Schwaz

The mining city of Schwaz is known as the “silver region” of the Inntal valley.

Altitude: 535 m asl

Featuring about 13,000 inhabitants, the cosy city (see pic) is the centre of the holiday area Achensee and Karwendel. It has already been settled in the Neolithic Age and Bronze Age. In the 15th and 16th century, Schwaz has been the largest mining metropolis throughout Europe. And this is exactly what attracted famous people: The Fugger family came to this place and the famous doctor Paracelsus has been in this city twice. Witnesses of the lively past are for example the Fuggerhaus building, the parish church with two steeples and a late Gothic trading house.

Nowadays in summer the Karwedel mountain chain attracts lots of vacationers from all over. Some 100 km of hiking trails take you to different sites, as for instance Freudensberg Castle, or in outlands like the so called “Kellerjoch”, a popular viewpoint. Other destinations are the Gartalm or Geolsalm pasture - both very popular especially in high summer when the alpine roses are in full blossom and the alpine pastures gleam in a dark red colour. If you would like to take a break, there are numerous possibilities to stop for a bite to eat. Just sit back on the terrace, let the sun shine into your heart and enjoy Tyrolean delicacies in your well-deserved vacation…

Particularly family-friendly in winter is the skiing area at Kellerjoch: A free skibus takes you to to the valley station and the Kellerjoch funicular heaves you into the world of mountains. Two chair lifts, 1 double-seated chair lift, 2 T-bar lifts and 1 lift for children provide the basis for great skiing adventures. If you would like to experience the winter in another way, there are also numerous tobbogan runs as well as panoramic cross-country ski tracks in the surroundings.

Our tip: One of the highlights is the silver mine, for which Schwaz is very popular. The so called “Gruben-Hunt” takes you in the underground. This mine has been opened for the public and gives you an insight into the miners’ work.