Defereggen Valley East Tyrol - holiday in the high mountains

The Defereggen Valley in East Tyrol rightly ranks among the most attractive valleys in the high mountains of the Alps. Aside from the valleys Pustertal and Virgental it is the third valley in the region running from east to west, embedded in the fascinating natural landscape of the National Park Hohe Tauern.

The Defereggen Mountains, the Rieserferner Group and other peaks surround the area like a protecting wall. Probably therefore the region has been settled already for centuries, even though sparsely. Thanks to the two mountain passes Staller Sattel and Klammljoch there has always been a close contact between the Defereggen Valley and the neighboring South Tyrol.

Here, absolute tranquility, almost or completely pristine landscapes and very old traditions are not only a promise, but reality. In the Defereggen Valley you can really switch off, forget the everyday life and relax to your heart's content - provided that you aren't cycling, hiking or climbing to one of the mountain tops.

On the one hand the mountain world shows itself at its best: with dense, green forests, blooming mountain pastures, crystal-clear mountain lakes, roaring streams, moors, rare plants and maybe one or the other marmot.

On the other hand the Defereggen Valley knows how to attract guests also with some other things. The main village St. Jakob and the picturesque villages St. Veit and Hopfgarten for instance invite to stay in a well looked after ambience. Thanks to a varied event program, theme weeks and special offers for families with children boredom has no chance.

If you are looking for cultural change in the Defereggen Valley, you will discover what you are looking for: for example in the parish churches of the single villages or on the Reinmichl fountain in St. Veit. The latter was built in the honor of the most famous son of the village, the author Sebastian Rieger. Now and then you can also combine culture and sporting activity. For instance you find different theme and experience paths or make a hike to the historical Jagdhaus mountain pasture.