Taking responsibility together
A region on the path to responsible environmental and energy management
Successful tourism development and responsible practices have gone hand in hand in the Wildkogel Arena for many years. Step by step, we are continuing to develop our destination and are constantly implementing new measures to benefit the environment, the region and quality of life. Together with the municipalities of Neukirchen am Großvenediger and Bramberg am Wildkogel, the Wildkogel mountain railways and the tourism associations, we are implementing measures to ensure the responsible use of resources, strengthening regional economic growth and continuously developing our range of services.
The sustainable development of the Wildkogel Arena is an ongoing process that we have been actively shaping for many years. Step by step, we are further developing our initiatives in the areas of energy, waste management, mobility, infrastructure and the design of our services. This commitment is supported jointly by the local authorities, the tourism associations, the mountain railways, local businesses and many residents of the National Park communities of Neukirchen am Großvenediger and Bramberg am Wildkogel.
Wildkogel-Arena Ski Resort
Energy from renewable sources
To conserve valuable resources, the Wildkogel mountain railways rely on renewable energy. The entire energy requirement for operating the mountain railways is guaranteed and certified as coming from renewable sources. The sun also makes an important contribution: The photovoltaic system, situated at 2,100 metres above sea level on the Wildkogel, covers around a quarter of the cable cars’ total electricity requirements. Thanks to their special design, the solar panels can be streamlined during storms, ensuring the system operates reliably even in windy and snowy conditions.
The Wildkogel solar power system was originally installed back in 2010 as a pilot project. In addition, the solar power system at the valley station of the Smaragdbahn generates around 130,000 kWh of electricity per year to power the 8-seater gondola lift and the valley station. The new snowcat garage and parts of the mountain restaurant with its panoramic views are heated using geothermal energy.
Efficient snow management
To ensure optimum slope conditions, the Wildkogel mountain railways rely on efficient snowmaking management. Snowmaking is carried out as required, taking into account the prevailing weather conditions. The entire fleet of slopes is equipped with snow depth measurement systems. This allows the snow cover to be measured to the nearest centimetre, enabling the slope team to respond in a targeted manner.
An in-house monitoring system helps to reduce energy peaks and relieve the strain on the electricity grid. The cable car network’s transport capacity is also continuously adjusted to meet demand. In addition, the cable car company operates several T-bar lifts in the valley to ensure short journeys for guests and to provide winter sports facilities for families and local residents.
Did you know… that the tourism association takes care to use materials in a resource-efficient manner in its printed materials? Where possible, recyclable materials and packaging are used.
Hosts with a heart
Most of the accommodation providers in the Wildkogel Arena are family-run. Hotels, inns, private guest rooms and farm stays are run with great dedication and passion by people who live in the region and know it inside out.
Tourism is a key economic driver in the region. At the same time, a vibrant village life, a strong sense of community, an appreciation of rural structures and an active community life characterise the way people live together. Customs and traditions are cherished just as much as the unique cultural landscape.
Many hosts and catering establishments are also continuously implementing measures in the areas of regionality, resource conservation and sustainable development, thereby contributing to the further development of the destination.
Did you know… that several hotels in the Wildkogel Arena have been awarded the Austrian Ecolabel? These include the Wanderhotel Kirchner, the Wanderhotel Gassner, and the Smaragdhotel Tauernblick, the Hotel BergBaur and the Ferienhotel Hubertus.
Renewable energy for the region
The municipalities of Neukirchen and Bramberg, as well as numerous businesses and private households, also use energy from renewable sources. There are numerous photovoltaic systems installed on the roofs of municipal buildings, primary and secondary schools, tourism and craft businesses, and detached houses. In addition, hydroelectric power stations in both towns contribute to the regional energy supply.
The majority of buildings are supplied with heat from biomass via the ‘Nahwärme Neukirchen & Bramberg’ local heating network. Furthermore, subsidies are available for connection to the local district heating network, the use of renewable energy, and the installation of photovoltaic and solar thermal systems, as well as wood and pellet heating systems. Street lighting in both municipalities is also being gradually converted to energy-efficient LED lighting.
eLiner
Leave your car at home whilst on holiday! Thanks to the well-developed local transport network, the region is easily accessible. Travel by bus or local railway within the region, as well as to the neighbouring ski areas in the Zillertal and to the Kitzbühel Alps Panorama Railway, is included in the ski pass.
With the National Park Summer Card, public transport and participating valley hiking buses are included from 1 May to 31 October when staying at a partner accommodation – including the day of arrival and departure.
With the eLINER, the Neukirchen Tourist Board, in collaboration with klima:aktiv mobil and the Wildkogel Bergbahnen, offers an additional transport solution within the region.
In summer, the eLINER, with up to three trailers, carries a maximum of 55 guests to the starting points of the WildkogelAktiv programme.
In winter, it serves as a shuttle from the Neukirchen valley run to the valley station of the Wildkogelbahn and shuttles between the hotels.
