Discover Reutte: Local History and the Lech Landscape

Discover Reutte through its artistically decorated town-house façades, historic trails and the landscape of the Tyrolean Lech. In the town center, you’ll encounter traces of its history as a market town; in the nature park region, you’ll also find river floodplains, lakes and hiking destinations. This lets you plan your stay around culture, outdoor activities or nature experiences.

Façades and History in the Town Center

You can explore the historic town center, with its town houses and artistically decorated façades, at your own pace on a historical walk using an accompanying booklet. Suitable starting points include Via Claudia Augusta Square or Reutte railway station. The brochure is available from the tourist offices in the Reutte Nature Park Region.

At Zeillerplatz 2 and 3 stands the Zeillerhaus, with the finest Baroque façade decoration in Reutte. Older frescoes have been uncovered along the length of the courtyard-facing side. The adjoining residential tower is almost certainly the oldest building in Reutte—a distinctive feature that draws the eye from the façade decoration to the building’s history.

The Museum im Grünen Haus also brings together architectural history and art. The building was probably constructed in the 16th century as a residence for a wealthy citizen of Reutte; the interior paintings date from this period. In 1779, the façade was decorated by Reutte painter Johann Jakob Zeiller. The circular route of the “Reutte Under the Stars” Planet Trail also begins at the museum and leads through Reutte.

The Südtiroler-Siedlung memorial site brings the history of the settlement and contemporary history to life. Families can explore the market town on a city rally and answer twelve questions. Check before your visit whether the rally is currently available.

Trails Through Reutte and the Region

The Via Claudia Augusta routes offer different perspectives on the surrounding area. The hiking trail leads from Breitenwang directly into the center of the market town of Reutte, then continues along the historic salt road toward Ehrenberg. The cycling route passes through Untermarkt and Obermarkt, then climbs on a gravel path to Ehrenberg Castle World. If you’re cycling, check the latest route and trail-condition information in advance.

For longer tours, the Lechweg and the Lech Cycle Path differ considerably in length and mode of travel. The Lechweg is a moderately difficult long-distance hiking trail of around 125 kilometers through five holiday regions and Austria and Germany. The Lech Cycle Path is 244.6 kilometers long and runs from Marxheim in Germany, at the mouth of the Lech, to Steeg in the Tyrolean Lech Valley. You can ride it in individual stages, either downstream or upstream. Before setting out on a longer cycling tour, it’s worth checking the latest route details.

The Lech Landscape, Lakes and Nature Watching

The Tyrolean Lech Nature Park extends across the entire Reutte Nature Park Region. Its responsibilities include nature conservation and recreation, as well as research and educational programs. Along the largely natural Tyrolean Lech, gravel and shingle banks and broad floodplain forests shape a landscape that contrasts sharply with the façades in the town center.

The Riedener See offers a different kind of water: it is clear, turquoise and rich in lime, fed by springs within the lake, and provides a habitat for the Bilek’s azure damselfly. Plansee, meanwhile, is Tyrol’s second-largest lake, six kilometers long and 76.5 meters deep at its deepest point; its water quality is classified as Class I. Sailing, windsurfing, diving, fishing and swimming are all possible there. Check the current conditions for water activities in advance.

For birdwatching, the 18-meter-high tower in the Lech floodplains near Pflach offers a dedicated viewpoint. From there, you can observe breeding birds, including rare marsh and water birds. This is a different way to experience the Lech landscape than hiking along the river and through the floodplain forest.

Hiking and Mountain Experiences

In summer, various hikes begin at the Hahnenkamm cable-car mountain station; in winter, groomed ski slopes are available. The hiking area includes summit tours, circular routes through alpine pastures, a barefoot trail, a family trail and a wheelchair-accessible tour. This variety offers different kinds of routes, with each having its own requirements.

The Tyrolean Alpine Garden displays alpine plants along wooden paths suitable for wheelchairs. A guidance system supports blind visitors, and an accessible web app provides information about the plants in German and English. You can combine your visit with the accessible Hahnenkamm cable car, a circular route around the mountain lake and the two-kilometer hiking trail to Lechaschauer Alm.

At Ehrenberg, the Ehrenberg Liner helps visitors navigate the change in elevation: it covers around 110 meters between the visitor center and the stop at Hornwerk in approximately 2.5 minutes. From there, a flat, paved path leads to the exhibition in Hornwerk and the entrance to the highline179 suspension bridge. The bridge is 406 meters long and 110 meters high. Check the Ehrenberg Liner’s operating status before your trip.

Water, Wellness and Seasonal Experiences

Alpentherme Ehrenberg has indoor and outdoor pools with a water surface area of around 700 square meters and is open year-round in all weather. The sauna and wellness area includes five different saunas and a steam room. As operating status can change, check the latest opening hours before your visit.

At Plansee, the demonstration dairy at Musteralpe in Breitenwang, in the Reutte District, shows through a large glass window how milk is turned into butter and cheese on Thursdays from May to September. Since this is a seasonal offering, confirm the specific demonstration dates before traveling.

Arriving by Train

Reutte in Tirol railway station is served from various directions by the Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB), Deutsche Bahn (DB) and Swiss Federal Railways (SBB). Services and timetables can change, so check the latest train connections for your travel date.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Zöblen, Grän, Schattwald, Jungholz, Tannheim, Nesselwängle, Wängle, Pinswang, Vils, Stanzach, Reutte, Holzgau, Elbigenalp, Lermoos, Bichlbach, Biberwier, Berwang, Häselgehr, Lechaschau, Plansee, Bach, Steeg, Gramais, Breitenwang, Elmen, Pflach, Haldensee, Forchach, Höfen, Ehenbichl, Stockach/Bach, Hinterbichl, Boden, Hinterhornbach, Untergiblen, Ehrwald, Mitteregg, Heiterwang, Weißenbach Am Lech, Lähn, Kaisers, Bschlabs, Pfafflar, Vorderhornbach

See the overview of destinations: Tyrol.