It was rather a cloudy day so the pictures are a bit darker than usually. Just imagine that scenery when the sun would have been shining.
Good to know:
Distance: 10,5 km
Rate: very easy
Altitude: between 775 - 1030 meters (start is at 900 m)
Map (incl. elevation information): Walk in and around Oetz (Austria)
GPS-track available for download: yes
And ALL pictures - and there are many - can be enlarged by clicking on them !!
The track takes us into a forest and towards Piburg. Piburg itself is a very small town with authentic houses.
In its vicinity lies the natural lake called Piburger See.
Originally the lake's hollow was an old valley parallel to the Oetztal valley. After the last ice age a massive rockslide blocked the valley at its south-eastern end and covered its entire bottom. That's why water impounded and formed a lake. Because of its location amidst crystal rock Piburger See lake holds very soft water. In mid-summer surface temperature reaches up to 24 Celsius.
If you want you can walk around the lake, but we opted to continue our walk towards Oetz. Soon you will have to cross the Oetztaler Ache via the Wellerbruecke.
The Wellerbruecke rapids here are regarded as some of the best in Europe for kayaking or wild water rafting.
Finally we reach Oetz. Oetz is very popular with tourists so it is a rather busy village, but despite bustling building activities since WWII and the people's desire for modern housing, many buildings in the old part of Oetz have been preserved. Especially picturesque is the architecturally unspoilt center with its accumulation of old buildings that are built close to each other. Just explore the old town centre by yourself and pick up our GPS trail afterwards.
We leave the busy town behind us and continue our walk along the Oetzaler Ache towards Sautens.
Sautens has a beautiful parish church that was build between 1830-1831.
In 1999 the outside of the church was renovated and in 2007 the interior of this Parish Church has been renovated as well.
As we arrive at our hotel the sun pops out for a few minutes.
Hopy you enjoy this pleasant walk !