What can we say about Tyrol, the embodiment of the Austrian Alps in the international consciousness? In winter (but also in summer), there are 1,001 reasons to come and spend your vacations in Tyrol. Whether it is for its prestigious ski resorts, for its family-run inns, for the relics of its past, for its folklore, and for its gastronomy... against a backdrop of mountains, forests, springs and valleys, the Tyrol is a gigantic alpine park.Austria in all its splendor.
An authentic destination
The name of the region alone conjures up a number of images: the "yodelaliou", men in short leather trousers, young girls with blond pigtails and folk costumes, small mountain villages with flower-filled chalets... These few clichés still correspond to the reality of a Tyrol deeply rooted in its traditions, and which therefore presents the visitor with a cultural change of scenery and a good dose of folklore. And above all, Tyrol has kept its wonderful landscapes, which had already conquered Goethe, Hemingway or Eluard. Sport tourism has also found one of the most privileged locations in Europe, with some 700 mountains rising above 3,000 meters. Today, Tyrol's ski areas are among the best equipped, snowiest, most extensive and most welcoming in the world
The Alpine ideal in nature
When you say "Tyrol", one thing comes to mind: the Alps, and even the quintessential Alps! In the heart of the Alps, the region boasts more than 1,000 peaks over 3,000 meters, hundreds of glaciers, and a host of green, authentic valleys nestled at the foot of snow-capped mountains. The highest point of the Austrian Alps, the Grossglockner with its 3,798 m, is located in the East Tyrol. With its magnificent mountain ranges, its green and snowy climate, and its low level of industrialization compared to other regions of the Alps, Tyrol offers a bucolic and unspoiled setting. The Tyrolean culture always ensures that the expansion of mankind is done in harmony with nature. In the end, the picturesque villages lie beautifully in their natural setting, and here modern civilization has been better able to spare this enchanting environment than elsewhere. Little concrete, ski resorts that are conscious of the importance of character; in short, Tyrol is a region that can be described as idyllic, with a general aesthetic of the highest order. No two Alpine ranges are alike, each has its own charm, beauty and mystery. From the wonders of the Tannheimer Valley in Austria to those of the Schnalstal in Italy, from the original splendor of the Dolomites to the lofty peaks of the Habicht and the Stubai Alps, the Tyrol offers a variety of majestic landscapes like few other regions. And there are many ways to get there: picturesque roads, but also hiking trails, mountain bike paths, climbing and glacier walking routes... Whatever your favorite means of transportation, you will be dazzled at every moment by the magic of the Alps which operates perfectly in Tyrol.
A ski paradise
With such a natural setting, how could Tyrol not be a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts of all kinds? Starting with winter sports, of course: Tyrol has many resorts with guaranteed snow, extensive and varied ski areas, but also modern and comfortable! Especially on the Austrian side, but also in the high valleys of South Tyrol, the Tyrolean resorts are extremely well equipped and qualitative. North Tyrol is home to a good third of Austria's largest resorts, which are among the biggest and best in the world. There are legendary names in winter sports such as Ischgl, Sölden, Kitzbühel or Neustift. This is quite simply the largest concentration of top ski resorts in the world. Of course, mountaineers are also happy to climb the legendary Dolomites or the Ortler massif in Italy, or the Ötztal or Stubai in Austria. The concentration of glaciers is enormous and the infrastructure for trekking is of the highest level
An attractive heritage
The architecture and human heritage of the Tyrol have nothing to envy to the beauty of the landscapes in which they are embedded. From Roman legacies to the splendor of Art Nouveau, through the rich hours of medieval and baroque art, Tyrolean cities are among the jewels of European architecture. Under the Habsburgs, Tyrol was one of the poles of European civilization in terms of art and intellect. Cities like Innsbrück, Lienz and Bozen-Bolzano, the capitals of the three Tyrols, but also Hall in Tirol, Schwaz, Kufstein and Rattenberg in Austria, Bruneck, Brixen or Meran in South Tyrol, are true jewels of art and history. If you go down to Trento, an Italian-speaking region, you will discover the famous Piazza Duomo and the other wonders of this magnificent Italian city... The castle of Tyrol, cradle of the region, or the gardens of the one of Trauttmansdorff, on the Alto Adige side; the fortress of Kufstein or the castle of Naudersberg in the North Tyrol, the abbey of Neustift, the monastery of Stams... Between the castles, the convents nestled in their green settings, the Romanesque, Gothic or Baroque churches that stand in the heart of the villages or in picturesque isolated sites, and finally the rural architecture, which always blends harmoniously with the landscape, Tyrol is a well of human treasures. A land where men have known how to adapt their work to nature and produce beauty, no doubt inspired by the beauty of the landscapes they saw...
Picturesque traditions... and very much alive
Tyrol is often considered to be one of the most conservative lands in Europe. This is probably true in a way. Folk costumes brought out for the slightest festive occasion, religious festivals celebrated with great pomp, a sense of community where village festivals still bring together the youngest and the oldest, preserved especially in the most mountainous areas, a frank and generous gastronomy, served everywhere with the traditional art of the table and a debonair hospitality... In contrast to urban and industrial Europe, the Tyroleans pride themselves on having preserved their art of living, their traditions and their aesthetic of celebration. One only has to immerse oneself in the region during Easter, Carnival, the Gauderfest in May, during the patron saint's day or during the transhumance; or one only has to visit a cosy inn on a tammtisch evening to understand how Tyrol is a region that lives in the hearts. And this on both sides of the border. When you cross the language border between German and Italian, between South Tyrol and the region of Trento, you realize that Tyrol is above all a cultural entity. For our greatest pleasure.
Useful information
When is it open? All year round; the ski season opens at the end of November and lasts until April in the highest resorts. Summer is of course the best season for hiking, mountaineering and cycling. Autumn has beautiful colors and spring is the most festive season, marked by secular and religious festivals
Getting there. It takes about 3.5 hours to fly to Innsbruck, the capital of Tyrol, from Paris, often with a stopover in Germany.
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