Zeillerhaus at Zeillerplatz 2 and 3 has the finest Baroque façade decoration in Reutte. Older frescoes have been uncovered on the long side facing the courtyard. Details like these offer a distinctive way to discover the town: Reutte can be explored not only through its trails and landscapes, but also through houses whose façades and interiors reveal different chapters of its history.
Historic houses and discoveries in town
The museum in the Green House in the centre of Reutte was probably built in the 16th century as a residence for a wealthy citizen of Reutte. The interior paintings also date from this period. The façade was decorated in 1779 by Reutte painter Johann Jakob Zeiller. Another historic feature is the residential tower attached to Zeillerhaus, which is almost certainly the oldest building in Reutte.
The historic centre of the market town of Reutte is also a destination for a stroll: grand townhouses with artistically designed façades can be explored at your own pace with the help of a booklet. You can start the walk on your own from Via Claudia Augusta Platz or the Reutte railway station building. A brochure is available from the tourist offices in the Naturparkregion Reutte. Those particularly interested in contemporary history can find an engaging account of the settlement’s history and its era at the Südtiroler-Siedlung memorial site.
The circular route of the Reutte Planet Trail under the Stars also starts at the Green House museum and runs through Reutte. Another way to explore the market town is the town rally: families walk through town and answer twelve questions. As the availability of this activity should be checked again before your visit, it is worth making a quick enquiry. The walk, planet trail and rally each offer a different focus—façades and local history, a themed circular route, or solving puzzles together.
The Lech, lakes and nature watching
The Tyrolean Lech shapes a landscape where the river’s natural course can be seen in gravel and shingle banks and broad riparian forests. The Tiroler Lech Nature Park spans the entire Naturparkregion Reutte and combines nature conservation and recreation with research and educational programmes. In the Lech floodplains near Pflach, an 18-metre-high birdwatching tower offers views of breeding birds, including rare marsh and water birds. Highlights of the Lechweg in the region also include Riedener See, the Costaries Chapel and the Lech floodplains near Pflach with their observation tower.
Riedener See is a clear, turquoise, calcium-rich lake fed by springs. It is also a habitat for Bilek’s damselfly. At Plansee, other natural features meet opportunities for water sports: the lake is Tyrol’s second largest, six kilometres long and 76.5 metres deep at its deepest point; its water quality is rated Class I. Sailing, windsurfing, diving, fishing and swimming are all possible there. At Musteralpe on Plansee in Breitenwang, the show dairy demonstrates through a large glass window how milk is turned into butter and cheese on Thursdays from May to September. Check the current demonstration dates before travelling.
The Alpine Garden Tyrol offers another way to discover the plant world: alpine plants can be viewed along wheelchair-accessible wooden walkways, a guidance system supports blind visitors, and an accessible web app provides plant information in German and English. You can combine a visit with the accessible Hahnenkamm cable car, a circular walk around the mountain lake and the two-kilometre hiking trail to Lechaschauer Alm.
Trails at different scales
When planning your trip, it is worth distinguishing between hiking and cycling routes. The Lechweg is a moderately difficult long-distance hiking trail of around 125 kilometres that crosses five holiday regions in Austria and Germany. At 244.6 kilometres, the Lech Cycle Path is longer, running from Marxheim at the mouth of the Lech in Germany to Steeg in the Tyrolean Lech Valley. Its stages can be ridden individually, either upstream or downstream. The approximate figures and route may change, so check the latest route information before a longer ride.
In Reutte, the Via Claudia Augusta cycling route passes through Untermarkt and Obermarkt before climbing to Ehrenberg Castle World on a gravel path. The Via Claudia Augusta hiking trail comes directly into the centre of the market town from Breitenwang and then continues towards Ehrenberg along the historic Salt Road. For a winter outing, a moderately difficult hike to the historic Ehrenberg Castle ruins passes through quiet stretches of forest and along snow-covered trails. Check winter conditions and access before setting out.
The Hahnenkamm mountain world adds activities for both summer and winter to this range of trails: in summer, various hikes start at the cable car’s mountain station; in winter, well-groomed ski slopes are available. The hiking area includes summit hikes, circular routes to alpine pastures, a barefoot trail, a family trail and an accessible route for wheelchair users. For an option whatever the weather, Alpentherme Ehrenberg has indoor and outdoor pools with around 700 square metres of water surface. Its sauna and wellness area includes five different saunas and a steam room. The thermal baths are open year-round in all weather; check current operating information before your visit.
Ehrenberg Castle World also has some useful points of reference: the highline179 suspension footbridge is 406 metres long and 110 metres high. The Ehrenberg Liner covers the approximately 110-metre elevation difference between the visitor centre and the stop at Hornwerk in about 2.5 minutes. From there, a flat, paved path leads to the exhibition in Hornwerk and the entrance to the suspension bridge. Check the Liner’s operating status in advance. Reutte and the Naturparkregion offer a wide variety of discoveries side by side: historic façades in town, nature watching along the Lech, trails for hikers and cyclists, and activities at Hahnenkamm and Ehrenberg.
Discover more destinations
Discover more destinations: Berwang, Biberwier, Bichlbach, Lermoos, Elbigenalp, Holzgau, Nesselwängle, Reutte, Stanzach, Tannheim, Vils, Jungholz, Schattwald, Zöblen, Grän, Häselgehr, Wängle, Pinswang, Lechaschau, Bach, Steeg, Gramais, Breitenwang, Elmen, Haldensee, Plansee, Höfen, Ehenbichl, Stockach/Bach, Hinterbichl, Boden, Pflach, Hinterhornbach, Untergiblen, Ehrwald, Mitteregg, Heiterwang, Weißenbach Am Lech, Lähn, Bschlabs, Kaisers, Pfafflar, Forchach, Vorderhornbach.
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