Galtür
Encyclopedia
Galtür is a village and ski resort
in the upper Paznaun
valley in Tyrol (Austria
). Located in the Central Eastern Alps
35 km southwest of Landeck
near the border of Vorarlberg
and Switzerland
, its population is about 878.
, Galtür was badly damaged. The church and many houses were burned down. The first streets leading through the Paznaun were built in the 19th century. In Galtür existed at that time only a church, an inn and 8 houses, and the village could be called very poor. After the first hotel, soon followed the construction of the Jamtalhütte. With the tourists, prosperity came to the valley.
s and a varied selection of slopes to explore. Galtür is a family-friendly ski area. Most ski slopes range from easy to medium difficulty. In addition, ski pros will find challenging runs and many deep snow slopes without any tracks. There are 10 mountain railways and lifts, including the eight-seater Alpkogel gondola. Wednesday evenings, night skiing is possible on a floodlit piste.
Galtür became an international media event in 1999, when a huge avalanche
destroyed parts of the village and killed 31 people (February 23). Due to continuing danger of avalanches, thousands of tourists had to be evacuated from Galtür, nearby Ischgl
, and other villages of the Paznaun
valley via air-lift, for which the Austrian government asked for international help. Military and civil helicopters from Austria, Germany, Switzerland, France and the U.S. were engaged in one of the biggest rescue operations of Austria's recent history.
For a full story of the avalanche, see: Galtür Avalanche
.
Galtür's ski resort is called Silvapark and is located 2 kilometres outside the main village in the small village of Wirl. Ski buses run along the main road through Galtür between the ski area and other destinations in the valley including Ischgl, Kappl and See. There are stops in Galtür at the Hotel Alpenrose, Dorfplatz (main village square) & Alpinarium as well as one stop next to the Birkhahnbahn chair lift in Wirl.
On arrival in Wirl, you can choose to take either the Birkahahnbahn chair lift or the Alpkogelbahn Gondola, both of which transport skiers and snowboarders very quickly up onto the mountain.
Once on the mountain, Silvapark offers 40km of groomed pistes served by 3 chair lifts, 1 gondola and 5 smaller tow lifts. Many of the runs are marked Blue and Red, making the resort accessible to families and Beginners. However, in addition to these, the resort also offers a number of more difficult Red and Black runs, which means, coupled with the off piste possibilities, the resort caters for more advanced skiers and snowboarders too. Off piste opportunities through trees and between runs, particularly surrounding the Breitspitzbahn chair lift, are well worth tackling, even for less experienced skiers. You will also find that this area is much quieter which means better on-piste conditions as well.
There are several mountain huts and restaurants on the mountain which offer traditional Austrian cuisine and a friendly atmosphere. Most offer and indoor and outdoor dining areas as well as Smoking and Non-smoking areas respectively.
At the bottom of the Alpkogelbahn Gondola, there are a number of hotels which have ski in ski out facilities. These hotels offer accommodation and facilities for families and those who would rather not take a Ski bus.
The scenery around the ski area and village is simply breathtaking and the setting is idyllic and a perfect escape from the stress of daily life. Photo opportunities are everywhere.
For additional information on the Ski resort visit the following website: Silvapark Ski Resort (German)
Ski Resort Information (English)
There is also a sports centre in the village which has an indoor swimming pool, indoor tennis court and offers opportunities to play other sports such as Darts, Pool (Billiards) and Squash.
Ski resort
A ski resort is a resort developed for skiing and other winter sports. In Europe a ski resort is a town or village in a ski area - a mountainous area, where there are ski trails and supporting services such as hotels and other accommodation, restaurants, equipment rental and a ski lift system...
in the upper Paznaun
Paznaun
The Paznaun is a valley in Tyrol, Austria leading south-west from Pians to the Bielerhöhe , a mountain pass at the border of Vorarlberg and Tyrol....
valley in Tyrol (Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
). Located in the Central Eastern Alps
Central Eastern Alps
The Central Eastern Alps comprise the main chain of the Eastern Alps with its highest peaks, located between the Northern Limestone Alps and the Southern Limestone Alps, from which they differ in geological composition....
35 km southwest of Landeck
Landeck
Landeck is a city in Tyrol, Austria with approximately 7,633 inhabitants. It is located at an elevation of about 820 m in the west of Tyrol, on the rivers Sanna and Inn...
near the border of Vorarlberg
Vorarlberg
Vorarlberg is the westernmost federal-state of Austria. Although it is the second smallest in terms of area and population , it borders three countries: Germany , Switzerland and Liechtenstein...
and Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, its population is about 878.
History
Galtür was settled by the Engadinern from the south, the Walsern and Vorarlbergern from the west, and by Tyroleans from the east. Until today the cultivation work of the Engadiner is reminded with the name Galtür = Cultura. During the Thirty Years' WarThirty Years' War
The Thirty Years' War was fought primarily in what is now Germany, and at various points involved most countries in Europe. It was one of the most destructive conflicts in European history....
