That’s your holiday in St. Anton am Arlberg
Between the peaks of the Lechtal Alps and the Verwall mountain range lies this village, which has been writing ski history for over a century. Hannes Schneider invented modern Alpine skiing here, and today, the largest interconnected ski area in Austria guarantees a fantastic winter holiday in St. Anton am Arlberg. In winter, you glide over legendary slopes on Mt Valluga, carve through powder at Mt Rendl, and warm up in rustic huts. Summer transforms Mt Arlberg into a green paradise of hiking paths and flowing trails. The village itself has preserved its soul: Engadine houses with centuries-old wooden facades, friendly people, a relaxed atmosphere. Your holiday in St. Anton combines adventure with tradition, elegance with authenticity. You could also say: your holiday in St. Anton am Arlberg should begin as soon as possible, don’t you think?
The pass that connects everything
The Arlberg pass is more than just a road between Tyrol and Vorarlberg. This was the main route between East and West, where merchants battled through snowdrifts, and in the 14th century, the St. Christoph Brotherhood was founded – a sort of medieval mountain rescue. The pass road shaped trade and culture, formed characters and landscapes. Today, you cross the pass with ease, yet the history travels with you. The curves tell of courage and endurance, of people who overcame limits here.
In 1907, the 17-year-old son of a mountain guide turned the skiing world upside down. Hannes Schneider developed the Arlberg technique: stem turns instead of uncontrolled sliding, parallel turns instead of stiff, straight descents. His ski school became world-famous, Hollywood made films about his method, and guests flocked from all over the world to St. Anton. Schneider made skiing an elegant sport. What you do on the slopes today – the fundamentals come from this village, from this man.
The White Ring is considered the toughest ski race for everyone in the Alps. 22km, 5,500m of elevation gain, a loop around Mt Arlberg: from Zürs, Lech, Warth, Schröcken, and back to Lech. Since 1958, thousands have competed annually for the best times, with professionals completing the course in under an hour. Participation requires stamina, skill, and courage. But those who conquer the White Ring become part of the Arlberg elite. A bucket list challenge for anyone who wants to capture the heart of St. Anton am Arlberg.
Where World Cup history is made
The black valley run on Mt Galzig is one of the most challenging in the world. Since 1937, the ski elite have raced down this track, where the course requires courage and perfection. The steep section, the side traverse, the finishing slope – every part is a challenge. World Championships and World Cup races have made the Kandahar legendary. You can ski down the original slope yourself and feel what it’s like to swing in the tracks of legends.
St. Anton in summer – the secret of the locals
In summer, St. Anton belongs to real mountaineers. No lift queues, no rush in the village, no crowded restaurants. The Arlberg Card gives you access to all the mountain lifts, to hiking trails that lead through blooming Alpine meadows, and to mountain lakes that tempt with enchanting views. E-bikers conquer the elevations effortlessly, climbers find routes of all difficulty levels, and paragliders soar like eagles over the valley. The locals have long known: summer on Mt Arlberg is wonderful.