Appartement Haus Gatterer
Obertilliach - Dorf 82
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Obertilliach is a picturesque Alpine village of 723 inhabitants located in Austria’s East Tyrol, at an altitude of 1,450 metres in the Tilliacher Tal valley. This municipality represents one of the hidden gems of the Carnic Alps, perfectly preserved in its Tyrolean authenticity and surrounded by an extraordinarily beautiful mountain landscape stretching from the Lienz Dolomites to the Gailtal Valley mountains.
The town has the distinction of being the sunniest municipality in East Tyrol, with over 2,000 hours of sunshine a year thanks to its privileged location in a natural basin protected from the north winds. This exceptional climatic feature, combined with the high altitude, creates ideal conditions for both summer and winter tourism, guaranteeing reliable snow from December to April and pleasant temperatures during the summer months.
The historic centre of Obertilliach retains the charm of traditional alpine architecture, with houses built of wood and local stone using techniques handed down over the centuries. The alpine pastures and farmsteads scattered throughout the surrounding area bear witness to an agro-pastoral tradition dating back thousands of years, while the modern tourist infrastructure guarantees comfort and high-quality services without compromising the authenticity of the place.
The local community is famous for its artisanal production of alpine cheese and herbal spirits, as well as for maintaining traditions such as woodworking and weaving, which can be admired during the traditional festivals that enliven the village throughout the year.
Obertilliach offers a valuable natural and cultural heritage, where every attraction tells the thousand-year history of this Alpine village and its community. The privileged location in the valley allows one to enjoy spectacular views and to experience authentic Tyrolean mountain culture.
The Parish Church of St. Ulrich represents the spiritual and artistic heart of Obertilliach. It was built in the 15th century and later extended in Baroque style in 1720. The building is distinguished by its 38-metre-high Romanesque bell tower, one of the oldest and best preserved in East Tyrol, which dominates the village skyline with its characteristic onion-shaped oxidised copper roof.
The interior houses a precious high altar carved from local pine wood in 1680, decorated with original gilding and statues of saints representing the religious tradition of the valley. The 15th-century frescoes on the vault narrate episodes from the life of St Ulrich, the patron saint of the village, while the modern stained glass windows, installed in 1950, filter the light, creating a unique atmosphere of meditation. The small adjacent parish museum exhibits historical sacred vestments and a collection of votive offer ings testifying to local popular devotion.
The Golzentipp Ski Resort is the flagship of Obertilliach’s winter offer, an internationally recognised cross-country skiing paradise. With its 75 kilometres of groomed trails, it is one of the largest Nordic skiing areas in the Eastern Alps, regularly hosting international competitions and training camps for national teams.
The slopes are between 1,400 and 2,100 metres above sea level, guaranteeing optimal snow conditions from December to April thanks to the northern exposure and the modern snowmaking system. The centre includes tracks for classic and skating styles, with routes of graduated difficulty suitable for both beginners and competitive athletes. The local Nordic ski school is renowned for the quality of its teaching and has qualified instructors who speak Italian, German and English, while the service centre offers equipment rental, a specialised workshop and panoramic dining areas.
The ‘Alpine Pasture Trail ‘ (Almweg) is a 12-kilometre-long hiking trail linking seven traditional shepherd’s huts active in the production of cheese and dairy products typical of the area. This route, developed at an altitude of between 1,500 and 1,900 metres, offers an authentic window into the traditional pastoral life of the Carnic Alps and is a unique gastronomic experience.
Each alpine pasture along the trail offers local specialities such as Tilsiter cheese, alpine herb butter, speck smoked according to recipes handed down through generations, and typical Kiachl (sweet pancakes) served with forest fruit jams. The trail crosses alpine pastures where Pinzgauer cows graze, an indigenous breed perfectly adapted to the mountain climate, and offers spectacular views of the peaks of the Carnic Alps and the Lienz Dolomites. Along the way, educational panels illustrate traditional breeding techniques and Alpine dairy production.
