Grosse Walsertal Biosphere Park, Austria
| country: | Austria |
| location: | Grosse Walsertal Biosphere Park |
the amazing things you'll be doing
Why should I visit?
Located in the heart of the Austrian Alps lies the remarkable Grosse Walser-tal Biosphere Park. Once a place of tragedy (after a horrific avalanche disas-ter in 1954) and an area of economic depression, this cultural region has transformed itself into one of Austria's "must-see" parks.
The transformation effort was collective, as the local community rallied together with fresh ideas, leading the charge into the 21st century with a progressive plan of "green" energy use, farming and transportation. The result: a masterpiece of man working with nature in a cultural setting that one must see to believe.
What can you do here?
With such a rich landscape, Grosse Walsertal has it all. The Alps rise over 2,700 metres high, parted by fertile farming valleys where everything from herbs, berries and flowers are grown. The backdrop provides an incredible experience for those wanting to walk the nature trails.
An emphasis on organic farming is growing in popularity as nearly 50% of products made in the region are organic. For cheese lovers, it is an epic ex-perience. For food enthusiasts, courses are offered on the use of the region's many herbs. Austrians love the outdoors and their playground is the mountains. Some of the most spectacular hiking and skiing conditions in Europe are available here with environmentally friendly transportation offered to everyone.
What makes the Grosse Walsertal Biosphere Park special?
An array of activities that range from guided garden tours to cooking classes makes for a memorable park experience. The region boasts some of the most exotic flowers and herbs in the country and one can experience first-hand how the women in the area have, for centuries, created some of the finest Alchemilla products, such as oils and soaps. In 2004, a new community centre opened that set the course for modern, ecological and energy efficient architecture. Using wood and other natural materials from its own backyard, the ever-expanding centre replicates the minds of the locals, who envision a beautiful and natural environment.
What makes it sustainable? Centuries of farming and producing some of the finest dairy products in Europe have made this region fundamental to Austria. Innovative farming and building methods and a real concern for the environment make the re-gion a leading example worldwide. For over 1000 years man has worked and inhabited the land in the rich val-leys of the park. In 2007, the Grosse Walsertal won an energy award for their development of two biomass heating plants that saved nearly 280,000 litres of heating oil in one year.
What should I look for in...:
Spring: The spring thaw gives way to wonderful waterfalls Summer: Herbal aromas fill the mountain air Fall: The sound of music echoes through the valley Winter: Knee-deep powder snow with spectacular mountain landscapes
Highlights of the Grosse Walsertal Biosphere Park:
Rising 2,500 metres high through the brisk alpine air Gourmet cheeses and other tasty delights Exotic oils and fragrances that excite the senses Peace of mind while consuming fair trade products
People are in close communion with nature at Styrian volcano land which is characterised by stunning volcanic formations, thermal water resources, architectural monuments, folk art and publicly accessible glass factories.
Pielachtal (2007)
Lower Austria’s beautiful valley in the Mostviertel region invites you to learn all about sustainable horticulture and the processing of fruits and herbs, with the most renowned feature being the produc-tion of its “Dirndl”cherries.
Located in the heart of the Austrian Alps lies the remarkable Grosse Walser-tal Biosphere Park. Once a place of tragedy (after a horrific avalanche disas-ter in 1954) and an area of economic depression, this cultural region has transformed itself into one of Austria's "must-see" parks. The transformation effort was collective, as the local community rallied together with fresh ideas, leading the charge into the 21st century with a progressive plan of "green" energy use, farming and transportation. The result: a masterpiece of man working with nature in a cultural setting that one must see to believe.
What can you do here?
With such a rich landscape, Grosse Walsertal has it all. The Alps rise over 2,700 metres high, parted by fertile farming valleys where everything from herbs, berries and flowers are grown. The backdrop provides an incredible experience for those wanting to walk the nature trails.
An emphasis on organic farming is growing in popularity as nearly 50% of products made in the region are organic. For cheese lovers, it is an epic ex-perience. For food enthusiasts, courses are offered on the use of the region's many herbs. Austrians love the outdoors and their playground is the mountains. Some of the most spectacular hiking and skiing conditions in Europe are available here with environmentally friendly transportation offered to everyone.
What makes the Grosse Walsertal Biosphere Park special?
An array of activities that range from guided garden tours to cooking classes makes for a memorable park experience. The region boasts some of the most exotic flowers and herbs in the country and one can experience first-hand how the women in the area have, for centuries, created some of the finest Alchemilla products, such as oils and soaps. In 2004, a new community centre opened that set the course for modern, ecological and energy efficient architecture. Using wood and other natural materials from its own backyard, the ever-expanding centre replicates the minds of the locals, who envision a beautiful and natural environment.
What makes it sustainable? Centuries of farming and producing some of the finest dairy products in Europe have made this region fundamental to Austria. Innovative farming and building methods and a real concern for the environment make the re-gion a leading example worldwide. For over 1000 years man has worked and inhabited the land in the rich val-leys of the park. In 2007, the Grosse Walsertal won an energy award for their development of two biomass heating plants that saved nearly 280,000 litres of heating oil in one year.
What should I look for in...:
Highlights of the Grosse Walsertal Biosphere Park: other EDEN destinations in Austria
Steirisches Vulkanland (2008)People are in close communion with nature at Styrian volcano land which is characterised by stunning volcanic formations, thermal water resources, architectural monuments, folk art and publicly accessible glass factories.
Pielachtal (2007)
Lower Austria’s beautiful valley in the Mostviertel region invites you to learn all about sustainable horticulture and the processing of fruits and herbs, with the most renowned feature being the produc-tion of its “Dirndl”cherries.
how this holiday makes a difference
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Have you ever sat at your desk during a busy work day and felt your mind drift off to another place? That special spot on Monday was a beach some-where in the Mediterranean. A few days later your mind ventured to a castle on top of a hillside. The experience was so vivid that you could almost smell the fresh mountain air.
Each day the clock ticks and you yearn for a holiday free of the hustle and bustle of city life. You want a destination that is known for its local charm, its beautiful landscapes and fascinating history. A place where the locals respect their land and will do anything to protect it from harm. Sounds like a dream, right? Well, in Europe, the possibilities are endless. The European Commission launched the European Destinations of Excel-lence (EDEN) a few years back with the aim of selecting special places "off the beaten path" that value economic, environmental and social sustainabil-ity. The 52 places chosen so far all represent Europe in a fitting manner. Europe is a continent of great history and lands. The continent's mystique draws tourists from around the world in search of adventure, paradise and culture. While there are many wonderful destinations in Europe, the truth is, many of them have lost their allure due to expansive tourism and a lack of regard for the environment. No longer can a region's name alone be enough to draw visitors to their majestic mountains or pristine beaches. There must be more and the European Commission has devoted numerous resources to instill the mind-set of sustainable tourism in its regions. Sustainable tourism is a practice that must run deep in the values of the local people. Whenever new accommodation is built and man-made changes are made to the landscape, eco-friendly and environmental measures must be followed. A constant respect for nature is needed to ensure that today's crea-tures and eco-systems are still around in the distant future. Sustainable tourism also plays a major role in a region's local economy. The growth of an area leads to more jobs and helps raise the quality of living in a region. The local people also take advantage of visitors eating at their restaurants, shopping at their markets and staying at their hotels. It is essential that proper investment in tourism growth has the people's best interests in mind.  The next time you go on a memorable holiday to the countryside and enjoy a bottle of the Earth's precious wine, take notice of the land and its people. These 52 selected EDEN "hidden gems" all have done their part in making their region a wonderful and memorable place to visit. Now it's up to you to decide which adventure you want to seek! |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |