Zauchensee
Zauchensee is a top ski destination and holiday area near Salzburg, Austria, with a beautiful pastoral setting and great elevations, ranging from 1350 to 2188 m above sea level. The geographic location guarantees excellent snow conditions. The ski season starts here earlier than most other Austrian resorts. Zauchensee is the heart of the sports world in Salzburg. It is the highest ski area, and on occasion there are two meters of snow in the mountains until late in the spring.
Ski Facilities
The greater area has over 300 km of ski slopes, setting new standards in skiing. Of these 65 km are in the area of Zauchensee/Flachauwinkl/Kleinarl. All sorts of slopes are available gentle ones for beginners, slopes appropriate for family skiing, and dangerous slopes for the top professionals. The area of Zauchensee offers 15 lifts, which can transport over 22 000 people an hour. The highest nursery slope for amateurs has an altitude of 1400 m. There are 136 lifts in the greater area, 182 km of red runs, 126 km of blue runs (easiest), and 42 km of black runs (the most difficult).
Distinctions
Zauchensee has seen more skiers rise to fame than anywhere else in the country. Among them are Hermann Maier and Annemarie Moser-Proll.
Other recreational opportunities
Zauchensee offers a sports complex with 3 squash courts, 2 tennis courts and indoor swimming pools. There are saunas, solariums, ice driving, ice skating, bowling, horse riding, tobogganing from chair lifts, sleigh rides, ski schools, snowboarding, aerobics classes, off-slope skiing, backcountry, snowboarding and cross country tracks. Unfortunately doorstep skiing is only possible from Zauchensees hotels.
Entertainment
There are several nightclubs in the area, museums, sport shops, gift shops and restaurants. Guided tours of Salzburg are also available.
Greater Area
Altenmarkt is an idyllic village near Zauchensee, just 65 km away from Salzburg. It offers excellent accommodations a variety of traditional country-style hotels as well as many modern ones. The village has an altitude of 856 meters. There are inns, B&Bs, flats, campsites, youth hostels, private residences and farms, so you will have your pick of accommodations.
Altenmarkt or Old Market is a market town historically, as the name suggests. It enjoys a scenic location in Pongau valley. It is very peaceful and quiet, with excellent shopping opportunities, three ski schools, a Steffner factory outlet and Atomic factory, many excellent mountain-style diners, a perfect snow record and cultural attractions, like the charming onion-domed church. The area is famous for snowmaking, with most of these facilities located in Zauchensee. Early in the winter many national teams train here.