Filzmoos in Austria for both winter and summer holidays

Filzmoos is a traditional mountain village in Austria, the perfect destination for summer walking or winter skiing, your choice for a gentle or full-on family activity holiday!

Building in Filzmoos is strictly controlled, so it has retained its alpine chocolate-box charm. There are no high-rise buildings to mar the breath-taking views of the Bischofsmutze (Bishop’s Mitre) peak and the Dachstein glacier range.

There is no shortage of things to keep active families occupied with a range of things to do for all ages.

Filzmoos – uncrowded slopes for the ski enthusiast

Filzmoos is the ideal location for skiers of all ages and the instructors in the excellent ski schools speak very good English. Filzmoos is only known to one UK tour operator which means the slopes are uncrowded and the lift queues short, even in the school holidays.

Gentle nursery slopes are located right in the middle of the village and the more challenging runs finish in the middle of the village. Advanced skiers can enjoy the “red” runs while others opt for a leisurely cruise on the well-groomed “blue” pistes, yet all easily meet up in one of the many restaurants and cafes for a warming hot chocolate or Gluhwein.

Speaking of restaurants, the typical Austrian mountain food is delicious and filling. Be sure to try the local specialty dessert – Germknodel – a yeast dumpling filled with plum jam and served with vanilla custard.

For something more hearty, order the huge Tiroler Grostl, a sizzling cast iron pan of diced potatoes, bacon and eggs fried with herbs.

Filzmoos at Christmas

At Christmas our “must-do” outing is a sleigh ride up to the Oberhofalm and Unterhofalm for the “Advent Idyll” walk around the frozen lake, featuring fire pits, candle-lit scenes and stalls selling spiced Gluhwein. Watch out for the trick-playing Perchten, horned beasts from folklore dating back to pagan times.

On Christmas Eve Father Christmas arrives in the village square by sleigh and he and his angel-helpers give out sweets and sparklers to the children. Gluhwein is, as always, on offer for the adults!

Filzmoos in summer

A favourite summer outing in Filzmoos is also up to the Oberhofalm and Unterhofalm inns. At this time of year, you can hire electric-assisted mountain bikes to ride through the woods, arriving in time for lunch.

Sit outside on the terrace under the sun umbrellas, gazing at eagles circling in the bright blue sky and the majestic snow-capped peak of the Bischofsmutze, now so much closer.

On the way up, take a refreshment stop at a trough with a spout that gushes pure mountain spring water straight from the ground at an amazing 5 degrees celsius – Bliss!

The fittest in the party can pedal just as on a normal bike, while the less fit can choose how much assistance to have from the battery power, enabling you to cycle up the steepest slopes with ease!

The flora and fauna of Filzmoos

Once up at the mountain inns there are numerous marked walking paths across the high alpine pastures and around the small lake. In fact Filzmoos has 200km of marked walking trails where you can see the wild mountain flowers in spring and summer. Look out for gentian, carlina and many other native wild flowers.

Another popular walk is the Marmot trail, where you can take the Wanderbus high up into the mountains. Here one can see marmots, although the only ones we’ve seen so far are on postcards! Then walk back down to the village, admiring the incredible alpine scenery and views at every turn.

Plenty to do for the adventure seeker

If you’re travelling with teens they need something a little more adrenaline fuelled. The Wanderbus goes to the neighbouring village of Ramsau, where there is a summer toboggan run.

Riding the toboggan down on spiralling metal rails that loop out on stilts over the valley is certainly exhilarating. Try going up the mountain on the chairlift and hiring a mountain scooter to ride back down.

Ramsau also has a bathing lake, archery, and hang-gliding. Or, take a long cable car ride up to the Dachstein glacier for skiing or to visit the ice caves.

A walk out on the Dachstein Sky Walk, a platform overhanging the valley 250 metres straight below, gives a spectacular panorama. It just may be a little scary if you look down!

Filzmoos – no car needed

Despite only having 1,450 inhabitants, Filzmoos village has everything you need, without having to use a car. You’ll never have to worry how much of the refreshing “golden nectar” you have drunk!

Filmoos offers indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a bowling alley and a tennis court. There is a well-stocked supermarket, butcher and delicatessen, and a wonderful bakery with coffee shop.

A pharmacy, doctor’s surgery, and, most importantly, numerous restaurants and cafes serving scrumptious coffee and specialty cakes. You’ll find Viennese Sacher Torte or apple strudel and cream.

About the Guest Author

Many thanks for this guest article to Claire Palmer, who has loved to travel ever since she was a child. In love with Austria, she has since realised a long-held dream of buying a property there in preparation for spending much more time there when her sons have left school.

For more Austrian adventures:

May Day at The White Horse Inn on Lake Wolfgang, Austria
Lost in the Hohensalzburg Fortress in Salzburg
Riding the steam train – on the Schafburgbahn at St Wolfgang

This article is originally published at Heatheronhertravels.com

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