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The Impressive Altenmarkt – Zauchensee

Ski Resort Guide 2022/23

by Adam Attew

Welcome to the impressive and spell-binding Altenmarkt -Zauchensee, close to Salzburg, Austra.

FACTS

SEASON START & END:  Early December to Late April

SKI ALTITUDE IN METRES: 1,013 m– 2,173 m

PISTES: 45 km pistes – 10 Blue pistes @ 24 km / 12 Red pistes @ 17 km / 3 Black pistes @ 4 km

LIFTS: 16 lifts – Funicular: 1 /  Gondola: 3 / Chair lift: 6 / Drag Lifts: 5 / Magic Carpet: 1

SNOW: 160 Snow cannons

LIFT TICKET 2022/23 Adult Ski Pass: € 61 (1 day) / from € 264,00 (6 days) – the lift pass covers the entire Ski amadΓ© area (5 regions & 760km of piste)

CROSS COUNTRY SKIING: Zauchensee-Flachauwinkl-Kleinarl: 260 km

LANGUAGE: German

AIRPORT: Nearest airports are: Salzburg 69 km, Munich 211 km, Vienna 319 km

TRAIN: Nearest stations to Zauchensee:  Altenmarkt: 10 km  / Radstadt: 14 km / Bischofshofen: 35 km / Salzburg: 79 km

SKI FACTS: Very good connections with the ski bus in general / Ski in – Ski out in Zauchensee64

burgstallhuette-1 (BBB Land) (Custom)
gamskogel_zauchensee (Custom)
pferdeschlitten-gross (Custom)
piste_zauch-gross (BBB Land) (Custom)
rodeln-salzburger-sportwelt-fotograf-tom-lamm-ikarus-11 (BBB Land) (Custom)
skifahren-paar-zauchensee
skigebiet-zauchensee 1200
skihuette-gloneralm-zauchensee
skitouren-gross (Custom)
weltcup Zauchensee
2013-14-skitour-zauchensee-huber-hans-photos-13 (BBB Land)
2017-18-powdern-zauchensee-freunde-matthias-fritzenwallner-17 (BBB Land) (Custom)
2021-winterlicht-spaziergang-oesterreich-werbung-nina-baumgartner-thecreatingclick-47 (BBB Land) (Custom)

The Impressive town

The Ski area of Zauchensee itself does not have a main town centre, but rather a collection of hotels with a few sports shops. The nearest town is Altenmarkt, only a short 15 15-minute very beautiful drive along a twisting, tree-laden Alpine road.

The town is thriving with many hotels, shops, restaurants and bars providing some light apres ski. As the location for the famous Atomic ski factory since 1955 and who are still making skis to this day, Altenmarkt has the feel of a town that is on the map for good reason.

The valley is fairly wide so it receives a lot of sun as well. If looking for a hotel to stay at, we recommend the 4-star Hotel Kesselgrub; next door you will find an outstanding restaurant by the name of sβ€˜Kessei run by some very promising young chefs. If looking for an evening of fun and food make the 1-hour walk, or take a taxi up to the HochnΓΆssleralm for a night of classic local cuisine and traditional music followed by a 4km toboggan run back down to the valley, this had us in fits of laughter.

altenmarkt ansicht tag und nacht BBB

Skiing

The World Cup resort of Altenmarkt-Zauchensee is part of the larger Ski amadΓ© ski area. The base stations sit at 1350 metres. This is the original playground of such legendary downhill skiers such as  Hermann Maier and Michael Walchhofer.

Zauchensee is part of the Zauchensee-Flachauwinkl-Kleinarl ski network with 65 km of piste and 25 lifts, and last winter the Panoramalink opened giving direct access to Flachau-Wagrain-St. Johann and a combined total of 200km of skiing. However, all guests purchase the Ski amadΓ© lift pass which provides access to 760 km of slopes across 5 ski areas.

One can either drive from Altenmarkt to Zauchensee or take the free bus. There are 16 mountain restaurants, our favourite was the BurgstallhΓΌtte, Β a classic Austrian Alpine hutte with cuisine to match, do not leave without sampling their Zirbenschnaps.

skifahren zauchensee BBB

BEGINNERS –
The resort has a large collection of blue pistes covering the mountains, so once one starts to get the hang of their skis or snowboard then it is possible to start exploring the mountains. Blue Piste #11 Tauernkarlift provides a nice open space, great to practise your skills.

INTERMEDIATE –
The pistes in the resort are particularly well suited to the intermediate skiers. The piste Ostabfahrt 9 from the Gamskogel is a long, wide and particularly fun blue run that gently follows the undulations of the mountain; alternatively test your skills on the Gamskogel Weldcup Ladies downhill covering pistes 6, 5 & 5a; a fun ride that twists and turns its way down to Zauchensee. Also, make sure you hop over the mountain to the red and blue pistes that lead to Flauchauwinkl, #15 Highliner I & II.

ADVANCED –
There are not a huge amount of black pistes, but the #10 Tauernkar piste provides a lot of fun steep carving action. This will not stop you from enjoying the various red pistes around the mountain, this is a carving paradise.

Rauchkopfhutte Zauchensee

Ecology and sustainability

– The electricity for the snow production is 100% based on sustainable sources.

– The local community centre and the event hall is set up with Photovoltaic panels.

– By 2030 Altenmarkt-Zauchensee plans to be self-sufficient with all the energy that is required by the town. The goal is to become a β€˜Green Destination’.

Zauchensee Flachauwinkl Piste Map 2019
Zauchensee Flachauwinkle Piste Map

Fact box

For more information visit Altenmarkt – Zauchensee online.

Altenmarkt/Zauchensee is located in the region of SalzburgerLand, for more information on the region including other ski resorts such as Obertauern and Leogang please visit their website online.

The Bespoke Black Book travelled with Eurotunnel Le Shuttle to get to the Austrian Alps. Book your trip with Eurotunnel Le Shuttle from as little as Β£87 per vehicle (up to 9 passengers) each way for a Short Stay Saver ticket (valid for 5 calendar days) or Β£110 per vehicle (up to 9 passengers) for a Standard ticket (for any duration).

Alternatively, travel in style with one-way Β£269 per vehicle (up to 9 passengers) for a Flexiplus ticket, turn up any time and get on the next available train, and access to the club lounge (for any duration). You can also take your pet for just Β£22 each way.

For more information or to book see online at www.eurotunnel.com.

Author

  • AdamAttew

    Ski is life and life is ski, but when Adam is not skiing he is an accomplished Alpine Landscape artist specialising in winter scenes and has exhibited in London, Austria and beyond. With over 40 years of skiing experience from ski touring to Giant Slalom, Adam is a BASI-qualified Ski and Telemark instructor and is also a member of the prestigious Kandahar Ski Club. Despite his love of G&Ts; health and nutrition are a way of life for Adam who has lived Paleo or 'eating like a caveman' for over 20 years.

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