After the sauna a little rest on the sun terrace with view to the omeshorn, the local mountain of lech. The sky is blue, cloudless, there is a light breeze. As soon as I sit down, I am handed a blanket in case I get chilly.
This is one of the moments that spontaneously come to mind when I am later asked what the difference is between a good or very good hotel and a five-star superior like the aurelio in lech am arlberg.
It is the service. Which here is so pleasantly different from anywhere else. Unagitated, attentive without being stiff, invisible and yet present. Fulfilling wishes before I as a guest even realize that I have them – that is the great art of hospitality, which is the DNA of the aurelios.
No matter whether you spend a few days as a couple in a double room or rent one of the luxury chalets with its own cook and butler as a group: connoisseurs will feel like they are in heaven here.
This is what lech am arlberg is known for with its 1.450 meters of altitude anyway close. Among skiers lech-zurs is a constant in the vacation calendar. But also in summer lech has a lot to offer. And I like the quiet side of the arlberg much better anyway.
Lech am arlberg in summer
Especially when alpine roses, anemones, gentian and troll flowers dab the alpine meadows colorful and the mountains entice you to hike.
The walser village of lech am arlberg is located on the river of the same name in vorarlberg, austria. A village for connoisseurs and mountain romantics. With nine meters of fresh snow in an average winter attractive for those who love the mountains pure and white. Lech am arlberg presents itself lush green and quite colorful in summer.
Omeshorn, rufikopf, formaletsch, mohnenfluh … Peaks as far as the eye can see make the hiker's heart beat faster. More than 350 kilometers of marked trails wind through the alpine scenery.
Check out what you can experience in the mountain summer in and around lech am arlberg. Here I have put together some ideas for you for your next short vacation in austria. Plus a few tips for good cuisine and accommodations, especially when it may be a little more unusual.
Hiking in lech am arlberg – 3 fantastic tour suggestions
Lech trail (1. And 2. Stage)
The long-distance hiking trail, certified with the european quality seal "leading quality trails of europe", starts near lech am arlberg and stretches for 125 kilometers through the alps and one of the last wild river landscapes in europe.
The first stage begins at the formarinsee at just under 1.900 m and is 15 kilometers. Mostly downhill via the formarinalpe and the fischtech to lech (to the starting point formarinsee a hiking bus leaves from the post office).
With 9.3 kilometers, the second stage of the lechweg is somewhat shorter and runs panoramic over the bodenalpe on just under 1.500 meters to the neighboring village of warth. Stop for a bite to eat in warth: hotel biberkopf. From there you can take the hiking bus back to lech.
The green ring
The hiking trail "the green ring" follows in the footsteps of the legendary ski circuit "the white ring" in three day stages around the beautiful mountain landscape of lech zurs am arlberg.
Comfortably starts the tour with the mountain railroad to the rufikopf. From here it's six kilometers uphill down to zurs.
The second stage with more than a thousand meters of altitude requires a lot of fitness, but if that is too strenuous for you, you can also get back to lech comfortably with the hiking bus from zurs.
Finally, the third stage leads moderately from zug to lech, for the 9-kilometer-long distance one needs approx. 4.5 hours.
Formarinsee – steinernes meer – freiburger hutte
A fossilized sea of corals, shells and spiral snails awaits you on the eight-kilometer half-day hike from formarinsee lake. From the freiburger hutte you can enjoy the wide view over the mountain lake during a hearty break.
Gourmet cuisine: natural art cuisine in the aurelio restaurant
Hiking makes you hungry. How nice to have a good meal waiting for you in the evening after the tour. Choice of A la carte, table buffet or gourmet menu.
At the aurelio you will be spoiled by two chefs: christian rescher and markus niederwanger. Their "natural art cuisine" has been awarded four toques in the gault millau guide.
Natural art cuisine means: modern cooking style based on classic craftsmanship, creatively implemented. Inspired by nature, christian and markus tinker with their idea for a dish until it is perfect. What can sometimes take years.
The 10-course gourmet menu on the plate actually resembles a work of art. A unique interplay of colors and flavors. Almost too good to eat. And each course in itself again surprising.
The accompanying drinks are no less creative: shiso alpin sake from salzburg goes with the fermented chanterelles as brilliantly as lechtaler kramat gin with the paprika fish soup. I don't say this too often, but this is simply: wow!
Christian and markus can of course also cook down-to-earth food. For example curd cheese pancake with blueberries, as fluffy as a good kaiserschmarren, only much lighter.
On sundays there is grilled chicken. This is as delicious as it is popular, not only with the hotel guests. Even the locals come up from the village to the aurelio. Chicken, as much as you want, plus potato salad, fries and salad – all you can eat with hauben level.
