après-ski just like it used to be

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gastronomy and table talk
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In summer 2014, the Museum Huber-Hus in Lech hosts a varied
exhibition focusing on Lech Cuisine.
The list of ingredients is short: 650 g polenta, two litres of milk,
250 g butter, a pinch of salt and - if available - a dash of cream.
It takes slightly longer to cook: You should count on stirring for
a good hour. It makes enough to feed quite a few people: up to 8,
by our reckoning. The dish is called Riebel, a traditional Vorarlberg
food, cooked in a large cast iron pan, served hot and steaming, and
washed down with a cup of barley coffee. Around 1900 in Lech, you
did not find bread rolls, butter and jam on the table; instead you ate
this satisfying, and what‘s more, inexpensive, cornmeal dish. It is
very rare to see Riebel simmering on the stove these days – but the
smell of it does bring back the days gone by. The days when Lech
Zürs was still predominantly an agricultural area.
With the advent of tourism Lech Zürs changed for good. Cuisine
and dining customs adapted rapidly to the new challenges. Tracing
these changes is one of the aims of the special Gastronomy and
Table Talk exhibition.
Planning for the exhibition centred around the fact that with 14
gourmet restaurants, Lech Zürs boasts „‘the highest density of
Gault Millau toques in Austria‘ and was described in the 2008 Falstaff Restaurant Guide as the ‚world‘s best gourmet village‘“, said
Thomas Felfer of the Museum Huber-Hus in Lech. This special exhibition will trace the changes in cuisine and dining customs from
1900 to the present day. The exhibition‘s primary source of information came from extensive interviews conducted with the local
Lech population. Their memories and their culinary vocabulary
form the common thread that runs through the special exhibition
at the Huber-Hus museum.
Apart from being a basic human requirement, eating always involves a strong social element. As settled communities developed, the
need arose for them to produce their own food, cultivate fields, and
establish trade routes to get those goods which they themselves did
not have. Since time immemorial, for example, Lech has obtained
its flour and corn from Oberstdorf, in Germany and, by way of reciprocity, the local farmers sold their livestock and other products
there. „There has always been a lively trade, and this is reflected in
the recipes“, Felfer said, referring to the old cookery books and old
school cook books, from which various influences can be traced.
„Even polenta, the main ingredient in the Riebel mentioned above,
could not be grown in Lech at such high altitudes, so it had to be
bought. But it is something which keeps very well, and could therefore be stored in quantity.
The rural diet in 1900 was by no means inferior to today‘s diet; it
simply did not contain the variety that people are used to nowadays. The list of ingredients in the recipes was seldom very long.
White and yellow turnips and cabbage were stored in earth cellars.
Meat was smoked and salted to preserve it. Fresh meat, which graces our tables almost every day, was seldom eaten by our forbears, except when slaughtered, which usually happened in autumn.
„Fresh meat used to be called ‘green meat’ in those days“, said Felfer.
As important sources of nutrition, milk and dairy products were
found in almost all dishes.
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servus 1/14
New stories about the Austria for people we like and who like us a bit, too.
at the austria
summer 2014
open hearth in a walser house
It was mainly stews which were prepared on an open hearth, of
course. It was only with the closed stove, the ring stove, that a variety of foods could be cooked all at the same time – and this naturally affected the kind of food served at the table. Such a simple
stove obviously meant that you could not feed many guests. The
stream of tourists to the region steadily increased, which resulted
in kitchen equipment undergoing significant changes. Inns were
developed, hotels were built, and obviously, the kitchen areas had
to be fitted out in line with the new demands placed on them. Whereas the mountaineers who came at the very beginning were much
more interested in reaching the summit than indulging in culinary
flights of fancy, the guests who cavorted on the ski slopes asked
for more comfort, and for greater choice on the menu than those strapping mountaineering enthusiasts of the 19th century who
came in pursuit of the most inhospitable places, or were just passing through. The people of Lech were quick to adjust themselves to
the new requirements and started to offer international cuisine – as
menus from the 1950s clearly show.
