Tirol s most spectacular vantage points

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Giles Sparks
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Tirol s most spectacular vantage points Manesch A romantic dinner for two at 3,000m altitude, the view from inside the largest accessible mountain-top cross in the world, or a 360 panorama from an

1 Tirol s most spectacular vantage points Manesch A romantic dinner for two at 3,000m altitude, the view from inside the largest accessible mountain-top cross in the world, or a 360 panorama from an Eagle s Nest when it comes to vantage points, visitors to Tirol are truly spoilt for choice. There are few feelings like climbing up above the clouds into a world of deep blue skies and dazzling sunshine. Visitors to Tirol can experience this high life without even boarding an airplane thanks to the region s many spectacular vantage points offering wonderful panoramic views. At over 3,000m it is often possible to even see over the border into neighbouring Italy, Germany and Switzerland. And the best thing is that they are all accessible via cable car. Some also feature eating establishments such as the Café 3440 on the Pitztal Glacier, the highest café in Austria. 1 Top of Tyrol on the Stubai Glacier: 109 mountains over 3000m

From the Dolomites to the mountains of the Ortler Massif, the Top of Tyrol viewing platform on the Stubai Glacier offers visitors the chance to admire an incredible 109 peaks over 3000m.

2 From the Dolomites to the mountains of the Ortler Massif, the Top of Tyrol viewing platform on the Stubai Glacier offers visitors the chance to admire an incredible 109 peaks over 3000m. The platform is perched at 3,210 metres above sea level in the Stubai Glacier ski resort and is itself an eye-catching example of modern architectural design. No fewer than 20 tonnes of weather-resistant Corten steel had to be transported up onto the glacier to realise the vision created by Innsbruck architects LAAC of a dynamic construction blending into the alpine landscape. The platform has a modern Viscope telescope which displays the name of each as the visitor s gaze wanders from one summit to the next. Open all year. The cable car to the Top of Tyrol viewing platform is open daily from 8:00 until 16:30. 2 Big 3 in Sölden: three viewing platforms at over 3,000m altitude

Visitors to glacier ski resort of Sölden looking for spectacular 360 views should head to the one of the Big 3 three viewing platforms at over 3,000 metres above sea level.

3 Visitors to glacier ski resort of Sölden looking for spectacular 360 views should head to the one of the Big 3 three viewing platforms at over 3,000 metres above sea level. The highest of the three is the Naturplattform Schwarze Schneide at 3,340m. This circular platform made of larch wood has a towering obelisk in the middle and offers spectacular panoramic views from the Dolomites to the Zugspitze, Germany s highest mountain. The Panorama-Felssteg Tiefenbachkogel at 3,250m is one for those with a strong stomach. This glass construction juts 20m out from the rock face into thin air and is supported by steel ropes. Last but not least, the Plattform Gaislachkogel at 3,048m is the easiest of the three to access. It is located on the roof of a restaurant and provides wonderful views of the Ötztal Alps. During the winter months the cable cars in Sölden are open daily from 9:00 until 16:00. The cable car operating hours are different in summer. 3 Top Mountain Star in Obergurgl-Hochgurgl: bar with a view

Futuristic is the best way to describe the Top Mountain Star, a unique summit restaurant perched on the narrow Wurmkogel ridge at 3,080 metres above sea level.

4 Futuristic is the best way to describe the Top Mountain Star, a unique summit restaurant perched on the narrow Wurmkogel ridge at 3,080 metres above sea level. This glass-and-steel construction is an eye-catching architectural highlight in its own right and also a fantastic vantage point overlooking the Ötztal Alps and the Dolomites. The Top Mountain Star serves drinks and traditional Tirolean snacks an unforgettable dining experience. It is situated next to the top of the Wurmkogelbahn cable car, which often operates a sunset service for visitors wishing to catch the last few rays of the day when the mountains are bathed in a beautifully warm light. Open from 9:00 until 16:00 (daily in winter; on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays in summer). 4 Café 3440 on the Pitztal Glacier: high, higher, highest

The Café 3440 on the Pitztal Glacier is the highest café in Austria. As the name indicates, it lies at 3,440 metres above sea level on the Hinterer Brunnenkogel mountain.

