Akshay Hiremath: My Visual Travel Experience: Alpbach (Austria)

An honest confession - I had never heard of Alpbach till 2025, despite having lived in Austria for 4 years from 1985 to 1989. Then in 2025, when we were planning our annual summer trip, we chose to visit Austria, Germany and Czech Republic. Though my then 10 year old son Rehaan and I love exploring vibrant cities, my wife Kamalini enjoys spending time in scenic little villages. As a result, on every trip of ours, we always spend a few days in such villages. Kamalini researched and found out about the village of Alpbach, supposedly a hidden gem, and we decided to spend a couple of days there. It turned out to be a fantastic decision because Alpbach was nothing short of being breathtaking!

We rented a car in Salzburg and we kept it for over a week. I drove from Salzburg to Hallstatt to Alpbach to Neuschwanstein to Munich, before returning the at the car rental outlet in Salzburg again. In Alpbach, we stayed in a very spacious, beautiful, and well equipped 2 bedroom apartment called Apartment Dicka. Having a great place to live in just enhances the travel experience that much more!

Alpbach is a village in Kufstein district in the state of Tirol in Western Austria. The village has a population of about 2,500. It is situated in the middle of the Kitzbuehl Alps. Alpbach is referred to as “Austria’s Most Beautiful Village”. This well-deserved accolade is due to the majestic mountains surrounding it, and the marvelous, uniform, traditional wooden architecture that is prevalent all over the village.

Human settlements around Alpbach go back to about 1000 AD. In the 15th century AD, deposits of copper and silver were discovered in the region. That led to a lot of commercial activity, but by the 19th century AD, productivity at the mines had declined and they had to be closed. Tourism began in Alpbach in the early 20th century, and today it is the village’s main source of income, in summer as well as in winter (when it is a popular destination for skiers).

Pfarrkirche St Oswald lies in the heart of the village. It was consecrated in the 15th century AD. The present structure, however, dates back to the early 18th century AD and it was elevated to parish church status in 1891. The church has a gothic tower, a baroque high altar, and a prominent organ. In the church yard outside, one can see the cemetery, with numerous graves beautifully laid out all around. Traditional music concerts are regularly held outside the church.

Facade,
Pfarrkirche St Oswald

Interior,
Pfarrkirche St Oswald

Cricifixion Altar,
Pfarrkirche St Oswald

Cemetery,
Pfarrkirche St Oswald

Music Concert,
Pfarrkirche St Oswald

There is a story behind Alpbach's architecture. In 1953, the village council made it mandatory that all new buildings are to be as per the traditional wooden style of architecture. That explains why no modern looking buildings have been allowed to come up in the village. It has certainly helped in giving Alpbach its charming and beautiful look.

Building with Alpbach's
Village Emblem

Der Boglerhof

Gemeindearmt

Messner's

Skischule Alpbach

Lauserland in an adventure playground situated at a height of 1,850 meters on a mountain just outside Alpbach. To get to the top, one has to go by cable car. There is also a walking trail that one can take. From the summit, there are spectacular views of the mountains, the valleys and the village below! The highlights of Lauserland include the Lauser Saucer (a thrilling Alpine coaster, that goes up and down the mountain slopes), numerous other fun rides for kids, and Hornboden Restaurant (a restaurant with a view, offering a range of Austian and other cuisines).