obertauern austria
The route over the pass dates back to Roman times and settlements were built here back in the Middle Ages to aid those travelling in the mountains. Road races were held here in the 1920s and the first skiers arrived - in those days, the only way up was by foot.
The first lifts were built in the 1950s and from then on the resort saw an expansion of both the skiing infrastructure and the accommodation possibilities. Since then the resort has seen a boom in overnight stays and in construction of facilities and lodging.
The main attraction is, of course, the altitude. In a country where many of the ski areas are fairly low-lying, the ski-in ski-out experience and snowsure conditions offer something a little bit different. And while many of the higher resorts in other alpine countries can offer the altitude, few can compete with the combination of access, hotels and ski area.
The skiing is not particularly difficult, but it is eminently suitable to intermediate skiers who are looking for comfortable groomed skiing and plenty of options for a week's skiing holiday.
The access to such a high-altitude resort is also surprisingly easy, with an impressive motorway heading north to Salzburg and south to Villach within easy reach of Obertauern.