The Bauernmuseum in Obertilliach is housed in a perfectly preserved 17th-century farmhouse and is one of the most comprehensive testimonies of Tyrolean rural life. The museum exhibits more than 2,000 original objects documenting the everyday life of farming families from 1600 to 1950, from agricultural equipment to domestic utensils, from traditional costumes to folk music instruments.
Particularly interesting is the reconstruction of the traditional kitchen with its large central hearth, the Tyrolean stube with its carved furniture and the grain chamber where food supplies for the winter were stored. The museum regularly organises live demonstrations of old crafts such as wool spinning, butter making and bread baking in the wood-fired oven, allowing visitors to fully immerse themselves in the atmosphere of times gone by. The collection of agricultural tools includes some unique items, such as a Tyrolean plough from 1650 and a solid wooden cheese press that is still in working order.
The Naturpark Karnische Alpen surrounds Obertilliach with its 10,000 hectares of protected territory, representing one of the most intact alpine ecosystems in eastern Austria. The park stretches along the border with Italy and protects an exceptional biodiversity with over 1,200 different plant species and a fauna that includes ibexes, chamois, marmots, golden eagles and the extremely rare capercaillie.
The park’s visitor centre in the centre of Obertilliach offers interactive exhibitions on the geology of the Carnic Alps, the formation of glacial environments and climate change at high altitudes. Guided hikes with experienced nature guides start from the park’s trails, illustrating the secrets of the Alpine flora and fauna. Particularly spectacular is the astronomical observatory located at an altitude of 2,000 metres, which takes advantage of the dark skies of the valley to offer night-time observations of stars and planets during summer evenings.
Wellness Tilliach is the modern spa centre in Obertilliach, opened in 2020 and designed according to the most advanced criteria of environmental sustainability. The 2,800-square-metre facility houses thermal pools fed by local natural springs at 38°C, rich in beneficial minerals extracted from the surrounding Dolomite rocks.
The wellness centre features an alpine spa with six different types of saunas, including an atmospheric panoramic sauna with floor-to-ceiling windows offering 360-degree views of the surrounding mountains. The outdoor relaxation area includes a heated infinity pool and a salt cave built with pink Himalayan salt for halotherapy treatments. The treatment department offers massages with essential oils from locally harvested alpine herbs and innovative therapies such as hay baths with mountain herbs fermented according to ancient Tyrolean traditions.
Obertilliach offers genuine, family-friendly hospitality through accommodation facilities that reflect the authenticity of this Alpine village. Family pensions in the village centre are the most characteristic choice, often run by local families who welcome guests in the traditional Tyrolean stube and offer home cooking based on local products. The panoramic hotels on the surrounding heights offer spectacular views of the Carnic Alps and modern wellness facilities, ideal for those seeking relaxation and contact with nature.
Obertilliach can be reached via the B111 state road that branches off from the Drau Valley near Lienz, following a scenic 18-kilometre mountain road that climbs gently up to the village. From Innsbruck, the distance is 180 kilometres, which can be covered in about 2 hours and 30 minutes via the A12 motorway and then the scenic road through the Drava valley. The nearest airport is Klagenfurt (120 kilometres), while Innsbruck airport is 200 kilometres away. Public transport connections include buses from Lienz with regular services during the tourist season.
What's the weather at Obertilliach? Below are the temperatures and the weather forecast at Obertilliach for the next few days.
Obertilliach is located in East Tyrol at an altitude of 1,450 metres in the Tilliacher Tal valley, 18 kilometres from Lienz and 25 kilometres from the Italian border. It is 180 kilometres from Innsbruck and 320 kilometres from Vienna, while Cortina d'Ampezzo is only 45 kilometres across the Italian border. The strategic location in the Carnic Alps makes Obertilliach an ideal starting point for exploring both East Tyrol and the Dolomites.
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