Attractions & Landmarks In Sölden
Renowned ski resort and year-round outdoor enthusiast destination Sölden is situated in the Ötztal Valley of Tirol, Austria. Apart from its breathtaking natural beauty and exciting outdoor activities, this idyllic location is well-known for its relationship to the James Bond series. Actually, Sölden hosts the amazing 007 Elements cinematic installation and was highlighted in the 2015 movie Spectre.
Located at an amazing height of 3,050 meters above sea level, inside the top of the Gaislachkogl Mountain, 007 Elements is a world-first cinematic installation. Showcasing the legendary elements that define a James Bond film—including the amazing locations, cutting-edge technologies, exciting stunts, and hypnotic music—it provides visitors with a singular and immersive experience. Though the installation mostly centers on Spectre, it also includes other James Bond films. The Gaislachkoglbahn cable car not only provides easy access but also breathtaking views of the nearby mountains and valleys, so helping visitors to reach this remarkable attraction.
Standing tall at 3,768 meters, Sölden provides the chance for those looking for adventure and stunning views to conquer the Wildspitze, the highest mountain in Tirol and the second highest in Austria. Experienced mountaineers will be rewarded with panoramic views of glaciers and the magnificent Alps even though the climb is difficult. From Sölden, the Tiefenbach Glacier can be reached by the Tiefenbachbahn cable car; it marks the beginning of the simplest path to the summit.
The gorgeous Rifflsee, an alpine lake close to Mandarfen, about thirty kilometers from Sölden, will also captivate nature enthusiasts. Nestled among grand mountains, this calm lake provides a perfect environment for boating, fishing, and hiking. Convenient access to the Pitztal Glacier and the adjacent ski area is also offered by the Rifflseebahn cable car.
Visitors can find the Freizeitarena Sölden, a leisure and spa centre suitable for all ages and tastes right in Sölden. Among the many activities and conveniences this building provides are an indoor pool, sauna, tennis courts, badminton courts, basketball courts, gym.
007 Elements
Constructed 3,050 meters above sea level, at the top of the Gaislachkogl Mountain, this is a world-first cinematic installation It highlights the trademark features of a James Bond movie, including the locations, the devices, the stunts, and the music. Though it also features other James Bond films, it centers on Spectre, which was shot in Sölden. The Gaislachkoglbahn cable car provides breathtaking views of the nearby mountains and valleys, so allowing access to them.
Nine galleries totaling different themes and design make up the installation. From the exciting opening sequence of Spectre to the behind-the-scenes secrets of the production, you can really sink yourself into the world of 007. Along with interactive exhibits and multimedia presentations, you can also view film-specific original props, costumes, and vehicles. The Plaza, a glass-walled chamber providing a 360-degree perspective of the mountains and the valley below, is the high point of the experience.
Based on the weather, 007 Elements is open from December to April and from July to September. Either online or at the Sölden ticket office, you can reserve your tickets. The admission cost covers the cable car trip as well as the installation entrance. For a more special experience, you might also choose a VIP package or a guided tour.
Wildspitze
At 3,768 meters, this mountain ranks second highest in Austria and the highest in Tirol. Experienced mountaineers will find this difficult but worthwhile climb to provide expansive views of the Alps and glaciers. Starting from the Tiefenbach Glacier, which is reachable by the Tiefenbachbahn cable car from Sölden, the simplest path to the summit is thus.
The weather and the degree of the climbers’ fitness will determine the four to five hours the ascent takes. Following a well-marked trail across the glacier, the path leads to the Mitterkarjoch, a small ridge linking the two heights of Wildspitze. From there, a brief but steep climb brings the summit book with a cross waiting for the conquerors. The path of descent runs exactly back to the cable car station.
Summer is the ideal season for wildspitze climbing since the visibility is better and the snow conditions are more consistent. Hiring a certified mountain guide, who can guarantee your safety and provide you the required tools and knowledge, is still advised though. A group trip or a course covering the fundamentals of glacier travel and high-altitude climbing would also be options.
Rifflsee
About thirty kilometers from Sölden, this gorgeous alpine lake lies next to the village of Mandarfen. It provides a calm environment for boating, fishing, or hiking among grand mountains. The adjacent ski area and the Pitztal Glacier can also be reached by the Rifflseebahn cable car.
