The Tyrol >> 

hills & heritage
Can you imagine anything more down-to-earth than a solid timber-framed farmhouse gripping tenaciously to a steep mountain slope? The cultural landscape, crafted and preserved by the farmers, fits just as seamlessly into the ancient mountain landscape as do the wooden farm buildings themselves. It's often hard to distinguish between what is farm and what is landscape. Like their mountain farms, the tyrolean farmers have their feet firmly planted on the ground. They favour the raw, simple fruits of the land, such as bacon, creamy milk and fresh mountain cheese.

With a swift schnapps afterwards. They value neighbourliness and offer their guests peace and adventure in equal quantities. You can go climbing, fishing, hill-walking, skiing or take a sleigh ride with the farmers mountain ponies, topped off by a rumbustious sledging party. The deep association between land and people expresses itself in religious devotion and a love of tradition. The driving of cattle to their summer pastures and harvest, spring and mask festivals are all centuries-old traditions still considered an important part of modern mountain life.