Saalfelden Leogang in Salzburger Land, Austria, June 24th 2015 – Saalfelden Leogang is a region for anyone who thrives off the possibilities that the great outdoors can offer. Saalfelden Leogang is a traditional Austrian alpine town, full of culture. The wild surroundings and well-developed outdoor infrastructure offer endless attractions for sporting holidays and active lifestyles.
The bike paradise: nine tracks, the UCI Downhill World Cup and a Gold level Freeride Mountain Bike World Tour contest, are just some of the reasons why mountain bikers consider Bikepark Leogang Europe’s hottest destination. Featuring the biggest biking playground worldwide for beginners and a mountain face riddled with trails and tracks – Bikepark Leogang welcomes riders of all skill levels. Off the bike, the action continues during the Out of Bounds and Biketember festivals. Watch the pros tackle the tracks and then stop by the onsite rental store to give it a go yourself! A network of 720km / 450mi of mountain bike trails, will take you across Saalfelden’s beautiful alpine terrain. Lower down, another 480km / 300mi weave through the valley. The new single trail “Gunzi” will take bikers on a trip to the region’s most picturesque spots. Special bike hotels as well as sport stores will make sure that your biking holiday is your summer highlight. Anyone looking to take on a longer tour with E-bikes can expect a good choice in bike rental and energy stations along the way. After an exciting day on the bike, huts and pastures offer typical food and drinks such as delicious and rich buttermilk.
The hiking mekka: Saalfelden Leogang has 400km / 250mi of marked hiking trails for those who prefer to discover on their feet rather than wheels. The well-signposted tours guide hikers through Leogang’s mountains and Steinernes Meer as well as the Pinzgau mountains in the south. The Historical Adventure Trail takes families on a journey back to the ice age and ‘more recent’ times of the great Roman Empire. The ‘Path of Silence’ delivers what it promises – utter silence for the perfect relaxing getaway. Hikers pass one of the last remaining inhabited heritages in Europe – the Einsiedelei in Saalfelden. A very special experience is the Birnbach glacier, the lowest glacier in central Europe. In the past its ice was used to cool down beer from Munich, nowadays it is a popular tourist destination in Leogang’s mountains.
The adrenaline rush: flying from the mountain into the valley with a speed of 130kph / 81mph is guaranteed to get the heart pumping, no matter how tough you are! The Flying Fox XXL is one of the world’s fastest and longest steel zip lines. Flying for 1.6km / 1mile roughly 140m / 460ft above the forest is not for the faint hearted. The wild ride starts at the middle station of the Leoganger Bergbahnen. There is nothing to worry about as the breaks work automatically. Visitors who do not want to fly down to the valley themselves are welcome to watch the spectacle and enjoy the mountain panorama.
The climbing routes: 45 pitches will give climbers plenty of reasons to smile! The “Pinzgawurm” on the 1,400m / 4,600ft high Birnhorn Südostwand is a challenge even for experienced climbers. It is one of the longest climbing routes in the Alps and those who want to conquer it should be able to climb at a sixth grade (UIAA) or 5.10a (USA) route without any problems. A climbing garden, secured via ferratas and 120 routes in Leogang’s mountains invite everyone to climb outside. In the “Steinberge” region there are more than 1,000 routes with different grades.
The culture feast: musical fans will find their perfect fit for example at the International Jazz Festival Saalfelden from August 27th to 30th. This “stage for free spirits” is one of the most experimental festivals of its kind with the Steinernes Meer as a spectacular background. 31 concerts, 4 days and 6 stages – the Jazz Festival Saalfelden has something to offer for everyone.
News and information about Saalfelden Leogang can be found on: saalfelden-leogang.com/en/ or on: facebook.com/SaalfeldenLeogang.