If there is one country where local ingredients are preferred, it is Austria. Around the splendid Weissensee lake in the southernmost part of the country, as well as in the west in the Bregenzerwald, people know how to prepare syrups from mountain flowers, cook berries and fish from the lakes, bake homemade organic bread according to tasty traditional recipes and produce cheese with an inimitable taste. The gastronomy is characterised by the freshness of the products and the fierce desire to honour regional products and to combine Mediterranean, Alpine and Adriatic inspirations. Between green mountain pastures, majestic peaks and crystal clear waters, here are 5 perfect tours for gourmets and food lovers.
1/ On the clear waters of the Weissensee, the Genusstour.
An excursion at the slow pace of a gastronomic raft, to discover the delicious local specialitiesAfter exploring this turquoise mountain lake of unparalleled beauty, whose shores and waters are home to exceptional flora and fauna. Guided by wildlife specialists, we discover the beauty of the place, before going to observe the 34 different species of orchids that bloom in the meadow, and then silently going into the forest. The eyes are opened wide to spot traces of lynx, wolf or golden jackal, to observe a peregrine falcon or even a golden eagle in full flight. The gastronomic raft is already back: we go back on board to taste a tasty fish just caught in the lake, accompanied by an excellent wine.
2/ Slow food on the water
On the banks of the Weissensee, talented chefs offer tasty experiences. The Ronacherfels inn, which can be reached on foot or by boat, offers local cuisine in a spectacular setting with postcard beauty that changes with the hours and the seasons. At the Die Forelle restaurant, the very talented Chef Hannes Müller, deploys his slow food philosophy, based on the natural availability of vegetables, wild vegetables and herbs from the region.
3/ Climb to the top and reach the heights of local tradition
A cable car (the Weissensee Bergbahn) allows you to reach the mountain station from the shores of the lake. The Naggler Alm, a charming mountain hut well known to all lovers of the region, is a fifteen-minute walk from the finish line and offers tasty local cuisine: the must-have blueberry pancakes, dumpling soup, cheese specialities, fair trade coffee and friendly service. The ideal place to recharge your batteries before heading out on the trails and admiring the white lake from the peaks.
4/ Cycling or hiking in the Bregenzewald
Close to Switzerland and Liechtenstein, close to Lake Constance and Germany, the gastronomy is characterised by its fine regional products. Local producers, restaurants and inns are happy to open their doors to cyclists and hikers and show them their specialities. There are dozens of dozens of routes There are dozens of itineraries that allow you to spend the day in mountain restaurants and inns, discovering the local know-how and delicacies.
5/ On the cheese route
In the Bregenzewald, milk has an incomparable taste. This is due to the maintenance of traditional agriculture and small-scale farms in which the cows are fed throughout the year only on hay and fresh herbs. Many alpine huts in the Bregenzewald are accessible by hiking and mountain bike trails and offer unique dairy and cheese specialities. And one thing is certain: all these paths lead to the cheese cellar, the incredible and very modern KäseKeller, located at the entrance to the village of Ligenau, where more than 50,000 wheels of cheese are matured.
Read also:
On the trail of Austria's most beautiful chalets
From pontoons to boats in the most beautiful lakes of Salzkammergut
Austria: outdoor activities in the unspoilt nature of the Weissensee
Austria
gastronomy