, Galtür was badly damaged. The church and many houses were burned down. The first streets leading through the Paznaun were built in the 19th century. In Galtür existed at that time only a church, an inn and 8 houses, and the village could be called very poor. After the first hotel, soon followed the construction of the Jamtalhütte. With the tourists, prosperity came to the valley.
Ski Resort
Galtür is very famous for its winter tourism. There are 40 km (25 mi) of perfectly prepared pistePiste
A piste is a marked ski run or path down a mountain for snow skiing, snowboarding, or other mountain sports. The term is European, from the French for trail or track, synonymous with trail, slope, or groomed run in North America....
s and a varied selection of slopes to explore. Galtür is a family-friendly ski area. Most ski slopes range from easy to medium difficulty. In addition, ski pros will find challenging runs and many deep snow slopes without any tracks. There are 10 mountain railways and lifts, including the eight-seater Alpkogel gondola. Wednesday evenings, night skiing is possible on a floodlit piste.
Galtür became an international media event in 1999, when a huge avalanche
Avalanche
An avalanche is a sudden rapid flow of snow down a slope, occurring when either natural triggers or human activity causes a critical escalating transition from the slow equilibrium evolution of the snow pack. Typically occurring in mountainous terrain, an avalanche can mix air and water with the...
destroyed parts of the village and killed 31 people (February 23). Due to continuing danger of avalanches, thousands of tourists had to be evacuated from Galtür, nearby Ischgl
Ischgl
Ischgl is a small village in the Paznaun Valley in Tyrol . Its ski resort Silvretta Arena Ischgl-Samnaun is connected with the ski resort of Samnaun across the border in Switzerland. Together this ski area belongs to the largest skiing resorts in the Alps...
, and other villages of the Paznaun
Paznaun
The Paznaun is a valley in Tyrol, Austria leading south-west from Pians to the Bielerhöhe , a mountain pass at the border of Vorarlberg and Tyrol....
valley via air-lift, for which the Austrian government asked for international help. Military and civil helicopters from Austria, Germany, Switzerland, France and the U.S. were engaged in one of the biggest rescue operations of Austria's recent history.
For a full story of the avalanche, see: Galtür Avalanche
Galtür Avalanche
The Galtür Avalanche was an avalanche that occurred on February 23, 1999 in the Alpine village of Galtür, Austria. The avalanche killed 31 people and is considered the worst Alpine avalanche in 40 years. Three major weather systems originating from the Atlantic accounted for large snow falls...
.
Galtür's ski resort is called Silvapark and is located 2 kilometres outside the main village in the small village of Wirl. Ski buses run along the main road through Galtür between the ski area and other destinations in the valley including Ischgl, Kappl and See. There are stops in Galtür at the Hotel Alpenrose, Dorfplatz (main village square) & Alpinarium as well as one stop next to the Birkhahnbahn chair lift in Wirl.
On arrival in Wirl, you can choose to take either the Birkahahnbahn chair lift or the Alpkogelbahn Gondola, both of which transport skiers and snowboarders very quickly up onto the mountain.
Once on the mountain, Silvapark offers 40km of groomed pistes served by 3 chair lifts, 1 gondola and 5 smaller tow lifts. Many of the runs are marked Blue and Red, making the resort accessible to families and Beginners. However, in addition to these, the resort also offers a number of more difficult Red and Black runs, which means, coupled with the off piste possibilities, the resort caters for more advanced skiers and snowboarders too. Off piste opportunities through trees and between runs, particularly surrounding the Breitspitzbahn chair lift, are well worth tackling, even for less experienced skiers. You will also find that this area is much quieter which means better on-piste conditions as well.
There are several mountain huts and restaurants on the mountain which offer traditional Austrian cuisine and a friendly atmosphere. Most offer and indoor and outdoor dining areas as well as Smoking and Non-smoking areas respectively.
At the bottom of the Alpkogelbahn Gondola, there are a number of hotels which have ski in ski out facilities. These hotels offer accommodation and facilities for families and those who would rather not take a Ski bus.
The scenery around the ski area and village is simply breathtaking and the setting is idyllic and a perfect escape from the stress of daily life. Photo opportunities are everywhere.
For additional information on the Ski resort visit the following website: Silvapark Ski Resort (German)
Ski Resort Information (English)
Village
The village is mostly made up of large Austrian-style chalet buildings. Many of these offer bed and Breakfast/ Self Catering accommodation as well as hotel accommodation on Half Board/ Full Board basis. In the centre of the village there is a bakery, a few ski rental shops, a church and a Butcher. There is also a supermarket located 0.5km outside the village square in the direction of Ischgl, opposite Hotel Alpenrose. This can be reached easily by bus.There is also a sports centre in the village which has an indoor swimming pool, indoor tennis court and offers opportunities to play other sports such as Darts, Pool (Billiards) and Squash.