About 1.5 kilometers long and 500 meters wide, the lake boasts a depth of up to 24 meters. Its clear, cold water reflects the blue sky and the green meadows; it is fed by the melting snow and ice from the nearby peaks. Rent a rowboat or a pedal boat and enjoy the view from the lake, or stroll around the lake on a well-maintaining path that takes roughly one hour to finish. Although you can fish for trout and char as well, you must get a fishing license from the local government.
Popular in both summer and winter, Rifflsee presents a range of events and attractions suitable for every season. Hiking to the nearby Rifflsee Hut, a little mountain hideaway with traditional Tyrolean cuisine and overnight lodging, is great summertime activity. Accessible by a cable car and a tunnel, the Pitztal Glacier—the highest glacier in Tirol—offers another exploration opportunity. With 18 kilometers of pistes and six lifts, the Rifflsee ski area offers you access to ski or snowboarding slopes in the winter. On the frozen lake, you might also try cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, or ice skating.
Freizeitarena Sölden
Offering a range of events and facilities for all ages and tastes, this leisure and spa center in the center of Sölden is Work out in the fitness studio, swim in the indoor pool, lounge in the sauna, play tennis, badminton, or basketball; eat dinner in the restaurant. It is open all year long and a great spot to relax following a day of hiking or skiing.
Comprising a 25-meter lap pool, a children’s pool, a whirlpool, a waterfall, and a slide, the indoor pool boasts a 30 degree Celsius water temperature. A Finnish sauna, a bio sauna, a steam bath, an infrared cabin, and a relaxation room comprise the sauna area. The sports hall features a basketball court, two badminton courts and four tennis courts. Modern tools abound in the fitness studio, which also provides group seminars and individual instruction. Serving regional and international cuisine, the restaurant features a terrace.
Freizeitarena Sölden opens daily starting at 10 a.m. closing at 9 p.m., except on Sundays and public holidays, until 10 p.m. The activity and length of your stay determine the admission charge. One can also purchase a combined ticket covering the sports hall, sauna, and pool. Should you possess a guest card or a valid ski pass, the entrance fee will be discounted.
Bike Republic Sölden
With more than 80 kilometers of natural and shaped courses, 12 flow tracks, 8 shaped lines, 2 pump tracks, and a bike school, this is heaven for mountain bikers. From forests and meadows to rocks and streams, you can ride across varied topography and enjoy exciting jumps, drops, and curves. To reach the paths and tour the area, you can also ride the bike-friendly lifts and buses.
From beginners to experts, the trails fit all levels of riders since their length and difficulty mark them. From simple and smooth paths—like the Eebme Line or the Ollweite Line—you can pick from challenging and technical paths—like the Teäre Line or the Harbe Line. On the shaped lines—such as the Zaahe Line or the Gahe Line—which have wooden elements and obstacles—you can also test your speed and ability. On the pump tracks—round courses with bumps and berms—you can also work on your coordination and balance.
Depending on the temperature and snow conditions, Bike Republic Sölden is open June through October. One of the several bike stores in Sölden will let you rent a helmet and a bike; you can bring your own. A certified bike instructor can also schedule a lesson or guided tour to teach the fundamentals or show you the best trails. A free membership program called Bike Republic Passports allows you access to discounts, events, and prizes.
Timmelsjoch High Alpine Road
From the Ötztal Valley in Tirol up over the 2,478-meter-high Timmelsjoch pass, this amazing alpine road crosses the border to Italy and winds back into the province of Alto Adige. Offering amazing views of the mountains, glaciers, and valleys, it is among the highest paved roads in Europe You can stop at a number of stations along the road displaying information and exhibits on the local history, culture, and environment.
About 60 kilometers long, the road boasts a 12 percent maximum gradient. Depending on the weather and the snow clearance, it opens June through October. Along the road, you can drive, cycle, or ride a motorbike; but, you must pay a toll at either Moos or Hochgurgl toll station. Along with a brochure and a road and station map, the cost covers
Each of the several architects and artists that design the stations has a different shape and theme. The Smuggler Station chronicles the illicit trade across the border; the Glacier Station explains the formation and retreat of the glaciers; the Pass Museum shows the history and engineering of the road; and the Teahouse provides a panoramic view and a beverage. Additionally worth visiting is the Top Mountain Motorcycle Museum, which boasts more than 230 motorcycles from many nations and eras.
