Nauders can be explored through two very different highlights: historic sites and mountain activities. Naudersberg Castle, Nauders Fortress and the structures at Plamortboden represent different periods of history; at Bergkastel, hiking, cycling and seasonal winter activities await. When planning your trip, it is helpful to treat cultural sites and days in the mountains as separate parts of your itinerary.
Getting there and planning
Regional bus 273 first connects Landeck-Zams railway station with Nauders town centre. From there, a free ski bus continues to the mountain lifts. If you plan to use this connection, check the current timetable before departure, as routes and schedules may change.
Castle, fortress and traces of history
Naudersberg Castle was built in the early 14th century and was first mentioned in a document in 1325. The upper floors house exhibition rooms, court offices, a castle chapel, an art gallery featuring works by artists from Nauders, and exhibitions of historical objects. The exact mix of exhibits may change.
Nauders Fortress was built around 1840 to protect Tyrol’s southern border. Remains of the early medieval Niklas Wall can still be seen at the fortress. High above Nauders, following extensive restoration, many anti-tank obstacles, bunkers and combat positions can be seen at Plamortboden. The Plamort Trail ends at a historic bunker complex. Together, these sites illustrate different historical periods, from early wall remains to defensive structures from the Second World War.
If you would also like to include climbing, you’ll find the Festung climbing area opposite Nauders Fortress. It offers more than 50 routes graded from 1 to 7a, including routes suitable for children. The availability of individual routes may depend on conditions; check if this is important to your plans.
Winter activities and descents
The Nauders ski area has 75 kilometres of pistes at elevations between 1,400 and 2,750 metres. It also has thirteen modern lifts and runs of all difficulty levels. The ski area also features flow parks with kickers and rails, as well as numerous freeride routes. The number of piste kilometres, lifts and individual features may change; if these details are important to your plans, check the latest operating information.
A different kind of descent is offered by the toboggan run from the Bergkastelbahn mountain station down to the valley: it is eight kilometres long and operates seasonally. This makes it quite different from the ski runs, without requiring you to choose a particular type of descent. Goldpark Carts also run from the Bergkastel cable car’s mountain station down to the valley, this time on three-wheeled carts. Operating schedules for these activities may vary by season.
Hiking and cycling at Bergkastel
The Bergkastel mountain hiking trail is an easy circular route with varied views below and above the tree line. Its circular route and stated difficulty help distinguish this option from the longer cycling routes at Bergkastel. The two crystal-clear tarns lie in a mountain basin with sparse vegetation and plenty of scree, creating a distinctive landscape.
For a comparison of cycling distances, the Hofratstrail starts at the Bergkastel cable car’s mountain station, at an altitude of 2,170 metres, and runs for 2,222 metres through the Swiss pine forest at Bergkastel. The Zirmtrail is six kilometres long and begins after taking the Zirmbahn up from Bergkastel to an altitude of 2,550 metres. The different trail lengths provide a clear guide when choosing a route. The Bergkastel high plateau is also home to the Bike Base, a beginner-friendly cycling area with four trails accessible by conveyor belt. The operating schedules of these activities may vary by season.
Other activities round out the selection: visitors can pan for gold at Goldpark Nauders. The Goldwasser grounds, right next to the panoramic restaurant, are a small water-themed area with a miniature landscape of huts and footbridges, a pirate ship and a water wheel surrounding a 690 m² play lake. This activity may also operate seasonally.
Discover more destinations: Pettneu am Arlberg, St. Jakob am Arlberg, Pfunds, Fiss, Langesthei, St. Christoph am Arlberg, Vergötschen, Ladis.
Return to the overview of the wider region: Landeck.
