| Ski Run Info | |
|---|---|
| Total Runs (km) | 130km |
| Longest Run | 8km |
| Number of Runs | 59 |
| Beginner | 31 |
| Intermediate | 19 |
| Advanced | 9 |
| Lifts | |
|---|---|
| Gondalas | 12 |
| Chair Lifts | 15 |
| Other Lifts | 30 |
| Total Lifts | 57 |
| Other | |
|---|---|
| Cross Country | 300km |
| Snow Cannons | 25 |
| Uphill Capacity | 58000 |
| Social | |
|---|---|
| Clubs | 3 |
| Bars | 12 |
| Restaurants | 43 |
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Zell am See, Austria
Zell am See is one of the oldest Bavarian settlements of the Pinzgau valley. It is thought that the Romans had a presence here. In 740 AD the monks of the Archbishop John of Salzburg founded a settlement directly on the shores of the lake Zell, naming it ‘Cella in Bisonzio’. The town has been known as Zell am See since 1810.
Zell am See became a successful holiday resort after the Giselabahn railway was introduced in 1875. The railway brought about the construction of various hotels and thus the settlement grew. This, combined with construction of the Grossglockner Alpine road provided further access to the Pinzgau valley. In the 1930s a cable car ascending the Schmittenhöhe mountain opened up the skiing area.
In spite of the popularity, Zell am See remains an attractive location with a different feel than most Austrian ski resorts. This may be attributed to the water front location.
Skiing in Zell am See and Europa Ski Region
Zell am See is linked to Kaprun, forming the Europa Ski Region, and thus provides skiers and snowboarders with the choice of two ski areas. The two resorts are linked by a free (15 minute) bus ride. Directly behind Zell am See lies the Schmittenhöhe mountain with 80 kilometres of piste. The Schmittenhöhe mountain has some excellent terrain for the advanced skier. Further down the Pinzgau Valley, past Kaprun, is the Kitzsteinhorn glacier, which has a large range of runs, particularly for the intermediate and beginner skier. Boarders will not be disappointed with the terrain on offer and the half-pipe on the Kitzsteinhorn. The combined Zell am See / Kaprun area offers over 130km of varied piste in 4 different areas above and below the tree line.
Beginner Skiing in Zell am See
Beginners are well catered for on the , the Schmittenhöhe mountain directly behind Zell am See. Further afield, the Lechnerberg behind Kaprun village centre has various nursery slopes. Beginners progress from here to the easier runs on the Kitzsteinhorn glacier, where the snow conditions are often better.
Intermediate and Advanced Skiing
More advanced skiers will want to make use of the whole Kaprun / Zell am See area. The Kitzsteinhorn glacier is snow secure and offers some fantastic runs. Behind Zell am See, the Schmittenhöhe mountain offers about 80 kilometres of piste, including some excellent terrain for the advanced skier. The whole region has 7 black runs with some vicious mogul fields. Intermediate skiers will enjoy the 6.3km long "Schüttenabfahrt" run.
Europa Sport Ski Region of Kaprun and Zell am See has a reputation of being one of the best snow boarding resorts in Europe. The resort has a great attitude to boarders, offering a couple of half pipes at Kaprun and a board park at Zell am See. In recent years the resort has hosted the the annual “Snowboard UK” board test.
Apres Ski and Nearby
Zell am See has a many shops, cafes and restaurants. There are a range of activities on offer other than skiing, in the height of winter the lake freezes over and is used for ice-skating and curling. The après-ski is lively, varied and typically Austrian, with many bars and a number of discos to choose from. Visitors may also choose to upgrade their pass at the 'Optimum' Sports Centre in Kaprun and thus gain unlimited access to the indoor/outdoor pool and steam room situated there.
The village of Bruck sits close by at 560m with. Bruck has just one lift but provides a quieter and cheaper alternative to Zell am See itself. Another option is Schuttdorf, which is a peaceful and traditional hamlet situated further up the valley from Zell. While the skiing in either of these outlying villages is limited, access to the Europa Ski Sport Region is easy and accommodation is that much cheaper.
| Resort Information | |
|---|---|
| Altitude | 762m |
| Top Elevation | 3029m |