When far-sightedness makes you stronger - travelling in Pinzgau, perhaps the most impressive natural area in the Alpine arc

Anyone travelling through the Pinzgau will discover not just a backdrop, but a powerful mosaic of nature experiences, passion for sport and scenic beauty. This region combines iconic destinations with hidden valleys, majestic panoramas with Alpine down-to-earthness - all embedded in an active lifestyle that inspires not only holidaymakers but also locals on a daily basis.

There is Leogang, which together with Saalbach-Hinterglemm forms one of the largest ski areas in the Alps - an Eldorado for piste skiers in winter and a hotspot for mountain bikers, downhillers and trail runners in summer. Countless high-altitude trails, the world-famous Bikepark Leogang and the dense network of lifts make the region a playground for endurance and adrenaline.

A little further east, the view opens up to Zell am See-Kaprun - one of the most versatile year-round destinations in the Alps. The emerald-green Lake Zell invites you to swim, SUP or sail, while the striking Kitzsteinhorn towers above it - a 3,000 metre peak with a glacier that can be skied on even in midsummer. The Schmittenhöhe, Zell's local mountain, entices visitors with one of the most beautiful panoramic views in the Eastern Alps - from the Hohe Tauern to the Steinernes Meer.

The Pinzgau also shows its class outside the large towns - with spectacular natural wonders such as the Krimml Waterfalls, the highest waterfalls in Europe, or the Grossglockner High Alpine Road, one of the most impressive panoramic roads in the world. The Kaprun reservoirs blend into the mountain landscape like aquamarine-coloured jewels, while the Weißbachklamm gorge shows how wildly romantic water can eat its way through rock.

If you are looking for the unspoilt, you will find it in the numerous high valleys and alpine pastures of the Oberpinzgau - for example in the Krimmler Achental, where the world slows down for a moment. Or in the quiet side valleys around Neukirchen, Bramberg or Hollersbach, where mountains and people meet at eye level.

And of course, the Pinzgau is also a sporting paradise: climbing walls, via ferratas and imposing peaks attract alpinists. Ski and splitboard tourers will find snow-covered slopes away from the pistes. Mountain bikers experience epic trails, from flowing to challenging. Cross-country skiers make their way through deep winter valleys, trail runners seek the challenge of the ridge. White water kayakers, canyoning fans and rafters will find roaring rivers that demand both strength and technique.

The Pinzgau lives from the real thing. From home-made cheese on the mountain pasture, bread from the wood-fired oven, schnapps that tells stories. But between this down-to-earth attitude and the naturalness of its hosts, a surprising cultural openness also unfolds. Anyone who thinks it's all about mountains here is very much mistaken.

The Saalfelden Jazz Festival, for example, transforms an entire region into a stage every summer - internationally acclaimed sound art meets alpine authenticity, improvised music meets breathtaking scenery. This combination of high culture and high mountains is more than just a contrast - it is an expression of what characterises the Pinzgau region at its core: the courage to dare to try something new without losing its roots.

And so perhaps you take more with you from the Pinzgau than just memories of summits, trails and glacier views. You take away the feeling of having arrived - in a region that gives you strength without being loud. And where even a simple meal, a quiet view or an unexpected sound can resonate for a long time.

The Pinzgau is not a place you simply visit - it is an experience that gets under your skin. A region where sporting challenges and scenic poetry combine in a unique way. Here, the day begins with a view of majestic three-thousand metre peaks, leads over alpine paths, single trails or serpentine roads - and perhaps ends on the shores of a crystal-clear lake or in a cosy hut with regional delicacies.

Between unspoilt nature, modern infrastructure and deep-rooted hospitality, experiences unfold in Pinzgau that are more than just beautiful photo opportunities. They are encounters with the power of the Alps - intense, genuine and inspiring.

For all those looking for something special: Here are our hand-picked tips for excursions, activities and nature experiences in Pinzgau. Whether high up or deep into adventure - the Pinzgau is ready.