Oberstdorf offers an optimal annual range of holiday accommodation with 17.500 beds in different categories. Exclusive 4 and 5 Star Hotels, comfortable family-apartments, private guesthouses as well as youth hostels, Friends-of-Nature houses or camping grounds offer the right accommodation for every taste and every wallet. 360,000 guests and approximately 2.3 overnight stays show how attractive the community is.
The highs in Germany´s deep, deep south!
Germany's southernmost village, themed "Oberstdorf – the hiking village. Mountain top in the south!", shows its extraordinary position as hiking destination. Not only is Oberstdorf one of the largest and most attractive Bavarian communities but it also offers a great variety of touristic facilities and 230 square kilometres of mountains. Oberstdorf lies within a valley, 815 m above sea level in the middle of the Alps in the Allgäu. It is surrounded by mountains which are up to 2,600 m high, and the three different altitudes make Oberstdorf specifically attractive. A total of 200 km of hiking trails offer a diversified alpine landscape with routes and tours of every difficulty: Promenades, which lead for example to one of Oberstdorf's seven valleys, offer an incomparable panoramic view over the mountains. Hikes on different altitudes where tourists are able to get closer to the 400 summits around Oberstdorf or get even up to one. Alpine athletes will also find a particular challenge on a via ferrata. The hiking possibilities offer unique experiences, for example with its walks around the lake "Freibergsee" and along the rivers "Trettach" and "Stillach" or with the walk through the "Breitachklamm", the deepest canyon in Middle Europe. On one of the theme walks guests will learn about herbs, flowers or mountain cheese production. Hikers enjoy an incomparable panoramic view of 400 summits when they are on the mountain "Nebelhorn". The "Fellhorn" is Germany's most beautiful mountain regarding flowers. On the beginning of July, when summer starts and alpine roses are in flower, the whole mountain turns red.
Location for winter sports – alpine sports, nordic sports, hiking
Even in winter numerous guests come to Oberstdorf in order to go hiking. 86 miles of cleared trails and panoramic walks on the mountains "Nebelhorn", "Fellhorn" and "Söllereck" wait for visitors. These walks offer nature impressions in the valley as well as on the tops of the mountains. 75 miles of slopes and more than 46 miles of cross-country ski-tracks won't leave any wish unfulfilled. In addition to that there is the two-country skiing region "Oberstdorf-Kleinwalsertal" with eight cable cars, 14 chair lifts and 15 t-bars as well as cross-country ski-tracks on which athletes of the FIS World Championships in 2005 glided along. One feature since the winter season of 2006/2007: Germany's latest cable car. Skiers won't have to stand in line anymore.
Cultural and sportive highlights
Numerous events, adjusted to the guests' desires, are part of Oberstdorf's cultural programme. The "Oberstdorfer Musiksommer" is the biggest classic festival in the Allgäu. During July and August it attracts guests by remarkable concerts in the valley and on the mountain. During the "Wild-, Wald- und Jägerwochen" (a special week for hunters and rangers) and on the "Viehscheid", tourists will experience real tradition. The "Viehscheid" takes place on 12. and 13. September, when the cattle comes down from the mountain after the summer. It is always celebrated with a great fair. Two of the sportive highlights are the traditional beginning of the Four-Hills-Tournament in Ski Jumping and the "Nebelhorn Trophy", an international competition in figure skating
Venue of international sports competitions
Due to the international competitions in winter and its famous known athletes, Oberstdorf has an outstanding position in winter tourism. The world of winter sports is at home in Oberstdorf. Since the winter of 1952/53 the "Schattenbergschanze" has been fascinating guests who come to Oberstdorf at the end of the year to watch the annual beginning of the Four-Hills-Tournament. This ski jump has been rebuilt several times. Since 1973 top athletes from all over the world have met in Oberstdorf for the World Championships in Ski Flying to conquer the "agony of defeat". The fifth World Championships will take place in February 2008. The FIS Nordic World Championships in February 1987 and in February 2005 with more than 360.000 viewers each have been the highlights so far.
Venue of international athletes
Oberstdorf has first-class sports facilities for international athletes. One example is the ice-skating center which is open in winter and summer. This is where many famous professionals started their international career, for example Norbert Schramm from Oberstdorf, twice European Champion and Vice World Champion. Every year in August/September the elite meets in Oberstdorf for the "Nebelhorn Trophy", the most significant figure-skating tournament in summer. Oberstdorf is also very important for curling. In 1987 and in 2000 the European Championships in Curling took place in Oberstdorf and in 1992 it hosted the Youth World Championships for women and men.
Health initiatives
In Oberstdorf the slogan "village for hikers" is strongly related to health. In 1937 Oberstdorf was already allowed to call itself health resort (in 2002 it got the addition "Premium Class" and in 1964 "Kneipp" Spa). The people of Oberstdorf count on this tradition. The German Tourism Association gave Oberstdorf the German Tourism Award 2006 for its marketing initiatives. In addition to the great variety of sports facilities, Oberstdorf offers a lot more. Sanatoriums, medical institutions, physical therapy and the "Oberstdorf Therme", a spa with sauna and brine bath, are on location. |