Fads, such as the fondue, also found their way onto restaurant menus as culinary specialities. The so-called „cold platter“ featuring
cold meats was commonplace well into the 1970s. That has something to do with chefs mostly having the day off on Sunday,
while the guests still needed to have their appetites taken care of.
Even the term „cold platter“, which is hardly ever used today, shows
that with changes in gastronomy and dining customs, the words
we use to describe food change too. The Gastronomy and Table Talk
exhibition devotes much attention to this important aspect.
The tasty Riebel, whose aroma is still recalled with fondness by
many older folk, is unfamiliar to most of the younger generation.
Speaking of which, the trend in cooking continues to place emphasis on regional specialities. Riebel, therefore, has a good chance of
reappearing on one or two menus in future.
Special exhibition: Gastronomy and Table Talk at the Museum
Huber-Hus. Dates: 24 June 2014 to 05 October 2014. Opening
hours: Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays 3.00 – 6.00 p.m.
sun &
snow
firn &
fun!
We‘re staying open
until 27 April!
Mornings on the piste, afternoons sunning on the terrace! A
short bike ride or a walk through springtime alpine pastures are
other possibilities to consider. If you like walking on the golf course
instead, remember that Hotel Austria guests receive a discount at
Golfclub Bludenz-Braz. Over Easter, enjoy the whole gamut of great
things Lech has to offer in springtime!
easter at hotel austria
20. - 27.04.2014
All-inclusive price: ¤ 1.150 per person, in a nice comfortable
double room
> Breakfast buffet, selection of
cakes in the afternoon, and a
6-course dinner menu
> Free use of the AlpinBad bathing facilities and Revitalium
spa and wellness area
> Free use of the fitness room
> Bathrobe and slippers during
your stay
> 6-day ski pass
> Bicycle hire
> Walking sticks
> Garage parking
> Wi-Fi access
après-ski
just like it
used to be
End your day on the slopes in style at Tanzcafé Arlberg - 30 March to 13 April 2014.
Jazz, soul, rock´n roll and swing bands play
live at the Rüfiplatz, in the relaxing atmosphere either inside the hotel or on the openair terraces – and give you an experience
reminiscent of the good old days! Reception
staff will be happy to give you details on
when and where the bands will be playing.
Free admission.
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canyoning!
a special alpine experience for
people of all ages
Kitted out with a wetsuit and helmet, canyoning harness, rope and backpack, you
get into the cool water. Following the natural course of the stream you abseil through the
middle of waterfalls, slide over smooth stone slabs, jump into crystal clear pools and swim
through deep river passages. First in dry training, and then later in the canyon, you will
learn the right techniques every step of the way, with expert advice from highly-trained
canyoning guides.
Supervised by experienced guides, you‘re bound to learn something more about this exceptional sport. Join us in discovering the fascinating natural features in the deep, narrow
gorges and the thrill of lively, moving water. You will need good physical fitness, a towel,
swimwear and sports shoes you don‘t mind getting wet. Even children as young as 7 can
manage the initial stages in the canyon. Special tours for children or families are geared
towards mastering the basics - easy as pie! Our guides always choose a route individually
tailored to the level of physical fitness, experience and proficiency of the group.
Fore!
the lech golf course
dream comes true in
autumn 2015!
In the breathtakingly spectacular Zugertal mountain valley at an
altitude of 1,500 m, work will begin on the highest golf course
in Austria in the summer of 2014. On what is arguably the only
piece of flat terrain in the whole of the Arlberg region, the beautiful 9-hole course will be nestled against a backdrop of high alpine
scenery, and created as if it had always been there. It promises to
become the ultimate in golfing enjoyment for beginners and old
hands alike.
the fairways! This summer, we would love to take a stroll around
the course with you if you are interested in seeing progress so far,
and look forward to the first game in autumn 2015.
Until we can tee off in Lech, we‘ll continue to practise at Golfclub
Bludenz-Braz and the golf course in Mieming in earnest preparation
for the Golf Challenge Lech 2014!
