Ehrwald

Sharing a mountain with Germany, Ehrwald sits snugly in the foothills of the Zugspitze in a northeastern corner of Austria. Part of the Wetterstein Massif, the region of Tiroler Zugspitz Arena is blessed by natural beauty: craggy mountains, dense pine forests, aquamarine lakes and valleys lushly filled with herbs and wildflowers.

Within the region are pockets of habitation and small villages, including Ehrwald, Lermoos, Berwang, Bichlbach, Biberwier, Heiterwang am See and Namlos, all of which display the beauteous characteristics of pure alpine life and each have a little something unique to offer. Bichlback for example has the only guild church of its type in Austria. Ehrwald, dating back to 1274, is charm personified; its name comes from the Old High German word ‘erro wald’, translates as ‘the entrance to the forest’ and was put on the map by mining in the region. 

As well as cultural treasures, customary tradition runs deep, and can be prominently seen at several junctures throughout the year. The mountain fires which take place over summer solstice in the valley basin of Ehrwald-Lermoos-Biberwier are perhaps the most memorable and eye-catching, taking the form of fiery sculptures in symbolic shapes, dotted in crevices of the mountains. This tradition harks back to the 14th century when fires were believed to protect people from demons and evil spirits. 

The mountain of Zugspitze plays a domineering part of life here. From Ehrwald, jump on the Tiroler Zugspitzbahn cable car and at the top, stop by the rather wonderful Fascination Zugspitze Experiential World museum which tracks the history of the mountain in an engaging way. It’s a nice gateway welcome to the mountains – before perhaps grabbing onto the via ferratas, climbing or biking rocky pathways in summer months. Come winter, a snowy wonderland awaits for thrill-seekers to ski, snowboard or snow-shoe the Ehrwalder Alm, Wettersteinbahnen and Zugspitzplatt ski resorts. Either way, Ehrwald and the villages of Tiroler Zugspitz Arena await for fresh air, cultural forays and mountain adventure.