Tourism In Schwendau
Schwendau is a municipality and village situated in Tyrol, Austria’s Schwaz district. The hinterland of the Zillertal valley lies among the Zillertal Alps, a nature reserve with eighty glaciers and a wealth of lakes. Schwendau is closely linked to the nearby town of Hippach, and the two towns share many facilities including the Summer World Hippach. This leisure park boasts a playground, a tennis court, a swimming pool and a mini-golf course. Renowned visitor destination Schwendau provides a wide spectrum of sports including skiing, hiking, biking, flying, and tobogganing.
Tourism in Schwendau - Statistics
Renowned for its varied array of attractions, Schwendau boasts the Ski & Glacier World Zillertal 3000, the Zillertal Alps Nature Park, the Summer World Hippach, and the Zimmererhäuslmühle. Schwendau offers a range of lodging options, restaurants, visitor information and services.
Number of Tourists and Overnight Stays
In 2020 Schwendau noted 197, 206 overnight stays and 35,525 visitors. The COVID-19 epidemic has caused a 40.6% drop in one figure and a 42.3% drop in another compared to 2019.
The average length of a stay in Schwendau in 2020 was 5.6 days, somewhat more than the average of 5.4 days in 2019.
Attracting 23,012 visitors who stayed overnight for a total of 137,674 nights, the winter season was the most popular time for tourism in Schwendau in 2020. With 64.7% of all visitors and 69.8% of all overnight stays, the winter season accounted for in 2020 accounted for in 2020.
With 12,513 visitors and 59,532 overnight stays in 2020, the summer season drew a notable lot of visitors. Thirty-2% of all visitors in 2020 came from the summer, and thirty-2% of all overnight stays.
Economic Impact of Tourism
The financial growth of Schwendau and the Zillertal valley is much influenced by tourism. According to the Tyrol Tourism Board, the Zillertal valley gained from tourism in 2018 a gross value added of €1.2 billion. This explains 17.5% of the total Tyrol region gross value added.
With 11,800 people employed in the Zillertal valley in 2018, tourism helped to support 18.4% of the Tyrol region’s overall workforce.
Furthermore helping Schwendau and the Zillertal valley’s financial situation has been tourism. As the same study notes, tourism brought €240 million in tax income for the Zillertal valley in 2018. This explains 16.4% of the total Tyrol region tax income.
Trends and Outlook for Tourism
Travel restrictions, lockdowns, and cancellements resulting from the COVID-19 epidemic have affected Schwendau’s and the Zillertal valley’s tourism significantly. The Austrian National Tourist Office reports that the travel sector suffered a notable drop of 44.9% in terms of visitor count and 46.9% in terms of the number of nights spent by visitors in 2020.
Still, the tourism business in Schwendau and the Zillertal valley is expected to gradually flourish as the epidemic situation improves and the vaccination campaign advances. In terms of visitor arrivals, the Austrian National Tourist Office projects a 20.1% rise in Austria; in terms of overnight stays in 2021, a 21.4% rise.
In the next years Schwendau’s and the Zillertal valley’s tourism sector faces different possibilities as well as challenges. These comprise the changing tastes and expectations of visitors, the increasing competitiveness and developments in the travel industry, the social and environmental effects of travel, and the necessity of responsible and sustainable expansion of tourism.
Tourism in Schwendau - Highlights
Nestled in the Schwaz area of the Austrian state of Tyrol, Schwendau is a municipality and village. Comprising a population of almost 1,500 people, the town covers 18.6 square kilometers. On the eastern side of the Ziller river, at 620 meters above sea level, Schwendau is Comprising several constituent localities including portions of Hippach, the municipal area stretches from the Ziller river to the Hoarberg Pass, at an elevation of 2,590 meters.