During course construction, particular care will be taken to respect
the indigenous flora and fauna as much as possible. There is the
chance that a few marmots might develop a liking
for the game and become enthusiastic spectators. Peaceful coexistence between humans and the local wildlife is entirely
possible, of course – as long as
golfers manage to keep to
Lech Zürs Tourismus © HannoMackowitz
Running high
run in lech!
Regardless of whether you like to call it jogging, running, Nordic walking, trail running, mountain running or just walking,
you’re sure to find the ideal terrain to enjoy your favourite
form of ambulation with us.
Because the landscape is perfect. The altitude is ideal. And monotony
is impossible. With 10 specially designed running and Nordic walking paths, Lech has everything you need for a great run. And everyone is invited to come and enjoy the magical mountains of Lech
during the special running events organised by the town. We hope
you have a great time and a good workout each and every time!
Take a deep breath and off you go!
Back home, your feet are pounded into submission by hard asphalt
and despite your high-tech running shoes they feel tired and fa-
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Golf
Challenge
Lech 2014
tigued. You’re constantly confronted with artificial obstacles, such
as intersections and red lights, that break your rhythm. You stand
there and breathe in fine dust and car exhaust, both neither healthy
nor fragrant. Breathe a sigh of relief, because you won’t find any
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of that up here with us. Guaranteed! At an altitude of 1,450 m, this
high alpine valley is the ideal spot for an active summer vacation.
10 running paths offer you 54 km of running fun to enjoy.
You can run on gravelled paths along the river, soft meadows, mossy forest paths and trails strewn with fir branches and you may
not even notice that these different kinds of terrain work like a
massage on your feet. But as soon as you take off your running
shoes and wade barefoot in the cool waters of the Lech, just because
you want to, just because you want to breathe in the fresh, pure
mountain air, then you’ll know how refreshing and exhilarating a
holiday here can be.
A week to remember! Regardless of whether you’re a professional or a beginner,
great fun is guaranteed this week.
Together with 3 other hotels – Hotel Gasthof Post, Hotel der Berghof and Hotel Goldener Berg – this week will feature an extravaganza of great golfing and fine gourmet
dining, because each of these hotels is opening its doors for a festive dinner as well.
Following the game, all of the guests will
meet at the terraces of the golf club and can
thus get to know their fellow players. This
way, by the end of the week, golfing opponents can turn into golfing friends. At the
same time, however, there is a bit of rivalry
developing around the game for the Hotel
Cup. All of the guests will be vying for this
grand prize. But no worries, even if you’re
off your game on one day: only the four
best guests at each hotel will be counted towards the win. Last summer, we were once
again successful and were able to win the
Cup back. We hope to have peaked your interest...
Here’s the preliminary programme for the
2014 Golf Challenge:
> Sunday: welcome cocktail and dinner at
Hotel Austria
> Monday: practice round on the Champion’s
Course in Mieming
> Tuesday: tournament in Mieming and
dinner at the Hotel Gasthof Post
> Wednesday: concert evening
> Thursday: Short course tournament at the
3-hole golf course in Lech and dinner at
Hotel der Berghof
> Friday: Practice round at the golf course in
Bludenz-Braz (Texas Scramble format)
> Saturday: Final tournament in Braz and
closing dinner at the venerable Hotel
Goldener Berg
Package price includes:
> Breakfast and dinner (excl. beverages)
> All practice rounds and tournaments
> Transfers to the golf courses
> Lunch on game days
> Tickets for the concert evening
> Starting present and other small gifts
during the week
> Closing ceremonies
> Guided walks and mountain hikes
> Lech Card for free use of hiking buses,
mountain tramways, etc.
> Free mountain bike rental
> Admission to the spa area Revitalium and
the new pool landscape Alpine Baths, with
separate areas for adults and children
> New gym with a fantastic view of Lech
> New youth room, with pool table, table
football and Playstation
> Table tennis
> Childcare at the Teddy-Club for kids 3 and
up
> Children’s playground
> Wi-Fi throughout the Hotel
> Bath robe and slippers during your stay
> Garage parking and much more...
