Editor’s letter
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CONTENTS
7 | SNAPSHOT Face your demons in the Julian Alps 8 | BIG PICTURE Let there be light in the Lauterbrunnen Valley 10 | WHAT’S NEW Openings and experiences to keep on your radar 17 | ON THE TRAIL Architectural wonders in the Bavarian Alps 19 | COMPETITION Win a three-night trip to Leogang 20 | INSIDE GUIDE Bad Ischl is a 2024 European Capital of Culture 22 | WEEKENDER Cycle around a lake or climb a mountain in Annecy 28 | SLEEP & EAT The new hotels celebrating Alpine flavours 36 | THE WILD SIDE Lesser-known and alternative hiking trails
52 | KIT LIST Hiking gear for fast-changing mountain weather 54 | SAMOËNS The small town with a big claim to fame 60 | WERFEN The cinematic appeal of this Sound of Music site 68 | SLOVENIA GREEN ROUTES Explore the country on two wheels 78 | IN PICS Nature’s highs and lows in northern Lake Garda 88 | THE REPORT The rewilding of large carnivores 94 | ASK THE EXPERTS Family trips, insurance options and more 96 | THE INFO A look at record-breaking altitudes 98 | THROWBACK The roots of Switzerland’s summer pastures
ON THE COVER: Hikers on a trail in the Brenta Dolomites in the early morning light. Image: Slawek Kozdras
ALPINE 2024 5
Some hiking trails in the Alps are considered a rite of passage. Whether it’s following the Tour du Mont Blanc around Western Europe’s highest peak or trekking along the Dolomites’ high-octane routes, classics are classics for a reason. But for those travellers looking to get away from it all, our main story focuses on alternative and lesser-known ways to explore on foot. Some, like the trail linking the ‘farmers’ cableways’ of Engelberg, Switzerland, lead to corners rarely glimpsed by foreign visitors. Others, like the wellness hikes in Alpe di Siusi, Italy, off er a new look at a well-loved route. Elsewhere, we look at what’s trending in the region, from the event
calendar in Bad Ischl — the Alps’ fi rst European Capital of Culture — to the new hotels elevating mountain produce. It’s also prime time to drive around the Bavarian Alps, where Neuschwanstein — the 19th-century castle of Disney fame — is unveiling its most extensive restoration to date. And, if you happen to visit the Matterhorn, don’t miss a ride on Europe’s highest cable-car, operating for its fi rst full summer season. It’ll take you to new heights, in more ways than one.
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