Schwendau first appears in history in the year 1200, under the name “Swentowe,” which refers to a cleared area set for grazing. The village’s emblem shows an axe, so reflecting the original meaning of the name. Rising on the Burgschrofen hill, there stood a castle until the 14th century. Built in the 13th century and dedicated to the Saints Ingenuin and Albuin, the Schwendau Parish Church boasts three rather beautiful altars. Early Baroque architectural style saw restoration of the building following the 1698 earthquake.
Ancestral home of the Schwendau family name is the village of Schwendau. Family legend holds that Archduke Albert V. the Magnificent considered the least important kind of royalty; the original family name was Baron von Schwendau (Barons of Swanland). Serving as tax collectors and local sheriffs would have been the family’s obligation. The family crest began to take shape in the 1400s.
Schwendau shares the same town hall and one administrative district with the nearby village of Hippach, which is rather close by. Still, a referendum on the idea of combining the two towns into one entity came out clearly negatively. In the end, every entity is rather proud of its own identity and customs. Commonly experienced by most Tiroleans, the pride and sense of identity can be ascribed to a great awareness of community: working with neighbors, appreciating nature, and protecting cultural legacy.
Landmarks and Points of Interest
- With its three magnificent altars and early Baroque architectural style, the raised position Schwendau Parish Church in the Hippach municipality is a notable sight. Built in the 13th century, the church was dedicated to honour the Saints Ingenuin and Albuin, martyred by the Alemanni in the 5th century. The church suffered damage from an earthquake in 1698; it was rebuilt later years. Designed from a mix of marble and wood, the main altar shows the two saints next to the Virgin Mary. Paintings and sculptures abound on the side altars honoring Saint Joseph and Saint Anthony. Furthermore installed in the church are a Rococo pulpit, a Baroque organ, and a Gothic baptismal font.
- Originally the location of a castle, the Burgschrofen hill offers a broad perspective of the valley and neighboring mountains. Built by the Counts of Tyrol in the 12th century, the castle was a vital base for government and defense. A conflagration in the 14th century completely destroyed the castle, so making all efforts at reconstruction useless. Right now, the hill is just covered with a few relics accessible via a marked hiking trail. On the hill is also a chapel dedicated to Saint Leonard, the revered protector of animals and prisoners. Built during the 1830s as a symbol of the victorious counter-reformation, the chapel was meant to be clearly seen from a good distance. The chapel has a small interior with a wooden altar and a Saint Leonard picture.
- An evidence of the time when the Schwendauer Bäche streams supplied power for eight millers and one blacksmith, the 18th-century mill known as the Zimmererhäuslmühle The mill is open to the public summertime after restoration in 1999. Visitors can see the mill’s running systems and the process of grain being turned into flour. The mill also boasts a small museum exhibiting old tools and machinery used by the blacksmiths and millers.
Natural Beauty
- The Zillertal Alps, a nature reserve with eighty glaciers and many lakes, envelop Schwendau. Alpine roses, edelweiss, marmots, chamois, and eagles abound among the 422 square kilometers of plant and animal species housed in the nature park. The nature park offers chances for riding, walking, and landscape appreciation. Two very sought-after sites are the man-made bodies of water created from the building of hydroelectric dams, the Schlegeis Reservoir and Lake Zillergründl. The lakes’ rich blue color contrasts strikingly with the immaculate white glaciers and lush meadows. There are several hiking paths around the lakes, which one can reach by car or public transport. Restaurants and information centers housed in the lakes provide guests with means to learn more about the hydroelectric power plants and the nature park.
- Schwendau is near the Ski & Glacier World Zillertal 3000, a skiing location easily reachable from the village by the Horberg Cable Car. Together with 59 lifts and cable cars, the skiing area features 227 kilometres of slopes. The area includes the sole ski resort in Austria still open all year long, the Hintertux Glacier, which lets guests participate in skiing even in the summer. Among the attractions in the skiing area are the Glacier Floh Park, a playground for kids on the glacier, the Nature Ice Palace, a natural ice cave tucked away on the glacier, and the Panorama Terrace, a viewing platform set 3,250 m above sea level that gives guests an amazing panoramic perspective of the Alps.
