Resort information for Lech

Lech is an attractive old farming village set in a high valley, with its upmarket hotels built in traditional chalet style, gurgling river plus bridges, adequately impressive scenery and a high incidence of snow on the streets – however, its appeal is dimmed by traffic as it can get very busy, especially at weekends. The heart of the village is a short stretch of the main street beside the river, along which is found the base station of the Rufikopf cable-car, departure point for exploration of the Zurs slopes, the other lower resort with which Lech is linked.

Practically all the slopes are treeless, the main exception being the lower runs just above the village. And practically all the slopes are quite sunny – very few are north-facing. The main slopes centre on Oberlech, 250m/820ft above Lech, and can be reached from the village chair-lifts as well as the cable-car. The wide open pistes above Oberlech are perfect for intermediates and there is also lots of off-piste. The high point to this sector giving stunning views. Both Lech and Zurs get a lot of snow. The altitude is high by Austrian resort standards, and there is excellent snowmaking, helping to counter the sunny exposure. The resort proudly boasts that it limits number on the slope to 14,000 for a more enjoyable experience, and there are few complaints of queues.

Proper mountain restaurants are not a highlight but have improved somewhat in recent years, (though reporters still complain about overcrowding). There are over 50 restaurants in Lech, but nearly all of them are in hotels. Many visitors to Lech don’t indulge in sports, and the main street often presents a parade of fur-clad strollers. The range of shopping is surprisingly limited but the après-ski is good albeit expensive.