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AUSTRIA | Ischgl, Austria Travel Guide
Saturday, November 30, 2024
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Galtür
Galtür, Austria (cc)
Photo: Boarderxcess at en.wikipedia
Galtür
Tucked up at the end of the Paznaun Valley at the foot of the Ballunspitze, 10 km southwest of Ischgl, quiet Galtür draws visitors for its isolated rural location and its convenient skiing, biking, and hiking trails. It’s both much more peaceful and considerably less expensive than Ischgl, its raucous neighbor. Galtürers are proud of their headstrong, resilient reputation – a willfulness directed at the preservation of their village traditions and the natural environment.
The village is known, too, for its avalanches. In February of 1999, 31 people died when a devastating icefall rolled into the center of town, and less damaging avalanches occur every year. Lest we scare you away, however, much has been done to protect the town and its visitors from harm. Under a midwinter blanket of snow, houses along the foothills appear to be built into the mountain, and the summertime thaw reveals the village’s enormous, boulder-built protective walls. Whatever the season, visitors should leave Galtür with a profound respect for the power of nature.
The new Alpinarium complex cleverly combines an avalanche protection wall with a climbing route, an underground garage, a museum and exhibition room, and a nearby network of themed walking paths. Adventurers come to hike, bike, climb, and ski. In winter, 11 lifts serve mostly easy and intermediate runs, groomed cross-country trails lead off to the Silvrettasee and down toward Ischgl, and a ski school staffed entirely with locals provides instruction. The mountaineering school is well known, too, offering instruction at all levels and operating special courses for children.
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