Historical Sites
- With a wide range of museums and displays, Schwendau offers a great wealth of historical relevance waiting for exploration. One such instance is the Regional Museum Zillertal, which presents the cultural and economic development of the valley in its whole. Located in an old farmhouse, the museum features displays on a variety of topics including mining, tourism, folklore, agriculture, and handicap. Along with this collection of costumes, musical instruments, paintings, and pictures capturing the customs and traditions of the Zillertal people, the museum houses Regularly, the museum also plans guided tours, seminars, and events.
- The Zillertal Adventure Dairy is another fascinating place to visit where guests may see the real and time-honoring method of cheese making. Accessible to the general people, the dairy is located in Mayrhofen, a nearby town. Visitors may watch the milk collecting, processing, and turning into cheese, butter, and yogurt. The dairy also has a showcase farm where visitors may interact with the cows, goats, sheep, and other animals kept for milk production. Furthermore included in the dairy is a retail shop where customers may buy and taste the dairy goods. Moreover, on the grounds is a restaurant where guests may savor the local cuisine.
Activities in Schwendau
Schwendau offers a varied range of events catered to different interests and tastes, including:
- Outdoor Recreation: Schwendau is a perfect place for people that like outdoor sports. The Summer World Hippach is a leisure park with a swimming pool, mini golf course, tennis court and playground. Seasonally running from May to September, the park boasts facilities including a snack bar and a sunbathing area. Schwendau claims to have a thorough network of clearly marked Nordic Walking paths that suit people of all degrees of fitness. The paths have beautiful views of the mountains and the valley and feature educational signs all along. With a range of mountain biking and cycling paths, Schwendau presents easy to challenging difficulty. Following the course of the Ziller river, the highly preferred Zillertal Cycle Route links Schwendau with surrounding valleys’ towns.
- Adventure Sports: Adrenaline junkies frequent Schwendau, which provides the chance to fly the Almflieger, an exciting aerial sport that lets you soar above the alpine meadows. Situated at the Penkenjoch mountain col reachable by the Horberg Cable Car is the Almflieger. With a 1,600 meter length and a 200 meter vertical elevation change, the Almflieger is The car has two passenger capacity and a maximum speed of fifty kilometers per hour. For those looking for scenic views and an adrenaline surge as well as an exciting and fun experience, the Almflieger provides Thrills-seekers also find great appeal in the Arena Coaster, a toboggan run down the mountain. The Arena Coaster is located in Zell am Ziller, an adjacent municipality, at the base station of the Rosenalmbahn cable car. Comprising 1,450 meters and an elevation change of 140 meters, the Arena Coaster is The track has undulations, ramps, and circular sections; the highest speed attainable is forty kilometers per hour. Operating year-round, the Arena Coaster seats one or two riders per sled.
- Leisure and Entertainment: With a range of local events, celebrations, and seasonal activities stressing the customs and traditions of the area, Schwendau presents chances for both leisure and entertainment. Among the events happening are the Zillertal Beer Festival, which celebrates local beer, the Advent in the Mountains, a vibrant market with handcrafted goods and great cuisine, and the stummer schrei, a festival highlighting modern theater and music. Schwendau offers chances for leisure by including a library, bowling alley, and movie theater.
Dining and Cuisine
Schwendau presents local restaurants, traditional cuisine, and culinary adventures stressing the diversity and high standards of the area by means of a rich gastronomic and cultural experience.
- Stuffed with cheese and potatoes, the deep-fried pastry known as zillertal krapfen Usually accompanied with sauerkraut or salad, krapfen is a Zillertal valley staple food. Combining flour, water, salt, and yeast creates a dough that is then flattened and formed into circular pieces—the Krapfen. After filling the circles with cheese, potatoes, onions, salt, and pepper, they are folded into semicircules. The Krapfen then deep-fried in hot oil till they develop a golden and crispy texture.
