered by the capitol Vienna. Schwaz had Europe’s largest silver mines in the Middle Ages. You can visit these mines, Bergwerk Schwaz, on guided tours and get an insight into the gruelling life of the miners and the wealth they brought to the Empire. The trip starts by riding small train 800 metres, through dark and cramped tunnels, into the mountains. Inside the mine guides will take your through the tunnels with different show cases, explaining how it worked. Hold on to your hard-hat and learn about a fascinating underground world.
Check out their website, for more info: Bergwerk Schwaz
-
There is not much you can use a World War II air defence tower for. Nonetheless, in Vienna they have managed to make something sensible out of at least one of the six crude concrete towers that the German army left behind. “The house of the sea”, as it is called in English (Haus des […]
-
I arrived in Bad Waltersdorf a sunny and warm day in late June. Even though it was really too hot for a hike with 32 °C (90 °F), the local tourist office suggested a route which partly took me through small forests. And I did not regret taking up the tip, as the so-called Roman […]
-
If you are travelling on the A9 motorway from the south in the direction of Voralpenkreuz (A1) in the vincinity of Rottenmann, you cannot miss the castle at the top of the cliff. The red and white painted window shutters, defence walls and towers had fit well as a movie backdrop in a Hollywood movie. […]
-
The highest mountain of Lower Austria, Schneeberg (Snow Mountain), with its 2,076-metre (6.811 ft) high summit Klosterwappen, offers family friendly hiking and stunning views. Only about 80 kms (50 mi) from Vienna it’s a popular hiking destination for the Viennese, as well as for travellers. Hence, I boarded the yellow and green salamander train and headed up to Schneeberg. Arriving […]