For more information, please contact Claudia or Georg Strolz
golf challenge lech 2014 package
from 20 to 27 July 2014
Package price for 7 nights, in a comfort
double room: EUR 1.355
For weekend reservations from Thursday
to Sunday: EUR 605
Accompanying persons may participate in
the side events!
Package price in a comfort double room,
without golf: EUR 1.005
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7th
Lech
Musicians
Day
Lech Zürs Tourismus © Mathis
Paella before...
....and after
not to be missed! „music - in traditional garb!“ on saturday 02.08.2014
from 11.00 a.m. onwards
Family snippets
At the 7th Lech Musicians‘ Day folk musicians, singers and dancers will come together in Lech once again from near and
far and transform our village into our own
version of the „Cloud of Sound“.
The Musicians‘ Day will be officially opened
at 11.00 a.m. at the Rüfikopfplatz. After that,
participating groups will play and sing
everywhere – in mountain huts and alpine pastures, in formal gardens and sunny
terraces; or, if the weather is bad, somewhere cosy indoors. The traditional dishes
and specialities served by various hotels on
the day are a perfect accompaniment to the
Lech Zürs Tourismus © Maria Muxel
folk music. At 7:00 p.m. some groups will
make music at the service held in the Lech
Parish Church, followed by a convivial gettogether at around 7.30 p.m. with music and
dance at the Lecher Stube.
We heartily encourage all guests to don
their traditional costume or dirndl for this
event!
2013 was an intense year for us. It included a leavers‘ ball for
each of our children, Aurel and Johanna. Two lavish celebrations
which we will always remember. Aurel passed his course in hotel
management in June, and Johanna will sit for her exams at the beginning of June this year.
Among the highlights of last year was our short holiday in Ibiza,
where we visited our friends, Susi and Sepp Schellhorn. A gifted
cook, Sepp spoiled us in style at his country estate and treated us to
barbecues and an excellent paella. We thank them both for this very
relaxing time spent together.
Aurel, the Entertainer
Our Lech Classical Music Festival package:
“hiking, wellness and music”
from 3 to 10 august 2014
Arrival on Sunday with a gala dinner in
the evening. Half board for 7 days (great
breakfast buffet, selection of cakes in the
afternoon, gourmet dinner)
Leisurely walks with Jürgen, our long-time
hiking guide every day, Monday to Friday,
usually from 9.00 a.m. to about 2.00 p.m.
Thursday: summit tour upon request.
3rd lech classic music festival
Tuesday 5 August to Saturday 9 August 2014
The 2014 Classical Music Festival offers six consecutive days of more „serious“ music for the
connoisseur. Better-known works as well as some unconventional pieces will feature on this
carefully crafted programme.
The programme opens with a launch into the world of Gospel and Spirituals with a striking
interpretation of the Creation story. And in sharp contrast: An evening at the opera with a
difference. Excerpts from „Die Fledermaus“ and „The Merry Widow“ will not only be performed and sung, but will also include commentary and critical appraisal.
To commemorate the 300th Birthday of Christoph Willibald Gluck, there will be a concert
performance of his reform opera „Orfeo ed Euridice“. As always, high-profile soloist recitals
by international artists span a wide musical arc. We look forward to seeing all concertgoers once again this year!
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> Between 5.00 and 7.00 p.m., a classical
music concert on four evenings of the
week.
Spa afternoons:
> 1 x manicure
> 1 x pedicure
> 1 x peeling and hay bath
> Free use of the AlpinBad bathing facilities
and Revitalium spa and wellness area
> Bathrobe and slippers during your stay
You are also invited to join us for a hiking
cocktail gathering, a small wine tasting,
and our raclette evening on the Friday.
Your Hiking, Wellness and Music all-inclusive price for seven nights, including half
board, treatments and concert tickets:
¤ 880 per person, in a nice comfortable
double room.
Johanna with
grannys Elsbeth
and Hermi
Aurel takes care of wood
The off-season months of May and June saw the men of the family
cutting wood for the fireplaces in the reception and swimming
pool areas. Although it is sweaty work, Aurel and Georg enjoy this
time spent together outdoors very much.