- Made using skimmed milk, the Zillertal Graukäse is a sour-tasting variety of cheese. Strong and unique taste defines the low fat content but high protein content cheese known as Graukäse. Heating skimmed milk and adding rennet causes graukäse—that is, coagulation of the milk. The curd is drained, then put under pressure before being split into blocks. The blocks then are salted and kept in a cool, moist environment to help a gray mold grow. Usually eaten with bread, butter, vinegar, or another way with onion and chives is graukäse.
- The Zillertal Schnaps is a spirit created by fruit and herb distillation. Considered as a post-meal treat or a digestive aid, schnaps is a traditional drink of the Zillertal valley. Apples, pears, plums, cherries, or apricots are fermented first, then distilled in a copper still to produce Schnaps. Subsequently, the Schnaps develops its unique scent and taste in wooden barrels or glass bottles. Among the flavors the Schnaps might display are raspberry, elderflower, mint, or honey.
These are some nearby eateries where you might taste these and other delicacies:
- Offering both spa treatments and a restaurant, the privately owned Hotel Alpenblick is From regional delicacies to world cuisine, the restaurant offers a wide range of meals. The terrace of the restaurant lets customers enjoy the breathtaking views of the valley and mountains. The restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner among the three main meal times and also provides a range of snacks and drinks all through the day.
- Charming guesthouse the Gästehaus Troppmair boasts a terrace as well as a garden. The guesthouse has a restaurant with homemade Krapfen, Graukäse, and Schnaps among local and seasonal products. Apart from that, the establishment has a fireplace, which offers customers a comfortable and peaceful space to relax and find warmth. The restaurant opens for breakfast and dinner as well as offers packed lunches for your trips.
- The fairly spacious Ferienwohnung Zillertal has a balcony and a fully functional kitchen. There is an on-site restaurant in the apartment providing a range of food and drink choices. Visitors can choose from a menu or use the given ingredients to make their own meals. A barbecue station in the restaurant lets customers grill their own meat and vegetables right there. The restaurant runs breakfast, lunch, and dinner times as well as offers meal delivery to your apartment.
Accommodation in Schwendau
From hotels to lodges, guesthouses, inns, apartments, and chalets Schwendau offers a wide spectrum of housing options to fit different budgets and tastes. These are some of the several places to stay:
- Offering both spa treatments and a restaurant, the privately owned Hotel Alpenblick is owned The hotel has 25 rooms overall, all of which are rather cosy and comfortable. The rooms feature a balcony, a TV, a safe, and a bathroom as well as Furthermore included in the hotel is a spa with sauna, steam bath, whirlpool, and massage services. For your dining enjoyment, the hotel boasts a restaurant with a range of regional and worldwide cuisine. The hotel lies in the center of the village, near the Zillertal Cycle Route as well as the Horberg Cable Car.
- Charming guesthouse The Gästehaus Troppmair boasts a terrace and garden. There are ten simple, clean guesthouse rooms total, and they define themselves. The rooms have a bathroom, a TV, and a balcony. Additionally housed in the guesthouse is a restaurant where guests may enjoy the delicious homemade Krapfen, Graukäse, and Schnaps. Situated next to the Schwendau Parish Church and the Burgschrofen hill, the guesthouse enjoys a peaceful, sunlit surroundings.
- The fairly spacious Ferienwohnung Zillertal apartment boasts a balcony and a fully functional kitchen. The apartment consists in two bedrooms, a living room, a dining room, a kitchen, and a bathroom. The apartment features a television, a dishwasher, a microwave, and a washing machine and has six maximum occupants. The apartment features a restaurant, which gives you the choice to cook your own food or order beverages and meals. The apartment is in a calm, lush neighbourhood close to the Nordic Walking paths and Summer World Hippach.
