WHERE TO SKI IN AUTUMN: SÖLDEN, AUSTRIA

The ski resort of the Ötztal , valley of the Austrian Tyrol, is the first to appear at the starting gate of the 2019/2020 ski season and not only for the now classic opening of the men's and women's World Cup.

Since September, the slopes of the two domes skiable on the Rettenbach and Tiefenbach glaciers , at over 3000 meters above sea level , are available to enthusiasts . The novelties also include the 10-seater gondola gondola lift in Hochsölden , which can also be used by non-skiers, which leads to the Giggijoch ski area and its gourmet restaurants.

The largest skiable area on glaciers in the whole of Austria

Sölden first! Not far from the Brenner border, the skiable domain of the Tyrolean valley of the Ötztal proposes itself in pole position for the 2019/2020 skiing season allowing, already at the beginning of autumn (ski lifts opening on 13 September), the first fantastic descents thanks to the perfectly prepared slopes on the two glaciers, the Rettenbach and the Tiefenbach (connected by a spectacular ski tunnel), both at an altitude of over 3000 m: this makes the area, 20 km², culminating at 3340 m of the Schwarze Schneid, the largest Austrian glacier area dedicated to skiing and snowboarding enthusiasts.

But you don't have to wait long: on November 14, shortly after the vernissage of the Ski World Cup at the end of October - because all 31 ski lifts in Sölden and its appendix at altitude, Hochsölden, are open giving access to 144 kilometers of routes for all abilities with absolutely guaranteed snow. With the possibility of relying on a network of hundreds of accommodation solutions among hotels, guest houses, bed and breakfasts, apartments etc.

Pleasant moments of rest in a spectacular alpine environment are also ensured by more than 30 mountain huts and restaurants. And on the top of Gaislachkogl (3,048 m), reachable in just 12 minutes from Sölden thanks to a comfortable cable car, a gastronomic must is represented by Ice Q, the highest gourmet restaurant in Europe , futuristic glass and steel structure, flanked by an option for a spectacular après-ski: the 007 Elements interactive installation, dedicated to the most famous secret agent in the world and in particular to the latest film, "Specter", which right here, in a breathtaking location among the peaks of the Ötztal saw some exciting scenes filmed.

From 25 to 27 October on the slopes of the Rettenbach the Ski World Cup begins with the giant male and female slalom

The first stage of the Ski World Cup circuit cannot fail to have Sölden as its inaugural date (this has been happening since the 93/94 edition) and in particular the snows of the Rettenbach glacier. Here, from 25 to 27 October, the weekend will be dedicated to female and male giant slalom. Among the blue and red doors of a very steep track, all the best specialists will compete: in the first season that does not see two absolute myths like Linsday Vonn and Marcel Hirscher at the starting gates , who will be their emuls? And for fans there will be a way to measure themselves, after the races, on the tracks crossed by the champions.