Obertauern: Winter sports paradise in the Salzburg region
Obertauern, a well-known winter sports resort in the Austrian province of Salzburg, attracts numerous skiers, snowboarders and cross-country skiers to its impressive mountains every year. The resort is one of the most visited winter sports areas in Austria and is known for its snow-sure slopes and modern lifts. With around 950,000 overnight stays per year and 9,000 guest beds, Obertauern is an important center for winter tourism in the region.
Short info:
- What is Obertauern?: A popular winter sports resort in Salzburg, Austria.
- Where is it?: In the Radstädter Tauern in the Salzburg region.
- activities: Skiing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing, hiking in summer.
- Known for: Tauernrunde, Gamsleiten 2 – one of the steepest slopes in Austria.
- visiting hours: High season in winter, limited summer tourism.
- gastronomy: Cozy alpine huts and international cuisine.
- suitable for families: Ski slopes for all levels, cross-country ski trails, sports center.
Winter sports in Obertauern
With over 100 kilometers of groomed slopes and 26 lifts, Obertauern is a paradise for skiers and snowboarders. The slopes are color-coded according to difficulty level: 61 % blue (light), 35 % red (medium) and 4 % black (difficult). Especially the track along the Gamsleiten 2 is legendary – it is one of the steepest slopes in Austria and challenges even experienced winter sports enthusiasts.
For those who prefer to watch the skiing or simply enjoy the view, it is also possible to take the chairlifts and gondola lifts to reach the mountains without skiing. Descents into the valley can be made with the Zehnerkarbahn, the Plattenkarbahn and the Grünwaldkopfbahn be performed.
A special highlight in Obertauern is the so-called TauernrundeThe lifts are designed in such a way that you can go around the entire village – either in clockwise (red signs) or against the clockwise (green signs)This allows a circular tour where you can start and end at any lift station. Special ski bridges were built to cross the Katschberg road so that the skiing fun is not interrupted.
For cross-country skiers The area offers over 26 kilometers of groomed trails, most of which are on the idyllic Gnadenalm In winter there is also a toboggan run, which is particularly popular with families.
Summer in Obertauern: Peace and relaxation
While the summer is less touristy, Obertauern still offers some exciting activities. The town is the starting point for hikes along the Central Alpine TrailTwo popular hiking destinations are the Oberhütte towards Styria and the Südwiener Hütte towards Flachau, each of which can be reached in about two hours' walk.
Particularly worth mentioning is the annual event in August and September motorcycle meeting, where the streets around Obertauern are filled with motorcycle enthusiasts. Despite this, many hotels and shops remain closed in summer, as the main season is clearly in winter.
Obertauern Sports Center: More than just winter sports
In addition to winter sports, Obertauern also offers a modern sports center for a variety of activities. There are two indoor tennis courts, three squash courts, a badminton court and bowling alleys. There is also a fully equipped strength and fitness center and a large multi-purpose hall. There is also a 600 square meter vitality center with sports medical care, which makes Obertauern a popular training location for professional athletes. In the past, ski stars such as Hermann Maier and Michael Walchhofer the altitude training center in Obertauern to prepare for their World Cup races.
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