It’s unlikely to be kitschy. Green meadows as far as the eye can see. Dense, playful forests with lively streams. The binoculars rise from the small steppe to the rugged rock faces. Feeling sublime here, about 1000 meters above sea level. In the gentle mountain pasture, you feel like you are in Heidi’s hometown or in a movie by Empress Sissi. However, the producers of the series “Der Bergdoktor” made use of the panorama on the Mieminger Plateau.
The picturesque landscape relieves the stressed mind from everyday life in the plains. First, take a deep breath and let the emotions come in. The view of the most famous plateau in Tyrol, set in a majestic mountain world, will almost make you cry. But maybe the wind from wild riding on the e-bike won’t leave dry eyes here. In the area around Obsteig, cyclists can overcome the choppy environment in a really challenging but also very calm way.
From hill and valley to fairy tale castle
Pedestrians and cyclists lose themselves here on the wide roads away from the main road, offering even the smallest cyclists a wide path over slopes and valleys. If you want to save your kids from a longer effort or simply prefer a fast rush through meadows and woods, put the puppies in the trailer and take a run-in-time break from time to time.
On the adventurous course, we speed past playgrounds and fireplaces with a challenging hillside location, tennis courts and a large 27-hole golf course. Not far from the ostentatious complex, we rush past the high-society Steinreichweg. After a quick and steep climb at Klamm Castle, it really turns into a princely one. Occupying an idyllic location next to a 25-metre-high waterfall, a wooden bridge leads to the 13th-century fairy-tale castle.
A break with coffee and cake
Of course, the mighty castle with its square battlements should not be missing in the “Mountain Doctor”. The walls are a masterpiece and are still well preserved for generations – recorded with the saying “Despite the storms of time, the tower grows out of the rock”. As the shadows lengthen again after the midday sun, we walk from the chateau to the feast at the Maurer coffee house on the main street in Obermieming. Traditional pies and cakes in the best Austrian style are served here in a relaxed atmosphere for an afternoon snack.
With apple pie and vanilla ice cream in our stomachs, we kick up the rhythm of our bike’s electric motor and head straight back to our accommodation in Obsteig. At Hotel Stern we swap bikes with ponies from the pet farm and put the kids in the saddle for a pleasant ride. Led by their parents on a leash, the fluffy four-legged friends set the pace on a journey to the edge of the forest.
Health with a clear conscience
Back in their home barn, young riders can prepare the barn for the ponies themselves. Great feeding continues with rabbits and goats in the pet farm. We leave our last reserves of energy in the enclosed rope park, and as night falls we squint at the large, bright portholes of the alpine flower garden. Windows concreted to the floor show us the way to the world of health.
A year ago, the Föger family, who have run the inn for generations, built a special kind of circular eco-pool facility underground. “The first sustainable indoor pool in the Alps,” says hotel manager Rene Föger proudly. The house can generate about 25 percent of the energy itself through additional heat recovery, a new photovoltaic system and a new thermal solar system. “The rest is 100 percent regional and comes from renewable energy,” says Föger.
Local apple instead of foreign avocado
The busy executive has made sustainability his mantra. This starts with breakfast, where the buffet consists only of products from the region. Like homemade rhubarb and raisin jam – a rare delicacy. Instead of orange juice, have apricot juice or sweet cider. And the restaurant also shows great courage when it comes to the evening menu and does not use exotic products from abroad. You won’t find avocado in a salad here.
“We want to go back to the roots here and have a great commitment to local suppliers,” says Föger. Culinary delights are still unsatisfactory. For example, there’s the delicious spinach pie and the pink roasted pork loin. Pancakes are served for dessert. Pig again? no This is an Austrian pancake specialty. The range of fillings range from hazelnut cream and chocolate to vanilla sauce and forest honey.
Day care at the kids club
If you don’t want to give up something sweet while drinking, you can turn to Tyrolean Coke. We stick to the local wine and are more than happy with Zweigelt. While the children disappear in a triangular corner in the small cinema next to the big playroom, one floor above us, we are working on the Star Club’s weekly program where children are looked after in a close to nature way during the day.
We love to toast to this view and treat ourselves to a fruit brandy on the balcony of the family room when the full moon is over. Only a shooting star could make this moment even more enjoyable.
This post was created as part of a press tour.