Lech am Arlberg: Elite’s favorite winter destination

Attracting royalties like Princess Diana, the Jordanian royal family, the Dutch royal family, and Monaco’s Princess Caroline, Lech am Arlsberg (Lech), in Austria, has gained an international reputation as a winter vacation spot for the richest and famous in the globe.

Of course, being known as a holiday destination of the blue-blooded guests, Lech might sound like an Austrian St. Moritz or Megève, a place for the jet setters. But despite this image, the picturesque Lech remains true to its farming village origins.

This beautiful mountain village and exclusive ski resort is in the Bludenz district in Vorarlberg’s westernmost state, on the banks of the river Lech. However, based on geography and history, Lech belongs to the Tannberg district, and yet, in touristic terms, it is part of the Arlberg region.

Lech is run together with the neighboring villages of Zürs, Zug, Oberlech, and Stubenbach. Lech am Arlberg is one of the elite group’s “Best of the Alps.”

The village of Lech, with an altitude of 1,450m, yearly receives twice as much snow as some of its French rivals receive. The slopes are excellent for intermediate skiers, who will find the terrain a lot more friendly covered by the same Arlberg lift pass.

Lech’s route has a steep valley and 900- ft peak that provides an exhilarating introduction to this Alberg resort. Alpine skiing was associated with Lech and Zurs as they were considered the birthplace of the sports that was founded in the 14th Century.

The resort is home to Olympians and professional winter sports athletes. The resort’s location makes it more exclusive than St. Anton and enjoys shorter lift lines and less crowded slopes.

If you walk along the Lech River, you will feel like you are transported back in time as the village streets have Bavarian architecture.

Securing a lift ticket allows access to nearby Zurs, Zug, St. Anton, St. Christoph, and Stuben, plus world-famous ski schools, guided ski tours, and heliskiing. Besides, there’s a long list of things to: from paragliding, cross-country skiing, ice skating, Austrian-style curling, tobogganing, and sleigh rides drawn by horses.

LECHSKI RESORT

One of the best snowfalls in the Alps, tree-free and wide-open bowls, world-classon and off-piste skiing, indeed, Lech is a premier ski resort and is no doubt loved by elite families and wealthy clientele.

Skiroutes are avalanche controlled but not groomed or patrolled. So, skiing isbest done with a guide. Hiring a guide is still worthwhile as you will beintroduced to the best places and look for untracked powder and breathtakingviews.

Skiing

The combined Alberg has 305 km ski runs, 200 km of high alpine deep snow runs, and 88 lifts and cable cars. Skiers can stop and take some breaks at several rustic huts and Alpine refuges. For those visitors who don’t want to ski, buses always are convenient for transferring from one area to another.

“The White Ring,” 22 km ski slopes at 5,500 meters altitude, must try a legendary ski circuit. The White Ring Race, which is considered the ‘world’s longest ski race,’ is very popular and attracts skiers from all regions coming to this resort.

A former racer, and the owner of the Montana Oberlech, Patrick Ortlieb, still holds the record at 44:35:07 minutes during the first White Ring race.

Lech can still be enjoyed by all types of skiers and boarders. Beginner can ski at Weibermahd, Oberlech, Schelgelkopf or Petersboden, while intermediates will enjoy Steinmähder and Zürs. Advanced or expert snow players can go to Madloch and Langer Zug, or “Skiroutes” as Osthang and Südhang.

History

Walser migrants from the canton of Wallis Switzerland first settled and founded Lech in the first half of the 14th Century. It was then initially known as the “Tannberg” in the 19th Century. Later, it was called “Tannberg am Lech” and now “Lech.”

St. Nicholas church was thought to have been built in 1390 and was the Tannbergadministrative district’s parish church. There was also a Tannberg district court until the dissolution of the Tannberg district in 1806.

Getting to Lech

Of course, Innsbruck and Zurich are unsurprisingly the favorite airports for Lech, with the former concentrating on ski charter flights and the latter on the scheduled market.

Here are the different distances from Lech am Arlberg to the various airports:

  • to Innsbruck Airport: 120km
  • to Friedrichshafen Airport: 128km
  • to Zurich Airport: 196km
  • to Munich Airport: 248km
  • to Salzburg Airport: 294km

Travel & Flights to Lech

Visitors from overseas can best take the major international gateway airports of Zurich (ZRH) or Munich (MUC) going to Lech. These airports are both fabulous. However, Europe’s visitors can travel through the comparatively minor airports at Innsbruck and Friedrichshafen as these are great for those with UK flight origins. Another advantage is that Zurich and Innsbruck offer the most convenient train transfer connections to the ski resort.

You can freely use your preferred search engine to look and book for a great deal on a flight to Zurich, Innsbruck, or other European airports.