Lech am Arlberg, the small alpine village will be a delightful surprise for the everyone visiting Switzerland and Austria. A two and half hour scenic drive on the Arlberg Express Bus from the Zurich Airport unfolds the brilliant panorama that it offers. Interestingly, it was founded in 14th century by the Walser migrants from of one of the Swiss cantons. The majestic peaks, the crystal clear lakes and the quaint architecture are simply captivating. Skiers across the world know it as the premier sky resort frequented by the rich and famous like Princess Diana, the royals of Holland and Jordan and the actor Tom Cruise. Such is the charm of this place that even the non-skiers fall for it and enjoy in the horse drawn sleigh rides, walking in the woods, visit the 14th cent. St. Nicholas Church and visit a small museum that displays the lifestyle of the medieval days.
Alpine skiing is a major priority in Lech/Zuers am Arlberg. For centuries Arlberg has been famous for being the “cradle of Alpine skiing” and casts a spell over enthuasiastic skiers year after year, winter after winter. Because Arlberg is where tradition and modernity meet. A ski resort with the very highest standards of comfort and 340 km of adventurous runs makes skiers’ hearts beat faster and guarantees a relaxed and varied skiing holiday in the heart of Arlberg.
Around 300 Hotels, hotel garnis, Bed & Breakfast establishments and holiday apartments will make the holiday in Lech/Zuers am Arlberg an unforgettable experience. Some even come to learn to ski for it is known for its most modern Alpine skiing techniques. Tourism is the mainstay of the village so it abounds in the owner run exotic hotels and restaurants and cafes. Winter is the high season when the place is completely sold out months before. In summers with the flowering meadows, it offers twenty kilometers long bicycle trips, treks in the woods with and culinary delights from July to mid-September it lures visitors with packages at a bargain price. Among the many activities available in Lech/Zuers am Arlberg, two are more interesting instead others, 1 per each season: the White Ring and the Green Ring.
White Ring
The White Ring is the legendary ski circuit between Lech, Zuers, Zug and Oberlech. This ski circuit is unique in the Alps and has been celebrating skiing in a special kind of way for over 57 years. The original cable cars, lifts and pistes of the White Ring still form the centrepiece of the magnificient skiing area of Lech/Zuers am Arlberg, developed by daring pioneers of skiing, and whose current 94 cable cars and lifts guarantee boundless adventurous skiing.
In 2005/2006, on the 50th anniversary of the traditional “White Ring ski circuit”, the first “The White Ring – The Race” event was run, the longest ski race in the world. The course, which is 22 km long and has 5.500 mt of descent, starts at the Rufikopf and runs round Lech/Zuers Am Arlberg with the legendary Madloch downhill run as the secret climax. The course record is held by former downhill ski racer Patrick Ortlieb with a time of 44:35:07 minutes.
Green Ring
The Green Ring is a hike full of secrets and mythical creatures. Connoisseurs and nature lovers have known for a long time that Lech/Zuers is also an attractive holiday destination in summer. The Green Ring provides hiking trails for all ages with a range of different challenges. This three-day hike takes you through valleys, past mountain lakes and rivers with waterfalls that rise up and are hidden away arount Lech/Zuers, and hikers can get involved in a modern world of the imagination enacted by extraordinary installations just as much as by the stories that have been specifically created for it.
Daniel Nikolaus Kocher, a young sculptor with great sensitivity for the beauty of the mountain landscape, has developed the ideas for the Green Ring in close cooperation with the writer Daniela Egger. As a result, mythical creatures and sagas, as well as field names and geographic characteristics are shown in a modern and humorous light. A literary hiking map leads you through formerly unknown areas that are inspiring and entertaining, and which are hard to recegnise with the naked eye. The well-placed benches and sets give you a little help in sharpening your focus on the ephemeral world of spirits so, while you are meant to be looking at the three peaks you are aiming for in the distance, you can also send the fabolous backdrop to a summit register internet site with just a click of the mouse. The Green Ring has given a whole new dimension to summer in the mountains around Lech/Zuers.
Where to stay
Gotthard Hotel
The Gotthard is a family-run hotel in the charming Austrian town of Lech am Arlberg. This charming hotel has been run by the Walch family since 1931 and is currently in the hands of Clemens and Nicole, who got it in 2000, masterfully and completely renovated, transforming it from a classic bed & breakfast to a delightful 4-star superior hotel. The hotel’s decor perfectly combines both modern and traditional Alpine influences. The 50 rooms and suites are all cozy and highly comfortable. All furnished in Alpine style that perfectly recalls the panorama surrounding the hotel but rather the whole of Lech am Arlberg. All the rooms have a common element which is the atmosphere of being in a real family ambience. They are equipped with every kind of comfort and services such as flat screen TV, wi.fi. free but also wooden balconies with chairs to enjoy the spectacular mountain views.
Breakfast at the Gotthard is the perfect start to any day thanks to delicacies such as fresh bread, homemade jams and butter, cheese, eggs and yoghurt from the region. Even the desserts and cakes served at the Cafè Gotthard are exclusively home-made as well as a home-brewed beer. In fact Omes beer, which takes its name from the mountain of Lech, Omeshorn, is produced by the Walch family directly at the new in-house “brewery”. At the Hotel’s Lecher Stube there’s a selection of international and regional dishes that will satisfy every taste. With wood-paneled ceilings, patterned curtains and Kachelofen tile heating, the Austrians would describe the restaurant as gemütlich, a term that recalls a relaxing and traditional atmosphere.
Guests of the Gotthard can enjoy relaxing moments at Wellness & Spa area. There are several options to choose from such as a swim in the pool, a relaxing herbal steam bath or a warm bio or Finnish sauna perfect to relieve the back muscles. To complete the area, the relaxation room or a pleasant massage will be the healthy touch ideal for relaxing and regenerating. The new 9-hole golf course is a treat for Lech am Arlberg, the highest place in Austria where you can play golf. It also offers a 3-hole golf academy, a driving range and a bunker for practicing, all just 200 meters away from the hotel. In addition to golf, guests of the Hotel Gotthard can rent bicycles, ski and hiking equipments, and much more. Whether in summer or winter, the Hotel Gotthard is without a doubt synonymous of well-being and relaxation and anyone who visits this hotel is pleasantly surprised by the incredible charm of this family-run hotel, which has grown and evolved from generation to generation.
