Life in Saalbach Hinterglemm (Austria)

This summer I got to spend two months in London doing an internship at the Austrian National Tourist Office.  London is an exciting city with lots of great places to visit, but it is very different from my small village Saalbach Hinterglemm in Austria. My parents own the Theresia Gartenhotel ****Superior and the attached Aparthotel**** Johann.  Since I was a small girl I have loved welcoming guests to our family-run hotel, and it has always been my dream – as the fourth generation – to continue with our tradition and take over the hotel.

Even though I have enjoyed my time in London, the past two months have also made me realise just how beautiful my home really is.  Unique landscape surrounds the valley all year round, and the mountains literally make you feel free. In summer, Saalbach Hinterglemm offers a wide choice of hiking trails across the grassy hills of the Pinzgau, as well as lots of fantastic mountainbike paths. For those who like a challenge and are in good physical condition, I highly recommend the Seven Summits Tour.

My mum especially loves to show our guests the local treasures of the region. The Sinnlehenalm in Leogang is one of those places. After a 30 minute hike, the guests can look forward to a guided tour of the Organic Dairy Farm.  Mr. Scheiber explains how the cheese is produced fresh everyday, thanks to his 18 cows. Afterwards, the guest can of course sample the delicious goods. On the way back to the hotel there is a stop at the traditional weekly market in Saalfelden. When I visit this market, the first thing I do is to eat the freshly made Bladln mit Sauerkraut. This is one of the favourite Austrian recipes, made out of pastry filled with bacon and Sauerkraut.

Someone else to visit when you are here is the 76 year old bee keeper Sepp Grünwald, who lives at the end of the Glemm Valley. Sepp will show you his bees and tell you about the organic honey they produce. As you might have guessed, organic food is really important for my family and our hotel. My mum places great value on high quality food, and because of that we provide organic cuisine for our guests every day. We get fresh vegetables from the organic farm Stechausbauer several times a week, which is 30 km away.

Not to forget winter in Saalbach Hinterglemm, when the whole valley is covered in white snow. In winter, I always get up very early in the morning, put on my snowboard gear and start my day with a healthy breakfast. At 9 a.m, my day tour on my board starts at the lift opposite our hotel. My favourite hut, where I always have lunch, is the Hintermais Alm, and it was here that my grandmother born. If you enjoy traditional Austrian food like cheese dumplings with butter and chives, then you will love it there. Who knows, maybe I will see you on a hiking or skiing tour in Austria soon?!






original on treasures.austria.info