Regional culinary delights
Working together for the region
Through responsible business practices, forward-thinking planning and regional partnerships, we take responsibility for the region. The Wildkogel Arena works closely with regional producers, craft businesses and farms. When making investments, local authorities, mountain railways, tourism associations and businesses prioritise regional companies and building materials wherever possible. This strengthens regional economic growth and helps to secure jobs and expertise in the region.
Shopping locally is encouraged by all parties. Among other initiatives, the tourism association supports the ‘Regional Products in the Breakfast Bag’ project run by the Salzburg Private Landlords’ Association and the Tauriska Cultural Association. For this culinary welcome gift from the region – which guests can order in advance of their arrival at their accommodation – only regional and seasonal products from the organic shop “Guat drauf” in Neukirchen. The reusable linen bag is provided by Nathalie Gantner.
The cultural association TAURISKA, which is based at the Kammerlanderstall in Neukirchen, has always promoted and supported regional initiatives such as the Bramberger Apfelsaft gourmet region (Bramberg Fruit Press). This has now given rise to numerous partnerships and a wide range of products, all of which complement the home-pressed apple juice wonderfully. And, as an added bonus, apple trees bearing heritage varieties are being replanted, enhancing the village’s appearance.
Cheese, bacon, sausages, meat, eggs, honey, juices, herb products and many other regional specialities from the Wildkogel Arena are available direct from the farm, in the village shop or at regional markets. In addition, excellent cookbooks featuring delicious recipes from Pinzgau cuisine have been published in recent years; all of this can be found on the new ‘Regional Products’ platform for all suppliers of produce from the Wildkogel Arena and the National Park region.
Towns in Full Bloom
To ensure that town centres and various neighbourhoods also look their best, the local authorities, together with many residents, are creating numerous flower meadows as habitats for bees, butterflies and other insects. The extension to Bramberg Primary School is also being fitted with a green roof. To promote natural gardens, the ‘Natur Garten’ plaque is awarded.
The swimming lake in Neukirchen is a natural leisure facility for swimmers and bathers. The lake is of natural origin and requires no swimming pool chemicals. It is freely accessible and can be used free of charge.
With the Natura Trail Blausee, the market town of Neukirchen also boasts an attractive local recreation area. The lake is fed by a spring that supplies a large part of the market town with drinking water.
The Biggest:
Hohe Tauern National Park
The Hohe Tauern National Park as a whole (1,856 km²) constitutes the largest protected, contiguous and cross-border natural and cultural area in the Alps. The interplay between the core zone and the surrounding outer zone creates an extraordinary fusion of this unique natural environment with a cultural landscape of outstanding aesthetic beauty.
The Hohe Tauern National Park comprehensively encompasses all Alpine ecosystems (from montane mountain forests to Alpine grasslands) with their plant and animal communities. The diverse landscape is characterised by 266 mountain peaks over 3,000 metres (highest peak: Austria’s Großglockner at 3,798 m), 551 lakes ranging in size from 27.03 ha to 35 m², and approximately 250 glaciers (longest glacier: the Pasterze in the Großglockner Group). Another distinctive feature of the landscape and culture is the traditional alpine farming practised in the outer zone, which has shaped the cultural landscape for generations.
Around 117 km², representing over 70 per cent of the municipal area of Neukirchen, and 45 km², representing 38 per cent of the municipal area of Bramberg, lie within the Hohe Tauern National Park, a unique protected area in the Alps. The Sulzbach valleys in Neukirchen are a truly unique feature. In 2019, they were designated as an internationally recognised IUCN Wilderness Area . This means that 67 km² are now under special protection, and their uniqueness as a natural area set within a breathtaking landscape is recognised.
But the region offers even more wonderful features: the Habachtal in Bramberg is home to the only emerald deposit in Europe, the mineral wealth of the Hohe Tauern is virtually inexhaustible, and a fine selection of these sparkling treasures can be admired in the national park exhibition ‘Emeralds and Crystals’ at the Bramberg Museum. Furthermore, Salzburg’s highest mountain, the ‘Weltalte Majestät’ – the Großvenediger (3,657 m) – is situated in Neukirchen.
Did you know… that the WildkogelAktiv programme and designated tours led by the National Park rangers are free with the National Park Summer Card and the Neukirchen and Bramberg visitor’s card? This means visitors of all ages can enjoy exhibitions and excursions in both summer and winter.
National Park SummerCard – transport and attractions included
The National Park Summer Card (1 May to 31 October) offers numerous benefits for visitors to the Hohe Tauern National Park holiday region, with around 60 attractions and nature experiences included. Included are, amongst others, the Krimml Waterfalls and WasserWelten, the Bramberg Museum, the National Park Centre in Mittersill, as well as a return trip up and down the mountain on the Wildkogelbahn or the Smaragdbahn. Also included are journeys along the Großglockner High Alpine Road and the Gerlos Alpine Road. Furthermore, cardholders benefit from discounts at numerous other attractions. In Neukirchen and Bramberg, the National Park SummerCard is already included in the accommodation price at around 180 partner establishments – ranging from 4-star hotels to guesthouses and holiday flats.