As they do every summer, Georg and Johanna go on a hike together.
This hiking trip has become something of a tradition. In summer
2013, they hiked stage 1 of the Lech trail. Anyone who visits Lech in
the summer should include this amazing hiking trip in their plans.
Georg and Johanna
explore the Lech
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„... I want to go
agaaaaaaain.........!!!!!!“*
autumn week
for active
enthusiasts
hiking
and
wellness
hiking and wellness:
21 - 28 Sept or
28 Sept - 05 Oct 2014
Treat yourself to an activity-filled holiday for the mind and body at the end of
summer. Enjoy our guided hiking tours in
the beautiful mountains in the mornings,
and indulge yourself in the afternoons
with soothing treatments in our Revitalium
spa and wellness area.
* Something we hear all the time!
And we hear it each summer, during the
Austria Children’s Adventure Week at
the latest
The Children’s Adventure Week at the end
of August has really become a set part of
the summer programme at the Austria. For
one week, as many outdoor activities as
possible are offered, for three different
age groups!
Whether its an excursion to Bärenland,
a day at the fish pond in Zug for the little
ones or an Indiana Jones day, building rafts
and exploring caves for kids and teens: next
year we are sure to come up with some exciting adventures for the wee ones!
Here’s our programme:
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> Minis from 3 to 6:
> Fishing at the fish pond
> Grilling at the Lech
> Adventure hike
> Visit to Bärenland
> Kids’ Olympics and much more
> Kids and Teens from 7 to 14:
> Adventure Park Schröcken
> Mini-canyoning
> Adventure Day
> Children’s climbing
> Family adventure
> And for parents
> 5 guided hikes
> 2 guided mountain climbs
> Daily relaxing at the Revitalium and
the new Alpine baths
> Free mountain bike rental
children´s adventure week 2014
from 23 to 30 August 2014
Package price for 7 nights in apartment excl.
cleaning, incl. half-board
> EUR 690 per adult in small apartment
> EUR 790 per adult in mid-size apartment
“E“ or apartment “small with loft”
> EUR 879 per adult in apartments “D“, “F“ or
“D south“
> EUR 900 per adult in apartments “G“ or
“Omeshorn“
> Per child, 0-6 years: EUR 0
> Per child, 7-10 years: EUR 320
> Per child, 11-14 years: EUR 420
The week‘s activities:
Arrival on Sunday with a gala dinner in the
evening. Half board for 7 days (great breakfast buffet, selection of cakes in the afternoon, gourmet dinner). Leisurely walks
with Jürgen, our long-time hiking guide
every day, Monday to Friday, usually from
9.00 a.m. to about 2.00 p.m.
Thursday: summit tour upon request.
Spa afternoons:
> 1 x manicure
> 1 x pedicure
> 1 x Classic facial treatment
> 1 x toning beauty treatment
> 1 x aromatherapy massage
> 1 x peeling and hay bath
> Free use of the AlpinBad bathing facilities
and Revitalium spa and wellness area
> Bathrobe and slippers during your stay
Holiday happiness for
a Swiss couple
Maggie and André were the lucky winners of the „Vorarlberg Experience“ raffle competition held in September 2013. Their prize was a
relaxing hiking weekend with us at Hotel Austria.
They enjoyed their days spent in Lech, and afterwards wrote us a
nice letter:
You are also invited to join us for a hiking
cocktail gathering, a small wine tasting, and
our raclette evening on the Friday.
hiking and wellness
21 - 28.09.2014 or 28.09. – 05.10.2014
Your Hiking and Wellness all-inclusive
price for seven nights, including half board
and treatments:
¤ 910 per person
Once again, thank you very much for the perfect hospitality in your
hotel! The prize allowed us to discover a region and an exceptional
centre of wellness which we know will hold a special place in our
memories in the years ahead. We will also remember the laughter, and incredibly amusing time we had – as I am sure our fellow
guests from Alsace in the dining room will, too!
Yours sincerely, Your Swiss guests,
Maggie and Andre Hättenschwiler
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