Bregenzerwald – Mellau-Damüls

Bregenzerwald
In all winter silence

enjoyment is not always just about the downhill runs. For some, the ultimate thrill is when they can ski up on skins. They are in particularly good hands in the Bregenzerwald. After all, the picture-book valley, built on wood, is ideal for tours like no other. The Bregenzerwald has put together a highly original offer based on historical traces. The Pfarrer Müller freeride tour commemorates Johann Müller from Warth, who was probably the first person in the Bregenzerwald to have skis sent from Sweden in the 1890s in order to be able to navigate better in alpine terrain. Today, the Warth ski school allows you to follow in his footsteps for 75 euros for five hours (symbolically). Warth-Schröcken, whose village center is undergoing a significant renovation this winter, is a special case. On the one hand, it is part of the Bregenzerwald, but thanks to the connection via the Auenfeldjet, it has been a sizeable part of the Arlberg ski area for several years, particularly due to its powdery and hard shady slopes. (The panorama of the slopes can be found in the "Arlberg" chapter). Since 2017, you can also use the 8-seater Warth village cable car to get to the ski area from all of the hotels in the village without the ski bus. Of course, there are lifts, cross-country ski runs, and even fun parks, but the focus of a winter holiday here is pure nature. However, access to it is quite sporty, alpine and easy, as in the large ski area of the "snowiest village in the world", Damüls and Mellau, which has been merged for several years.

Optical The "forest republic", which has been independent for centuries, is still a cosy idyll with wonderful wooden architecture. Alberschwende, Andelsbuch-Bezau, Schwarzenberg-Bödele, Egg-Schetteregg, Hittisau, Hochhäderich, Riefensberg-Hochlitten. Only a few people know about these 39 small lifts spread across the entire valley. Ski tourism reigns there for beginners, but increasingly also for connoisseurs who are drawn to the open terrain.

100 kilometers of slopes, including the Faschina area, which is connected by bus, make skiers' hearts beat faster. The Rossstellebahn Mellau cable car was put into operation as a great upgrade, and the most recent addition was the 6-seater Sunnegg chairlift. The new facility also replaced the Gratlift leading to ski route 3. The high alpine landscape and snow conditions disguise the fact that you are mostly below 2,000 metres above sea level here. Touring beginners can really get going on the Diedamskopf near Schoppernau, for example, where you take a gondola high up before you put on your skins. Ski fans who want to concentrate purely on the downhill fun are drawn to the Damüls (1,400 m) and Mellau (710 m) areas. Compared to the Elsenalp, where hungry skiers flock, the slopes there are pleasantly empty most of the time.

Every beginning is easy. A family ski holiday is particularly worthwhile on certain dates: From January 14 to 21, 2023, from March 11 to 18, 2032 and from March 18 to 25, 2023, a 4-day ski course and lift passes for 6 days are included in the price of the overnight stay for children between 3 and 6 years old (born in 2017/2018/2019). The only requirement is 7 nights accompanied by at least one adult. In addition, the tourist offices in the participating locations organize numerous events for children and families.