Schladming is cradled between the lush alpine tarns and valleys of the Dachstein massif and the Schladminger Tauern range in the Styrian Alps. Life started in this remote alpine spot back in the 14th century, when Schladming was a mining village, but today it is known as one of Austria's premier ski resorts. The Schladming-Dachstein region is best for intermediate skiers, offering long and scenic tree-lined runs. There are nine mountains to ski, all connected by a state-of-the-art network of lifts and cable cars, and with plenty of trails for cross-country skiers and snow shoers plus plenty of options for mountain restaurants and après ski.
Summertime pursuits in this family-friendly resort include hiking and mountain biking, tobogganing and go-carting; one of the area's most popular (and nerve wracking) attractions is the Sky Walk up at Dachstein Glacier, where the panoramas include a sea of snowy alpine peaks and lurching drops of 250 meters (820 feet) straight down to the valley floor.
Practical Info
Schladming is 50 minutes' drive from Salzburg and its tourist office is at Rohrmoosstrasse 234. Ski hire and lessons can be organized close to all the main ski lifts.
A bluff, flat-topped peak in the Berchtesgaden Alps, Untersberg is close to the Austrian border with Germany and rises up to 6,473 feet (1,973 meters); it is the highest mountain in the Salzburg area. In summer it is the destination of hikers for its well-marked trails; paragliders for spectacular alpine views; expert climbers for tough ascents; and tours around the Schellenbergerice cave. In winter local skiers flock to the mountain for the demanding 4.75-mile (7.5-km) run back down to the village of Grödig.
Today the summit of Untersberg can be reached all year around (weather permitting) by a panoramic cable-car ride from the village of St Leonhard; the alpine views are spectacular as the Rositten Valley and snow-flecked alpine peaks spread out far below. The year 2015 sees the 50th anniversary of the releases of The Sound of Music and excursions will run out to the foothills of Untersberg to the spot where the Von Trapp family sang Climb Every Mountain as they escaped across the Alps to safety from Nazi Austria.
Practical Info
The Untersbergbahn cable car reaches the top of the mountain in around 10 minutes; it is open all year with closures for maintenance in April and November-December. Opening hours are dependent on weather and are roughly 9am"“5pm daily. Prices vary seasonally but average €22 for a return trip.