Ötzi Village
Ever wonder how people lived 5,000 years ago, in the era of Ötzi, the well-known ice mummy discovered in the adjacent glacier in 1991? Visit Ötzi Village, an outdoor museum simulating the life and surroundings of the ancient occupants of the Ötztal Valley, if you are interested in the history, culture, and nature of the Neolithic period.
About 20 kilometers from Sölden, in the unspoiled Tirol, Austria, Ötzi Village is situated close to the village of Umhausen. Covering roughly 17,000 square meters, it features faithfully rebuilt replicas of Neolithic huts, tools, weapons, animals, and plants that the people used and raised. See how they farmed, hunted, fished, cooked, and created by strolling around the community. Guided tours, seminars, and events designed to impart Stone Age skills and techniques will also let you engage in
Unlike most museums, Ötzi Village is a living and interactive experience that will take you to another age and help you to value the successes and challenges of our forebears. For all ages and interests, it is also a wheelchair-accessible family-friendly attraction providing entertainment and education.
Parish Church of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary in Sölden-Rettenbach
About 4 km from Sölden’s center, the hamlet of Rettenbach hosts the parish church of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary. Built in the Baroque fashion in 1779, it features a choir, a nave, and a tower. Frescoes, paintings, sculptures, and altars abound in the church’s inside decoration. Whereas the side altars honor Saint Joseph and Saint Anthony of Padua, the main altar shows the Virgin Mary visiting her cousin Elizabeth. Built by renowned Tyrolean organ builder Johann Georg Gröber in 1780, the church also boasts a remarkable organ.
Parish Church of Saint John Nepomuk in Obergurgl
About 15 km from Sölden, in the village of Obergurgl, sits the parish church of Saint John Nepomuk. Built in Rococo fashion in 1737, it features a choir, a nave, and a tower. Dedicated to Saint John Nepomuk, the patron saint of bridges who was martyred in Prague in 1393, the church is Along with paintings and altars illustrating events from the saint’s life and martyrdom, the church boasts a wooden monument of him. Built by Johann Caspar Humpel, another eminent Tyrolean organ builder, the church also boasts a noteworthy organ from 1740.
Parish Church of Saint James in Vent
About 18 km from Sölden, the village of Vent houses Saint James’s parish church. Built in the Gothic Revival fashion in 1860, it features a choir, a nave, and a tower. One of the twelve apostles of Jesus, Saint James the Greater is the patron saint of pilgrims thus the church is dedicated to him. Along with paintings and altars reflecting events from his life and pilgrimage, the church boasts a stained glass window of the saint. Built in 1861 by eminent Austrian organ builder Franz Weber, the church also boasts a magnificent organ.
Chaplaincy Church for the Finding of the Cross in Heiligkreuz
About six kilometres from Sölden, in the hamlet of Heiligkreuz, sits the chaplaincy church for the Finding of the Cross. Designed in the Baroque style, it opened in 1697 with a choir, a nave, and a tower. The church is devoted to the discovery of the cross of Jesus by fourth-century Jerusalem’s Saint Helena, the mother of Emperor Constantine. Apart from paintings and altars illustrating events from the finding and Christ’s passion, the church boasts a relic of the cross. Built in 1700 by renowned Salzburg organ builder Johann Christoph Egedacher, the church also boasts a rather remarkable organ.
Chapel of Saint Theresia in Rofen
About 20 kilometers from Sölden, in the hamlet of Rofen, sits the chapel of Saint Theresia. Built in the Alpine fashion in 1930, it features a choir, a nave, and a tower. Dedicated to Saint Theresia of Lisieux, sometimes known as the Little Flower, the French Carmelite nun and church doctor Along with paintings and altars reflecting scenes from her life and spirituality, the chapel boasts a statue of the saint. Built in 1931 by renowned Vorarlberg organ builder Anton Behmann, the chapel boasts an amazing organ as well.
