Stuhleck

The slopes of the Stuhleck, the highest mountain on the eastern edge of the Alps (1,782 m), became popular as early as the end of the 19th century. In 1892 the Stuhleck became famous as the first Austrian mountain climbed on skis: the pioneering expedition from Mürzzuschlag was made by a three-man team of Toni Schruf, Max Kleinoscheg and Walther Wenderich. Soon afterwards the area began to turn into one of the first ski regions in the country. As a result, the Stuhleck developed into a large resort, the biggest in eastern Austria. It lies on the north-eastern edge of Styria, not far from the famous Semmering pass. It has varied pistes with a total length of 24 kilometres (9 km of easy blue pistes and 15 km of red pistes for intermediates), with plenty of snow from the end of November to mid-April. Natural snowfall is topped up by modern snowmaking. Skiers are served by T-bars (6) and chairlifts (4), the most exciting of which are the 4-seater Stuhleckbahn, the longest chairlift in Austria (2,706 m long), and the new 6-seater Weißenelfbahn chairlift (1,808 m long), which takes you up to 1,643 m in 7 minutes. After a full day on the slopes, the tireless can carry on skiing on the floodlit slope of the Sonnenlift (the night piste is 603 m long). There are ski and snowboard schools and equipment hire on site. The Stuhleck is an excellent place for a family holiday, both for its great conditions for learning and improving technique and for its other attractions for children. The 5 km natural toboggan run is popular, as is a purpose-built snow tubing run where you can go wild on inner tubes. The resort also has a good reputation among snowboarders. A modern, imaginatively laid out snow park (linked to the night slope!) gives you hours of winter fun on a board. Cross-country skiers have 8 kilometres of trails. Away from the slopes you can spend your time well at the foot of the Stuhleck, in Spital am Semmering, where guests can use two indoor pools with a sauna, an ice rink, curling lanes and a tennis hall, among other things. Easy access (an hour's drive from Vienna on the A2 motorway, exit Spital am Semmering/OST), a good choice of accommodation and food, après-ski and interesting local events attract many winter holidaymakers every year. In summer the area is popular with hikers and cyclists. For bigger thrills there is a rope park and caves once used as hideouts by robbers.