Westendorf: Trails, Church and Winter

Westendorf offers different ways to shape your stay: panoramic trails through meadows and forests, insights into the history of St. Nicholas Church and seasonal activities on the mountain. If you are looking for hotels in Westendorf, you can start by considering which of these themes will shape your travel dates and daily plans. The trails differ in their routes and the sights they pass along the way.

Hiking between meadows, hamlets and districts

The Westendorf circular hiking trail is designed as a panoramic loop and leads through meadows and forests. Along the way, it passes old farmhouses, several hamlets and sights such as chapels, bread ovens and fountains. This means that both the landscape and the area’s architectural heritage are in view along the route. The trail is also suitable for Nordic walking and running.

The Wohlfühlweg follows a different route: it starts at the Westendorf Tourist Office, runs along Schulgasse and then follows a farm track to the district of Bichling. Its starting point in the village and destination in the district define the route. For another hike with a mountain connection, the Brechhorn Tour starts at the mountain station of the Alpenrosenbahn in Westendorf.

The Alpinolino Holzwurmweg also has a clearly described route: from the middle station of the Alpenrosenbahn, it passes numerous mountain inns and continues down to the valley station in Westendorf. This distinguishes it from the circular hiking trail, which forms a loop through meadows, forests and hamlets. The two trails can therefore be distinguished by their stated routes, without assuming a walking time.

Talkaser, views and Alpinolino

The Alpinolino adventure world is located at Talkaser. It includes the “Tierische Rätseltour” (Animal Riddle Tour), “Spoggolino-Ballbahn” (Spoggolino Ball Run) and “Holzwurmweg” (Woodworm Trail). The name Holzwurmweg therefore refers both to an attraction in the adventure world and to the described trail from the middle station to the valley station. The Alpenrosenbahn I & II six-person gondola takes visitors directly to Talkaser at 1,770 metres; its seasonal operating schedule may vary.

Another viewpoint is Alpinorama. From there, panoramic views extend across the Brixental Valley to the Hohe Tauern. Access depends on seasonal lift operations, so it is worth checking the lift’s operating hours when planning your visit. Alpinolino and Alpinorama offer different highlights: one focuses on the adventure stations, the other on sweeping views across the valley to the Hohe Tauern.

Winter activities and things to do in the Windautal Valley

From December to April, Westendorf offers direct access to the SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser – Brixental and the KitzSki region. Exact operating dates may change. Winter activities also include 13 kilometres of groomed cross-country ski trails and winter hiking paths, including the loop to Lake Salvensee. As the trails’ current grooming status should be checked separately, it is advisable to find out about conditions before setting out.

There is a natural toboggan run in the Windautal Valley. Snow and operating conditions may vary. The Windautal Valley also offers a range of seasonal activities: summer options include hiking, cycling and mountain biking; in winter, these are joined by winter hiking, snowshoeing and ski touring. When planning, you can therefore choose between walking trails, cycling routes and winter tours. Each of the winter activities mentioned depends on the season and current conditions.

When choosing your travel dates, it is therefore helpful to distinguish hiking and cultural attractions from seasonal mountain and winter activities. For the Alpenrosenbahn and the associated viewpoints, seasonal operations are a factor; for the cross-country trails and toboggan run, conditions matter. Check these details in advance if they are important to your plans.

St. Nicholas Church: history and frescoes

St. Nicholas Church in Westendorf is first mentioned in documents dating from 1320. The Gothic church was renovated by Andre Huber in 1771. Some of the frescoes that have survived to this day date from 1774 and were created by Matthias Kirchner. These details mark different stages in the church’s history: its first mention, the later renovation and the frescoes’ date of creation. The church thus complements Westendorf’s landscape and seasonal attractions with a historical and artistic highlight.

If you are planning your stay around activities, the circular trails, Talkaser and winter activities offer different starting points. The circular hiking trail combines landscapes and sights, while the mountain activities are distinguished by their location at Talkaser and seasonal lift operations. Together with the history of St. Nicholas Church, these give an overview of Westendorf’s different facets, allowing you to choose the highlights that suit your trip.

Discover more destinations: Feichten, Unterwindau, Kelchsau, Waidring, Hopfgarten im Brixental, St. Ulrich am Pillersee, Kitzbühel, Reith bei Kitzbühel.

Return to the main travel overview: Kitzbühel.