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Glacier, mountains, lake – The region of alpine sights
Zell am See-Kaprun is one of the most multifaceted year-round holiday destinations
right in the heart of Austria. There is no other region in the Alps that offers so many
spectacular places of excursions and alpine sights located this close together. Mighty
mountains, mellow pastures, the Lake Zell as well as the eternal ice of the
Kitzsteinhorn glacier and the untamed forces of nature of the national park Hohe
Tauern unfold their very special charm in every season. On 365 days of the year the
region offers diversified activities, entertaining family fun, quiet brooks as well as
culinary and cultural discoveries.
Alpine nature in all its facets
In Zell am See-Kaprun the magnificence of nature can be experienced on all levels.
Three cable cars bring visitors to the highest point of the region: the Kitzsteinhorn with
the impressive Peakworld 3.000. On Salzburg’s highest and most spectacular
panoramic platform, visitors have a breathtaking view to the valley of Kaprun, Lake Zell
and 30 3,000-meter peaks. The majestic alpine giants of Hohe Tauern, which are
located right by the region Zell am See-Kaprun, seem almost close enough to touch. In
the Cinema 3.000, the most altitudinous cinema of the Alps, a movie awarded in
Cannes in 2011 is shown on a panoramic screen. Here the visitors can marvel at the
most beautiful impressions of the Kitzsteinhorn in all four seasons. The magicalmystical path of the 360-meter-long national park gallery gives some extraordinary
insight and views to the national park Hohe Tauern. All year round Austria’s oldest
national park can be explored in organized excursions with national park rangers that
are familiar with the region.
The high mountain reservoirs Mooserboden and Wasserfallboden of Kaprun, which are
located between the impressive rocks of Hohe Tauern at an altitude of 2,000 meters,
can be accessed by Europe’s biggest open inclined lift. In a guided dam tour on the
107-meter-high and almost 500-meter-long dam wall Mooser-Sperre, visitors learn how
clean electricity is generated from 160 million cubic meters of water. The “Electricity &
Ice Adventure World” gives some insight into the fascinating world of the eternal ice
and explains the interaction of glacier, power plant construction and electricity
generation.
The Schmittenhöhe is the pleasure and local mountain of Zell am See. Visitors hover
conveniently in comfortable design cable cars of Porsche Design towards the pleasure
at the peak. The 2,000-meter-high mountain is a kind of observation deck in the
Salzburger Land: 360 degree panoramic view to thirty 3,000-meter peaks, among them
Austria’s highest peaks, the Großglockner (3,798 meters) and the Großvenediger
(3,662 meters).
The Sigmund Thun Gorge in Kaprun is a history-charged natural spectacle. On its 320meter-long path, the river Kapruner Ache has carved itself up to 32 meters deep into
the Sigmund-Thun-Klamm leaving distinctive smoothing and potholes. Wood covered
in moss and rugged cliffs with signs and dates, which were engraved in the stone by
wood-cutters long time ago, take visitors back into a world that has long gone.
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Lake Zell, too, offers a unique natural spectacle. The surrounding mountains are
mirrored in its blue eye. For years Lake Zell, which is certified to be of best drinking
quality, has been one of the purest waters in Europe. A boat tour with the “Pearl of the
Lake”, the MS Schmittenhöhe, is an experience for all senses.
Families welcome
The region Zell am See-Kaprun is perfect for a holiday with the whole family. A large
variety of accommodation options and children’s hotels have tailored their special
offers to suit the needs of families. This is even certified since the region was awarded
for its family-friendly offers by the publishing house Falk Verlag and the Austrian
Federal Ministry of Economics and Labor. Tailor-made activities are offered all year
round. In winter, for example, children learn the basics of winter sports in a playful way
in professional ski schools on the Schmittenhöhe, the Kitzsteinhorn and the Maiskogel.
In summer “Schmidolin's Baptism of Fire” und countless further adventure hiking trails
through the Pinzgau arrange for exciting adventures.
Wellness oasis TAUERN SPA
The TAUERN SPA is the base camp for all activities and excursions for all generations.