5 The Café 3440 on the Pitztal Glacier is the highest café in Austria. As the name indicates, it lies at 3,440 metres above sea level on the Hinterer Brunnenkogel mountain. This futuristic-looking disc with large windows and an overhanging terrace can be accessed using the Wildspitzbahn cable car. On the menu are homemade cakes and fabulous views of more than 50 peaks over 3000m. Among the mountains which can be seen from the café is the Wildspitze, at 3,774m the highest mountain in North Tirol. Open daily from 9:30 until 15:30 throughout the period when the cable cars are in operation. 5 highline179 in Reutte: longest hanging footbridge in the world

While some visitors to the highline179 in Reutte can t wait to go, others need more than a few deep breaths before taking their first tentative steps out over the abyss.

6 While some visitors to the highline179 in Reutte can t wait to go, others need more than a few deep breaths before taking their first tentative steps out over the abyss. At 406 metres, this masterpiece of engineering is the longest hanging footbridge in the world and runs directly above the B179 road near Reutte. It is located within the grounds of the Burgenwelt Ehrenberg castle adventure area and connects the Ehrenberg ruins to the Fort Claudia ruins. The bridge is open daily from 8:00 until 22:00. 6 Zugspitze: summit restaurant with views as far as Munich

On clear days, visitors standing atop the Zugspitze can see the Großglockner and Piz Bernina peaks and even the famous TV tower in far-away Munich.

7 On clear days, visitors standing atop the Zugspitze can see the Großglockner and Piz Bernina peaks and even the famous TV tower in far-away Munich. At 2,962 metres above sea level the Zugspitze is the highest mountain in Germany and the highest point in the Tiroler Zugspitz Arena. The border between Germany and Austria more or less bisects the mountain. From the viewing platform and restaurant at the summit visitors can see around 400 mountains in four different countries. There is a museum at the top of the cable car with an interesting exhibition about the history of the Zugpsitze and how the first cable cars up onto the mountain were built. The cable car regularly operates early-morning sunrise rides followed by breakfast on the mountain as well as sunset ascents followed by fondue evenings in the restaurant. During the peak seasons the cable car is generally open daily from 8:40 until 16:40. Other operating hours apply outside the peak seasons. 7 Kaunertal Glacier: one platform, three countries, many mountains over 3,000m

With one foot in Austria and the other in Italy, visitors standing atop this platform can admire views of the Kaunertal Glacier and many peaks over 3,000m, including some of the mightiest mountains

8 With one foot in Austria and the other in Italy, visitors standing atop this platform can admire views of the Kaunertal Glacier and many peaks over 3,000m, including some of the mightiest mountains in Italy, Austria and Switzerland. The wooden platform itself lies at 3,108m. On a clear day you can see legendary summits such as the Weißseespitze (3,518m) and the Weißkugel (3,712m) The platform is located next to the top of the Karlesjochbahn cable car and is also easily accessible for wheelchair users. The cable car runs daily from 10:00 until 16:00. 8 Viewing platform in the Triassic Park Waidring: on the shores of an ancient ocean

The viewing platform at the top of the Steinplatte ski resort looks a little like a huge fan-shaped coral with its individual branches jutting out over a 70m abyss.

9 The viewing platform at the top of the Steinplatte ski resort looks a little like a huge fan-shaped coral with its individual branches jutting out over a 70m abyss. This unusual shape is not a coincidence. It was chosen because of the platform s location within the Triassic Park Waidring, an adventure area where children learn all about the ancient Tethys ocean which once covered this region. When the waters receded, a huge dry reef was left behind. Today, visitors can excellent great views of the surrounding mountain landscape. Visitors with a strong stomach can walk out into thin air on sections of the platform with metal grids or glass panels, while those of a more nervous disposition can stay on the sections which do not offer such vertigo-inducing views directly underfoot. The cable car to the Triassic Park is open every day in summer from 9:00 until 16:45 and every day in winter from 8:30 until16:30. 9 Jakobskreuz at the Buchensteinwand: the world s largest mountain-top cross

