Estate Living Digital Publication Issue 8 August 2015 | Page 68

Robinson Club Alpenrose Zürs

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Small in size, but big in everything else, landlocked
Austria is fast becoming the place to be, offering an
affordable and fun holiday location with something
suitable for every member of the family. From
world-class museums, cobbled streets and quaint
villages to soaring mountains reminiscent of The
Sound of Music, great beer and the infamous
Wiener Schnitzel, Austria is content to simply sit
back and bask in its distinguished lifestyle and
opulent past as the former head of one of Europe’s
grandest empires.

A fervent passion for the great outdoors is at the
centre of life and nothing showcases this better
than the wide selection of splendid ski resorts
that draw thousands of foreigners to the snowy
picture postcard scenery.
Whilst an Austrian ski resort might not necessarily
always outdo its French or Swiss counterparts on
altitude, snow and the range of their slopes, there is
something that these ski villages do better than any
others and that’s hospitality. The locals tend to be
relaxed, gregarious people who love the outdoors
and, for the majority, skiing is not merely a pastime,
but a way of life, their national sport and the basis
of the national economy.

As a sport, skiing is incredibly social; it offers some
of the most breathtaking landscapes on Earth, it
is pretty easy to learn (Austria’s world-famous ski
schools and instructors offer lessons in English and
for every level skier) and it is possibly the best fun
you can have without taking off your clothes. For
non-skiers, there’s plenty to do too – from sleigh
rides, snowshoe adventures or ice skating to local
sights, uniquely Austrian boutiques and excursions
to some of the beautiful surrounding areas. Most
ski resorts, such as those offered by Pure Skiing,
also offer cosy rooms and great spa facilities.These
ski resorts tend to be nestled in valleys, surrounded
by mountain ranges and built around old villages
where the architecture and traditions of the region
are integral to the daily life of the community.
As a result, visitors are guaranteed a charming
atmosphere full of warmth, friendliness and tasty
local dishes such as fondue, tartiflette, gluehwein
and schnap.
The Robinson Club Alpenrose Zürs is a unique
skiing hotspot region known as the ‘cradle of
skiing’. The small village made winter sports history
when the first ski course for locals was held in 1906
and, in winter 2014, the two ski regions of WarthSchröcken and Lech Zürs were connected via the
Auenfeld plateau, creating a first-class ski paradise
and one of the most beautiful ski regions in the
Alps.