In the water and sauna oasis measuring roughly 20,000 square meters, grown-up and
little discoverers are in their element. From active relaxation in the 25-meter-long sports
pool to the soothing spa treatments, guests are offered anything that relaxes body and
soul. Children can go on expedition in the children’s spa area “Kidstein” with activities
ranging from a lively glissade through the 127-meter-long water slide “SchlingeSchlange-Röhre” to the exploration of the adventure grottos to the conquest of the
climbing wall.
The pleasure of arts on the natural stage
Arts and culture have always been entrenched in Zell am See-Kaprun. In the Vogtturm,
which accommodates the museum of local history in Zell am See, the local stories
about Zell, which were affectionately collected and restored, give some interesting
insight into the history of the region and the lives of their former inhabitants. The annual
events such as the Zell am See lake festivals or the traditional castle festivals behind
the historical walls of Kaprun Castle are next to legendary. On the Schmittenhöhe,
Europe’s biggest outdoor art site, arts and nature merge into an extraordinary mountain
experience. Roughly two dozen gigantic wooden sculptures from various international
artists line the “Höhenpromenade”.
Conference center of international format
The Ferry Porsche Congress Center is considered one of the most attractive business
locations for congresses, incentives and events of international reputation. The eponym
of the event center, the sports car pioneer Ferry Porsche, lived in close vicinity to the
new congress center till his death in 1998. The congress center is a tribute to the
pioneer of today’s Porsche Group by the town and the tourist association. Its floor
space stretches over a total of just under 1,400 square meters and offers space for
roughly 1,200 people.
Excellent restaurants and a large variety of accommodation options
In the many rustic huts and alpine pastures of the mountain area around Zell am SeeKaprun, many regional delicacies such as homemade cheese and home-distilled liquor,
Pinzgauer Kasnocken (cheese dumplings), Kaspressknödel (flat dumplings made of
bread and cheese) as well as Moosbeenidei (huckleberry dumplings) and Nidei (pan-
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fried pieces made of potato dough with steamed white cabbage or sauerkraut) are
served.
Zell am See-Kaprun is a culinary high-flyer not only on the mountain. As a member of
“Via Culinaria” a total of eleven restaurants of the region are among the places of
indulgence on the map of the culinary directory through the Salzburger Land. People
can choose from more than 100 restaurants and there is something to suit everyone’s
taste: award-winning elegant gourmet places as well as cozy mountain restaurants with
local Pinzgau specialties.
The wide choice of accommodation options, too, is tailored to the individual needs of
the holiday-makers. A total of 700 accommodation options can be booked in all
categories: holidays on farms and campsites as well as holiday homes, guest houses,
bed and breakfast places, hotels of all categories to luxurious 5-star hotels – among
them family houses that have received several awards, and partner houses of Via
Culinaria.
Added value for the guests: the “Zell am See-Kaprun Summer Card”
From May 15 to October 15 guests automatically receive the „Zell am See-Kaprun
summer card“ when checking in at one of over 200 accommodation partners. With this
card, holiday-makers can, for example, use mountain railways, boats on Lake Zell and
lidos for free and have free access to many sights.
About Zell am See-Kaprun:
Glacier, mountains, lake – the Austrian year-round destination Zell am See-Kaprun combines
the entire diversity of the Alps. In the unique natural paradise situated in the immediate vicinity
of the national park Hohe Tauern, sports people, active holidaymakers, families and people
looking for relaxation find a diversified choice of activities and adventures both in summer and in
winter. Among these are the “Peakworld 3.000” on the Kitzsteinhorn glacier, the only glacial ski
region in the Salzburger Land, the family region Maiskogel, the local mountain Schmittenhöhe
as well as the crystal clear Lake Zell and the multiple award winning 36-hole championship golf
course. Tradition and authenticity are mirrored in the events and culinary specialties of the
region. Guests find relaxation in the newly opened wellness oasis Tauern Spa as well as in
many further spa and wellness hotels in Zell am See-Kaprun.
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Zell am See-Kaprun Tourismus GmbH
Mag. Marina Latini
Brucker Bundesstrasse 1a
A – 5700 Zell am See
Tel. +43 (0)6542 - 770
welcome@zellamsee-kaprun.com
www.zellamsee-kaprun.com
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www.twitter.com/ZellKaprun