The Wildschönau holiday region in Tirol

The name Wildschönau means "wild and beautiful" and couldn’t be more fitting for this traditional and quaint high valley in the heart of Tirol. 260 working farms, the remote location and above all the hospitality of the local people makes the Wildschönau a very special place.

Strung along the high valley in the Kitzbühel Alps are four independent villages, Niederau, Oberau, Auffach and Thierbach.
Every one of the villages has it’s own charm. Thierbach is particularly idyllic.

Don’t be surprised when you are greeted on the streets. Every passerby is greeted with a friendly "Griass di“ - even strangers.

Hospitality is one of the best characteristics of the local people along with their sense of tradition and pride in their beautiful home. In this pastoral valley there are 260 working farms.
Traditional costume is worn with pride at festivals and processions. Clubs and societies play a large part in local life. One of these is reminiscent of the Tirolean Freedom Fighters of Andreas Hofer known as the Sturmlöda – the Storm Troopers.

A rarity is the Krautinger beet schnapps.

With it’s well-developed infrastructure, many leisure activities and welcoming hotels, the Wildschönau is a unique place and a perfect holiday destination.

Schönanger Alm

The Schönanger high pasture is the largest in the region and home to the show dairy. It is a wonderful walking area and the gateway to the highest mountains in the Wildschönau.

Not far from the Markbachjoch in Niederau is the Holzalm high pasture. An easy walk leads to the alm hut where delicious cheese is produced. Other routes nearby lead to the Feldalphorn or Rosskopf Mountains.

The Wildschönau landscape is particularly rich in pasture land. 46 high pastures are the summer home to cows, horses, sheep and goats. Every pasture or "alm" has grazing rights for a certain number of animals. The Wildschönau's farmers own a total of 1600 grazing rights.

Try out all the typical Tirolean treats and dishes made with local farm produce on menus in the Wildschönau. It’s almost impossible to miss the local speciality, the beet schnapps known as Krautinger.

More details

In the Wildschönau every village has it's own brass band. There are 4 in total from Niederau, Oberau, Mühltal and Auffach and each holds a weekly concert during the summer months and is the background to many an event around the region. The largest festival is the annual Valley Festival which takes place on the second weekend in August. Genuine Tirolean folk music is performed in hotels and at every event. 12 choirs and a music high school contribute to the musical culture of the valley.

260 working farms shape the landscape of the Wildschönau Valley. The farming life is more a vocation than a profession demanding total commitment.

The beautiful old farmhouses in the Wildschönau add to the atmosphere in the deep winter landscape.

The blue hour between day and night is a particularly atmospheric time in the Wildschönau

The winters are quieter here than in the summer months. The tranquility draws winter walkers and cross country skiers.

A church, a school, a couple of hotels and a few houses and farms. Thierbach is an idyllic hamlet, the highest in the Kitzbühel Alps and well worth a visit.

Tradition is upheld in the local costume, worn proudly at many events. The most attractive version is the so-called "Kasettl", a particularly valuable costume, worn only on the most important occasions such as weddings, funerals and church processions.

The "Sturmlöda" or Storm Troopers is an historical society reminiscent of the Tirolean Freedom Fighters during the Napoleonic Wars at the beginning of the 19th century. Armed with just scythes, flails and pitch forks the local farmers were called upon to defend Tirol against Napoleon's allies the Bavarians by local viligante Andreas Hofer. The Sturmlöda are a popular sight at festivals throughout the year.