Kaprun: Castle, Museum and High Mountains

Kaprun offers several starting points for planning your trip: a castle and a museum, mountain bike trails on the Kitzsteinhorn, the Sigmund Thun Gorge and high-mountain reservoirs. Parts of Kaprun lie directly within Hohe Tauern National Park. Depending on whether you are interested in cultural history, cycling or alpine landscapes, different sights and activities can shape your itinerary.

Castle and Museum: History in Kaprun

Kaprun Castle was built in the 12th century by the Falkensteiner noble family from Upper Bavaria. The Kaprun Museum offers a different way to explore the town’s history: it is housed in the lovingly renovated Steiner farmhouse, which is more than 300 years old. A medieval castle and a historic farmhouse thus stand side by side as distinct settings for Kaprun’s history.

The museum’s permanent exhibition has been on display across an area of 140 m² since 2009. Local prehistory is represented by archaeological finds associated with early settlers searching for copper ore.

Traditional bread specialties are also part of the museum experience: the Katschner bakery makes them in the historic freestanding oven. Opportunities to take part may vary by season; check in advance if you would like to include this in your visit.

Mountain Biking on the Kitzsteinhorn

There are three mountain bike trails on the Kitzsteinhorn, with a total of 12 km of downhill trails and 1,500 metres of elevation loss. Another option is the 3K K-onnection Tour: this route, which is more than 12 km long, crosses high-alpine terrain between Maiskogel and the Kitzsteinhorn, can be ridden in both directions and connects Kaprun’s two local mountains. Operating conditions for this tour may vary.

The similar route lengths refer to different offerings: the three trails have a stated total of 12 km of downhill trails, while the 3K K-onnection Tour is a route of more than 12 km. For planning purposes, the direction options and the tour’s high-alpine terrain are therefore important distinguishing features in addition to its length.

High-Mountain Reservoirs and Access to Mooserboden

The two high-mountain reservoirs, Wasserfallboden and Mooserboden, lie at an elevation of 2,036 metres amid alpine scenery. Visitors can reach the Mooserboden reservoir by transfer bus and the Lärchwand inclined lift. Visitor access may change seasonally, so it is advisable to check access conditions before setting off.

The Lärchwand inclined lift is Europe’s largest open inclined lift and covers 431 metres of elevation.

Sigmund Thun Gorge and More Experiences

The Kapruner Ache has carved the Sigmund Thun Gorge through rock and stone for more than 320 metres. Well-maintained wooden walkways lead through the gorge, so even small children can walk through it. Access conditions may vary seasonally; check them before your visit.

The Stromtrail has six stations covering nature, technology and hydropower, and leads to a water playground. The herb nature trail begins at the Mooserboden mountain restaurant and runs in the direction of Fürthermoar Alm; the route is stated to take just under 45 minutes. The two offerings therefore differ, among other things, in their themes and the stated duration of the herb nature trail.

The Alpine Coaster Maisi Flitzer adds another activity: the ride descends into the valley at speeds of up to 40 km/h, over waves, jumps and spirals. It operates seasonally; check the conditions before your trip if you plan to ride.

Discover more destinations: Paßthurn, Neukirchen Am Großvenediger, Gries Im Pinzgau, Gföll, Schüttdorf, Hasenbach, Gumping, Thalbach.

Return to the main travel overview: Zell Am See.