Alpine pastures in the Hohe Tauern National Park

Alpine summer – that denotes aromatic hay, extensive flower-filled meadows, the sound of cow bells, taking a deep breath, enjoyment. The alpine pasture is a place filled with glorious romance, but it is also a place of hard, yet rewarding work. In the Hohe Tauern National Park there are some 350 alpine pastures which span 91,000 hectares. No other national park has such a high density of alpine pastures. To manage an Alpine pasture is a time-intensive, responsible task. Yet it also makes a valuable contribution to maintaining the precious cultural landscape of the Hohe Tauern National Park.

Traditional culture is alive and well on the alpine pastures, handed down from generation to generation. Here precious raw materials are turned into valuable foods. It takes a great deal of painstaking work to preserve the landscape here. Boosting local domestic animal breeds makes a fundamental contribution to preserving the variety of species. 

Pure natural pleasure.

Nature-lovers, families, outdoor activists and those of you who have had enough of mass tourism, superficiality and short-lived trends, are re-discovering the alpine pastures as a holiday destination. But even just for a refreshment stop during one of the many hiking tours through the Hohe Tauern National Park, the many alpine inns provide an ideal place to rest, relax and re-energise.

An organic holiday in an Alpine lodge.

Pure natural surroundings, broad alpine meadows, rare alpine flowers and a breath-taking mountain panorama make an idyllic alpine summer perfect. The farmers tend the alpine pastures and meadows in a wholly organic manner.

Who hasn't dreamt of really being a part of Alpine life – being there when food is made, watching the farmer's wife prepare traditional meals, or even helping out; staying the night in a hay store or just watching out for chamois and marmots. It is with a healthy dose of 'deceleration' that this cultural area opens up new perspectives for body and soul.