Chapel of Saint Sebastian in Winterstall
About 22 km from Sölden, the hamlet of Winterstall houses Saint Sebastian’s chapel. Built in the Alpine fashion in 1950, it features a choir, a nave, and a tower. The chapel is honoring Roman soldier and martyr Saint Sebastian, who, in the third century was shot with arrows for his faith. Along with paintings and altars reflecting events from his life and martyrdom, the chapel features a statue of the saint. Built in 1951 by Anton Behmann, the same organ builder who created the organ for the Saint Theresia chapel, the organ in this chapel is also rather noteworthy.
Mariahilf Chapel in Zwieselstein
About 4 miles from Sölden, in the village of Zwieselstein, sits the Mariahilf chapel. Built in 1699 under Baroque design, it features a choir, a nave, and a tower. The chapel honors Mariahilf, sometimes known as Mary Help of Christians, a title of the Virgin Mary derived in the 16th century. Along with paintings and altars illustrating events from Mary and Jesus’s life, the chapel boasts a Mariahilf portrait. Built in 1700 by Johann Christoph Egedacher, the same organ builder who created the organ for the chaplaincy church for the Finding of the Cross, the chapel also boasts a magnificent organ.
Monument to Martinus Scheiber (1856–1939)
Situated close to the parish church of Saint John Nepomuk in the village of Obergurgl, the monument to Martinus Scheiber The renowned Austrian artist Karl Obleitner senior, who focused in monuments and sculptures, started it in 1940. One of the pioneers of Austrian tourism in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Martinus Scheiber is a local farmer and innkeeper shown on the monument. First to provide lodging and guided excursions to Obergurgl and the Ötztal Alps, he also helped the ski resort grow and the local infrastructure be developed. The monument honors his vision and accomplishments and shows him carrying a map of the region and a pair of skis.
Films In Sölden
Sölden is a movie venue as well as a well-liked ski resort. Over the years, many directors and actors have drawn to the Ötztal valley because of its breathtaking landscape and rich legacy, which have served as a backdrop or inspiration for their projects.
The Mountain Eagle (1926)
Shot in Obergurgl in 1926, the silent picture The Mountain Eagle is the work of renowned director Alfred Hitchcock. Set in Kentucky’s Appalachian Mountains, the melodrama in the film follows a schoolteacher pursued by two men: an enigmatic stranger and a despolic store owner. The British Film Institute ranks the movie as lost and as the most sought-after movie in the globe. There are still some stills and different speculations regarding the location of the movie. Being Hitchcock’s second feature film and his first working with the actress Nita Naldi makes the movie also noteworthy.
The Geierwally (1940)
Filmed in the Berghof, just above Sölden, the Geierwally is a film adaptation of Wilhelmine von Hillern’s same-named book. Set in the 19th century, the romantic drama in the film follows a young woman named Wally who falls in love with a hunter called Joseph against the wishes of her father. Features Heidemarie Hatheyer as Wally and actor Sepp Rist as Joseph, the movie is among the most successful German films of the 1940s. Open to visitors, the Berghof Sölden building is essentially in its original state.
The Avalanche of the Century (2009)
Based on the Galtür avalanche tragedy that happened in 1999 and claimed 31 lives as well as hundreds more injuries, The Avalanche of the Century is Shot in Vent in 2009, the movie chronicles the life of several characters touched by the catastrophe. Starring Julia Koschitz, Heino Ferch, and Michael Mendl, the drama in the film investigates survival, guilt, and forgiveness. The people of Vent, who felt the movie distorted the truth of the event and profite on their suffering, especially attacked the movie.
James Bond 007: Spectre (2015)
Starring Daniel Craig as the venerable spy, James Bond 007: Spectre is the 24th installment of the series. A car chase, a plane crash, and a confrontation with the villain are among the sequences in the movie that were shot in Sölden in the winter of 2014–2015. Both the 007 Elements museum, perched atop the Gaislachkogl mountain, and the futuristic architecture of the Ice Q restaurant are also highlighted in the movie. Along with stars Christoph Waltz, Léa Seydoux, and Monica Bellucci, the thriller follows Bond’s search to expose the secrets of the menacing company Spectre.
