Prestigious, chic and oft frequented by the royals and the rich and famous, Lech is a beautiful traditionally Austrian resort set within the Arlberg ski domain and a stark contrast from its boisterous neighbour St. Anton. Glitzy and glam, this wonderful resort is more akin to the Courchevel’s and Megève’s of this world than the Val Thorens’ and Val d’Isère’s of the Alps. Found just over an hour and a half away from Innsbruck and Friedrichshafen airports, it’s beautiful, convenient and utterly charming.
Lech retains a traditional rustic feel with its picturesque central church and boutique shops and is very well suited to families and beginner and intermediate skiers and snowboarders alike. It also caters admirably to non-skiers who will enjoy the easily accessible mountain restaurants of Oberlech that are excellent, such as Montana Oberlech and the Goldenerberg, and the glamorous riverside setting. Set at an altitude of 1,450 metres and as snow-sure as Austria comes and also being part of the largest continuous ski area in Austria, there’s very little to find fault with. Whilst the altitude might not immediately be associated with snow-security, thanks to Lech’s geographical location it’s far snowier than one might think – neighbouring villages of Warth-Schröcken consistently top the alpine list of the highest snowfall each year.
Advanced skiers are well looked after with the recently established 65km run of fame which takes you on a loop encompassing the best runs across the whole of the Arlberg thanks to the Flexenbahn gondola’s opening in 2016 which established a link between St. Anton, Zurs and Lech. With modern and efficient lift system, Lech doesn’t fall victim to lengthy queues at the lifts first thing in the morning and after a week of skiing you might become all too accustomed to comfortable gondolas complete with heated seats. The convenience of many properties in Lech means that ski access is also easy with centrally located lifts that ensure you are up and out skiing quickly each morning. Skischule Lech offers an excellent level of tuition for those looking to brush up on their alpine skills and children are looked after from three years and upwards with childcare, snow-play and babysitting available.
Non-skiers are not forgotten with the aforementioned easily accessible glitzy restaurants of Oberlech and the option of the 1,200m toboggan run to enjoy as well, in addition you will find snowshoeing available and the Hotel Jagdhaus Monzabon has wonderful facilities including indoor tennis and squash courts, rock climbing and ice skating. If that sounds a touch active then head to the Ice Bar Tannbergerhof for a relaxed atmosphere epitomising the ambience of Lech and enjoy a drink and the music on offer. If après ski is your forte then Fux bar is a great option, coming off the slopes where you can enjoy the array of whiskies on offer.
An insider tip, if you are looking for a mid-week change of scenery and St. Anton is not quite what you are looking for, head over to Sonnenkopf. Part of the Arlberg ski area and included within the lift pass, it’s a little known gem of the Arlberg with a range of slopes on offer. Beautiful undisturbed scenery is best appreciated through lunch at a panoramic restaurant and Sonnenkopf is a quick and easy journey from nearby Stuben.
