Posted in:

Fun in Filzmoos without skis

© by Filzmoos Tourismus

Idyllic Filzmoos is the perfect place for anyone looking for winter fun in a charming Austrian village, without necessarily being an avid skier.

Although Filzmoos had received the first snow when we arrived in early December and was partly dressed in white, the landscape had more of a spring feeling to it. This was by no means disappointing, as it meant sun from the blue sky and enjoyable temperatures. Thus, perfect conditions for winter hiking and horse-carriage trips.

Winter hiking

Travellers have started to recognise the delight of winter hiking. As a consequence, many tourist destinations around Austria are well set up for non-skiing tourists. According to our Filzmoos hiking guide Edi Vierthaler, as many as 30-40 % of the visitors to Filzmoos in the winter are looking for other activities than skiing. Edi took us on a lovely hike for 2 ½ hours around Filzmoos. At a leisurely pace, on either forest roads or hiking trails, including a pit stop for some hot drinks, there was ample time to enjoy the surroundings. The clear weather meant brilliant views of the Alps and especially the nearby peaks of the Dachstein Mountains.

Jodeling and kaiserschmarrn

Another highlight of our visit to Filzmoos was the horse-carriage excursion to Unterhof Alm. An old alpine dairy about one hour from Filzmoos. Trotting along the forest road, the horses brought us through the forest and to the foot of the 2458-meter high Bischofsmütze. What we found were stunning views of a fairytale-like alpine landscape. There are several stables in the area offering and we went with Fiakerwirt, which you find in the centre of the village. The owner Georg is a real character and not only shared his knowledge of the surrounding nature, but also entertained us with jodeling (traditional singing from the Alps). The trip included a one-hour stop at the Unterhof Alm. Enough time to enjoy our favourite Austrian snack Kaiserschmarrn, before returning to the village.

< Click on the images to enlarge >

More winter fun

The next time we travel to Filzmoos we will arrive in one of the snow richer months such as January or February. The 3 km floodlit toboggan run with an altitude difference of about 350 metres should be great fun. Not only for children but grown-ups as well. If you fancy hiking outside the cleared trails you should try snowshoe walking. This is a bit more strenuous but allows you to venture out in nature and make your footprints in the snow. If you are up for a real challenge, why not try biathlon? Professionals introduce you to the sport of biathlon. A combination of shooting and cross-country skiing. With this experience, you can watch and comment on the elite in the biathlon world cup on TV with real knowledge.

ADVERTISEMENT

Skiing

There are of course ample possibilities to ski in Filzmoos as well, no matter if you prefer going downhill or cross-country. There are a couple of alpine ski slopes on either side of the village itself. Furthermore, you also find good slopes at Neuberg, a small side valley about 3 km west of Filzmoos. Nonetheless, if you are looking for more advanced slopes with a greater variety, there are plenty of slopes nearby. Filzmoos is for example only 22 km from the ski resorts such as Schladming (Styria), 42 km from Obertauern and 21 km from Flachau (SalzburgerLand). Cross-country enthusiasts will find plenty of tracks around Filzmoos to enjoy nature or get a proper workout.

Typical Austrian village

If there were such a rating, Filzmoos would come in at the top of the list in the category “Typical charming Austrian village”. With its 1500 inhabitants, nestled in a small valley on the border between Salzburg and Styria, the village has succeeded to remain true to its origins, an Alp village. Despite tourism taking over agriculture as the main source of income, it has retained its countryside village charm. Unlike some other villages it has avoided turning into a glitzy tourist machine, that is virtually dead in the off-season. You will find a good choice of accommodation, eateries and other tourist amenities.

  • Italian flagthrowers at the Medieval FEstival in Mauterndorf, Austria.

    Posted in:

    Medieval Festival in Mauterndorf

    Time travel a few hundred years back to the Middle age when the entire village was full of people dressed in historical costumes, and armed knights roamed the streets mingling with flame breathers. The Middle Ages come alive at what has become the legendary folk festival in Mauterndorf, an hour’s drive from Salzburg. Every July […]

    Read more

  • Rosshütte funicular railway, Seefeld, Tyrol, Austria

    Posted in:

    5 fantastic places in Austria accessible by funicular railway

    Austria has short urban funicular railways and longer tracks that take you up the mountains. A funicular railway consists of two vehicles that counterbalance one another rather than independently operated railway cars. Furthermore, they are usually barrier-free and perfect if you are a wheelchair user or travel with a stroller. 1. Hallstatt – Salzbergbahn A […]

    Read more

  • Posted in:

    Discover Vienna’s colorful markets

    Markets always add life and colour to a city. Moreover, they are a great way to get to know a city’s people and culture. Vienna has made a conscious effort to preserve some of the traditional markets. Not only as points of sale but also as local meeting places. Nonetheless, a few markets, such as […]

    Read more

  • A family with a wheel cahir user in the Austrian Alps

    Posted in:

    Barrier-free holiday in the Austrian Alps

    Although barrier-free travel in Austria is not readily available everywhere, slowly but surely, more and more destinations offer at least some access for guests with restricted mobility or families with small children in strollers. Focus on mobility Whether hiking with a pram, wheelchair, or walker, or with other impairments, if you are looking for comfortable […]

    Read more

  • Railjet from the Austrian State Railway in a winterlandscape

    Posted in:

    6 cool ski resorts reachable by train in Austria

    Austria’s airports are well-connected to major cities and central train stations. Therefore, we have put together a list of excellent ski resorts that are easily reachable by train, including some info on how to get there from the airport. Moreover, many ski resorts offer inexpensive or free transfers to and from the nearest train station […]

    Read more

  • Grossglockner Hochalpenstrasse

    Posted in:

    Self-drive holiday from Salzburg

    We put together some suggestions for a self-drive from Salzburg that gives you a variety of experiences. Visit historic villages and medieval castles, get back to nature on fantastic family-friendly hikes in the Alps, enjoy a relaxing lakeside stay and drive on some truly stunning roads. So let’s hit the road! Historic Mauterndorf, Lungau Starting […]

    Read more

Advertisements

Share, , Google Plus, Pinterest,

Written by Ana Lucia Marcos

Ana Lucia has traveled the world, but fell completely in love with Austria. She loves the dramatic mountain landscape, the phototastiske lakes and the captivating castles. Moreover, a real Wienerschnitzel is always on the menu when she explores the alpine country.