To Rattenberg and Alpbach

Back onto the bikes this morning - this time headed to the Medieval Town of Rattenberg, Austria

Side street in Rattenberg looking north

Old town of Rattenberg, Austria

just across the Inn River from Kramsach here.

The entrance to Rattenberg Castle

Partly cloudy it was but there was the promised forecast of brighter things in the afternoon.

Biked behind Rattenberg along the Inn River

We followed the Jakobsweg signs again - it wanders right through the old town and beyond.  In no time we were there and locked our bikes at  the outskirts of town and walked through the arches into the old town. 

Rattenberg below and Kramsach across the river

Rattenberg has for many years been the centre for a major glass factory so nearly all the stores had works of glass of one kind or another. Many small arches and passageways into the stores and alley ways behind and around town.  We were early so the stores were just opening.  At the back side of town and against the mountain wall is an old castle un-restored - although it did appear that someone is working on it slowly.  Lots of climbing and views across the river from the top.  A major highway and a train tunnel run through the mountain under the castle and town was beginning to come alive by 9:30 when we arrived. 

One of the side streets of Rattenberg

No vehicles are allowed in the old town so lots of walkers and bikers making their way through, either to visit or to get to work.  Near noon we headed back to the bikes and found a little park through the arch at the east side and sat on a bench to eat lunch.  Riding further east then along the railway to the next town then turned and headed back toward the river and followed it back to where we started.  Looked like better weather today so we headed back home - grabbed a coffee and off again.

On the road between Alpbach and Inneralpbach

Since we missed "the prettiest alpine town in Austria" several days ago, (according to Leo here) this afternoon was a perfect time.  The town about 20 minutes south of here is built on a steep hill so there are numerous switch roads streets that make up the town.  As with many small towns here, the farms are interspersed with the homes in town.  Of particular note in Alpbach are the flowers in the window boxes. 

A farm on the outskirts of town

We commented that they must feed them some kind of hormones to look so full and colourful and this is the end of the season almost. 

Being a Saturday afternoon we expected the tourists to be fewer in number but NOT.  Also there must have been a wedding or celebration of some kind - people were walking in their Swiss garb from all directions and parking was full everywhere. 

Near Inneralpbach, Austria

We drove through town and cased out the place then returned and found a spot to park our Modus. 

A farm on the edge of the town of Alpbach

The TI office was closed but there were pamphlets on the outside wall showing numerous paths of varying degrees of difficulty leading up and away from town in every direction.  We chose a fairly level path and followed it walking out of town for a ways then turned around and made our way back to the car. 

The many levels of Alpbach

It certainly is a picturesque little town but certainly the tourists have found it,  noted by the many gasthaus signs and restaurants.  We figure it is just buzzng in winter as there would be perfect skiing nearby and lots of ski lifts.
Back home after supper we walked out into the country here on several of the farmers roads close to our apartment.