10 At the top of the Buchensteinwand, at 1,456 metres above sea level, stands a mighty Cross of Saint James overlooking the Pillerseetal Valley. Constructed using state-of-the-art design methods, this 29.5m tall cross is not only the largest mountain-top cross in the world but is also hollow and can be accessed on the inside by visitors. Each of its four arms contains a heated viewing and exhibition area. Seminars, readings and other projects are held in this unique location with a stunning backdrop overlooking the Kitzbühel Alps. There is an additional viewing platform on top of the cross which can be reached via a list and is wheelchair accessible. The mighty cross is a popular stop for hikers and pilgrims walking along the Way of Saint James, an pilgrimage trail ending in Santiago de Compostela in Spain. Open daily from 9:00 until 16: Vallugaspitze in St. Anton am Arlberg: panoramic views of the Eastern Alps

11 Be it on foot or via cable car, a trip to the top of the Vallugaspitze is well worth the effort. Visitors are rewarded with breathtaking views of the Lechtal and Allgäu Alps, the Verwall Mountains, the Ötztal Alp and even as far as the Swiss canton of Graubünden. The summit at 2,811m overlooks the Arlberg ski resort and many mountain peaks far beyond and is popular with ski touring enthusiasts in winter and hikers in summer. Those who prefer to take it easy can hop on the Galzigbahn cable car and then the Vallugabahn I und II, which takes them all the way to the top. A good place for a drink and a meal is the Vallugarestaurant, the highest table service restaurant in the Arlberg region. During the summer months the Vallugabahn II cable car runs from 8:40 until 16:00 between Monday and Sunday. It is also open on Mondays and Tuesdays in September. In winter the cable car is open daily from 9:00 until 16: Adlerhorst Rofan at Lake Achensee: Eagle s Nest with a spectacular descent

Visitors to the Eagle s Nest on the Gschöllkopf can look forward to great views of the shimmering blue waters of Lake Achensee as well as the peaks of the Karwendel Mountains and the Zillertal Alps.

12 Visitors to the Eagle s Nest on the Gschöllkopf can look forward to great views of the shimmering blue waters of Lake Achensee as well as the peaks of the Karwendel Mountains and the Zillertal Alps. The eight-metre-wide platform at 2,039m was designed by Tirolean architect Manfred Hörl to look like an eagle s nest and was made using eight tonnes of intertwined metal. To make the experience even more realistic there is the option of descending on the Airrofan, a sky glider which drops 200 vertical metres at speeds of up to 80km/h. Great fun for all the family! The cable car operates daily from 8:30 until 17:00 between 1 May and 1 November. It opens an hour earlier and closes an hour later during the summer. The viewing platform is only open in summer. 12 Adlerhorst in Hoch-Imst: on the wings of an eagle

Perched on a vertiginous rock face above the town of Imst, the Adlerhorst appears to be floating in mid air offers visitors great views of the Gurgltal Valley and the protected nature area around the

13 Perched on a vertiginous rock face above the town of Imst, the Adlerhorst appears to be floating in mid air offers visitors great views of the Gurgltal Valley and the protected nature area around the Muttekopf and the mighty Platteinspitzen. This platform is to be found just below the Alpjochbahn cable car, at around 2,000m altitude, and is accessible via a 13m walkway. The platform is only open in summer, but the views are just as spectacular all year round from another viewing platform next to the top of the cable car, the Panoramaterrasse SunOrama. Hikers can walk from here along the Drischlsteig towards the Muttekopfhütte hut. In summer the cable car runs daily between 9:15 and 12:00. In winter it operates daily between 9:00 and 16:00. Between seasons it is only open on a few selected days.

Roads with a view: the best Alpine drives in Tirol

Roads with a view: the best Alpine drives in Tirol Timmelsjoch High Alpine Road in the Ötztal Valley, Timmelsjoch Hochalpenstraßen AG With their countless hairpins, narrow tunnels carved into the rock