Semmering (ski resort)
| Semmering | |
|---|---|
 Semmering, mountain Zauberberg | |
| Location |  Austria |
| Nearest major city | .svg){kind=small} Vienna |
| Vertical | 1,000 m (3,281 ft) |
| Trails |  6.5 km - beginner  6.5 km - intermediate  1km - advanced |
| Lift system | 3 total |
| Night skiing | available |
| Website | Semmering |
 |
Semmering, located in Semmering, Lower Austria, 90 km from Vienna, is the oldest ski resort in Europe. The resort was founded in 1888 and nowadays it is a classical Austrian resort of year-round operation with ski and toboggan runs for winter entertainment and modern bike park, hiking routes and mountain lakes for the summer[1].
Geography
Semmering is located on the border of Lower Austria and Styria at the altitude of 3281 feet (1 000m) above sea level and surrounded with forest. Semmering city is located in Neunkirchen, about 100 km far from Vienna.
Nearest cities:
Vienna ~ 100 km
Graz ~ 100 km
Bratislava ~ 150 km
Budapest ~ 300 km
Access
The way to Semmering lies through amazing rocks and viaducts on the one of the most beautiful and first mountain railway in the world. In addition, one could reach the resort from Vienna, located only in 1-hour journey. About 10 trains and buses run between the capital and the resort every day.
The nearest airport is the Shwechat airport in Vienna.
Infrastructure
Winter season
As usual, winter season starts in December and lasts until mid-April. The Semmering resort in winter is a ski village with:
- 14 km slopes for daytime skiing (3 out of them for beginners, 10 - intermediate, 1 - black)
- 13 km slopes for night skiing (Semmering has one of the best lightening system in Europe)
- 12 km slopes available for racing ski
- toboggan run of 3 km
- snowboard park (half-pipe, quater-pipe)
Vertical height up to 400 m.
Summer season
Semmering becomes a recreation and sport center for the whole family as well as a place for extreme bike events since there is one of the best bike parks in Europe at Semmering. Semmering frequently serves as a location for great event such as Mazda MX-5 presentation or 24h race "Race the night".
For calm repose the resort offers[2]::
- 185 km arranged hiking routes
- 7 bike zones, including kids area
- horse riding walks
- golf course
- SPA and wellness programs
Accommodation
Semmering has 19 hotels. Grand Hotel Panhans is among them, being also a sightseeing of the city.
Panhans Grand Hotel
This hotel was founded in 1888 and as far as its history counts 125 years, it hosted a lot of famous writers, artists and other bright personalities: Erzherzog Karl Franz Joseph, Oscar Kokoschka, Karl Kraus, Adolf Loos, Peter Altenberg, Arthur Shcnitzler, Stefan Zweig.
Interesting facts
- Semmering is famous for its skiing, and has hosted the Alpine Ski World Cup several times.
- Semmering railway was listed as World Heritage Site of UNESCO in 2005.