Fish pond lech/zug
If you want, you can fish for your own food. At the fish pond in lech, even the inexperienced can do it. It seems as if the trouts can hardly wait to land on the plate. It takes barely ten seconds for a handsome specimen to snatch the mealworm from my fishing rod.
Later christian shows us how to fillet a fish professionally and how to make a delicious sandwich with naan bread.
Wellness & alpaca yoga
In the afternoon, relax a bit in the spa, treat yourself to a massage or simply lie on the terrace with a book and a view of the mountains and look forward to dinner – that really rounds off a day of hiking.
A bit more active? Goes also – with the alpaca yoga. That is, we do dog, cobra and sun salutations, as yoga instructor saskia tells us and hiero, domingo and yaki watch munching grass.
It is not really clear who is watching whom, because I cannot take my eyes off the cute alpacas for a second. Rarely laughed so much while doing yoga – and that is known to be relaxing as well.
Sky space lech
One attraction on the mountain is sky space lech, an art project by james tyrell. The atmospheric installation is about the perception of light. Experience the meeting of heaven and earth in a new way in the high alpine landscape.
This is particularly intense at sunrise and sunset during the 50-minute light program. During the day you can watch the changing sky moods with the dome open and the changing light cone.
Staying in style: luxury chalets and hotels in lech am arlberg
Aurelio hotel and aurelio chalet in lech am arlberg
The location is enchanting: slightly above the village, surrounded by flowering mountain meadows with a view of the ruefikopf opposite and the omeshorn, lech's local mountain.
The five-star superior hotel aurelio offers every luxury and comfort imaginable. Alpine charm with the flair of a private residence: all 18 rooms and suites are contemporary, elegant and individually furnished. To the aurelio hotel belongs the aurelio chalet right next door.
Whole 23 meters measures the pool in the aurelio spa, which turns out with thousand square meters also otherwise very generously. Chalet guests can also use the spa at the aurelio hotel, but the chalet also has its own small spa area.
Arla luxury home lech
For groups between two and 14 persons the arla luxury home was conceived, which receives guests since january 2021. In addition to design, the focus is on natural materials like wood and stone (the same ones used to build the church in lech). Retro chic, sustainability and a lot of attention to detail, such as handmade shoehorns or polished firewood, make the arla a somewhat different place to stay.
Chalet mimi oberlech
Living room atmosphere with open fireplace, spacious spa area, butler and own chef – all this offers the luxurious chalet mimi for up to 14 people in oberlech.
Arula chalets oberlech
Also in oberlech – with the best view – are the arula luxury chalets with pools, spa area, party room, ice skating rink, wine cellar, outdoor jacuzzi, butler service, private chef and chauffeur. Compared to the other houses of the pepper collection, luxury is redefined at the arula. A designer was even flown in from london especially for the bookshelf in the living room.
Hotel biberkopf in warth
In june 2021 the hotel biberkopf has opened in the neighboring village of warth, a stylish house with very good cuisine. That the menu resembles that of the aurelio is no coincidence – there's a partnership between the two hotels.
The ambience: modern, cozy and also here: no-frills, yet with a lot of attention to practical detail. Thanks to magnets, the tables in the restaurant can be rearranged and used in different ways depending on the occasion. The summer terrace merges almost invisibly into the indoor area; for chilly days, heating panels are integrated into the ceiling. In winter, rocking chairs lure you to the warming fireplace.
Practical info about lech am arlberg
Arrive:
By train from stuttgart to langen am arlberg station in just under 5 hours: 15 km from lech zurs (regular cab and bus service (line 91), transfer time approx. 20 minutes) or train station st. Anton am arlberg: 20 km from lech zurs (regular cab and bus connections (line 92), transfer time ca. 30 minutes). Information about the arrival by train can be found here.
Overnight stay:
- Aurelio hotel and chalet, tannberg 130, 6764 lech am arlberg, www.Aureliolech.Com
- Arla luxury home, tannberg 757, 6764 lech, www.Arlalech.Com
- Chalet mimi, oberlech 141, 6764 lech, www.Chaletmimi.Com
- Arula chalets, oberlech 706, 6764 lech, www.Arulachalets.Com
- Hotel biberkopf, warth 28, 6767 warth, www.Biberkopf.At
Food & drink:
The aurelio restaurant is also available to non-hotel guests. During the summer months you can enjoy a 2-course lunch menu from monday to friday, sundays from 11.30 a.M. To 4 p.M. Chicken from the grill with side dishes as a table buffet. The 5-course gourmet menu of the 4-star chefs is served daily at aurelios.
Biber's restaurant & bar and biberia at the biberkopf lifestyle hotel in warth offer fresh cuisine to suit every taste – from vegan to classic modern.