Alpbach - village

The charming main village is the place to stay for its atmosphere and après-ski, though there is some accommodation at the ancient hamlet of Inneralpbach (which has the oldest houses in the area) where there is a gondola on your doorstep. But you’ll find the evenings very quiet in Inneralpbach – then again, you’ll be first up on the slopes in the morning.

Alpbach is small, compact, intimate and gorgeous. There is a uniformity to it – in that all buildings are chalet-style, timbered and balconied and centred on the attractive village church.

It is the picture postcard epitome of a Tirolean village – and it simply reeks of history and tradition. You will soon get to know a lot of local people and everyone will greet you in the street. It is still a working farming village, and the runs are all on what is grazing land in the summer.

The connection between Alpbach and Britain goes back way before skiing. St Oswald, former King of Northumbria, gave his name to the village church in the 8th century, when Scottish and Irish monks converted the area to Christianity. And Alpbach has kept its traditional beauty, without being marred by any ugly modern developments, because of the efforts of former mayor Alfons Moser, who held office from 1945 to 1979, in insisting that all new building was in traditional chalet style.

And Alpbach does have a claim to fame beyond skiing and its beauty – since 1945 it has hosted the renowned annual Alpbach European Forum, a two-week conference of leading figures from the worlds of science, the arts and politics. The participation of so many people who have helped shape modern thinking on these subjects has given Alpbach the nickname ‘the village of thinkers’.

Accommodation

There is a good choice of three and four-star hotels – and as this is Austria you can expect hospitality and spotless rooms wherever you stay. The most atmospheric of the four-stars is the historic Boeglerhof, in the town centre, with the Alpbacherhof and the Alphof both highly-rated. The Muehlbachhof and Berghof are good choices among the three-stars and is right next door to the nursery slopes in the village and the three-star Post is praised as punching above its weight.

But many of the simpler gasthauses, B&Bs and pensions are also excellent here – contact the Tourist Office Alpbach to help sort accommodation for you.

Crystal and Inghams are among the British operators here.

Ski/snowboard equipment hire

Conny’s Sport (00 43 5336 5420), next to the Hotel Post in Alpbach and also with a branch at Inneralpbach is under the Sport 2000 umbrella and offers online booking of equipment. Iggy’s, in the centre of the village, offers a 10 per cent discount for pre-arrival online bookings. Xander’s (00 43 5336 5067) is conveniently located, next to the Boglerhof. The Ski and Sport Shop Alpbachtal is next to the gondola at Achenwirt, and has online booking with 20% discounts.

Non-ski activities

There’s winter walking on cleared paths, an indoor adventure swimming pool with waterfalls and slides – as well as spa facilities such as saunas and massage etc – and an open-air ice rink down at Reith. Both Innsbruck and Salzburg are within easy striking distance for a day out.

Childcare

The ski schools are both very child-friendly, with well-organised kindergarten arrangements. And the tourist office is happy to help arrange babysitters.