Excursions and Sights

Visit the impressive Schloss Hohenschwangau castle. In 1832 the heir to the throne Maximilian – later King Max II of Bavaria – purchased the ruined castle and had it rebuilt by the theatre painter Dominik Quaglio in the English Tudor style. Or follow the trails of the legendary Bavarian king Ludwig II, who spent the happy days of his childhood at Schloss Linderhof castle. Later the picturesque rococo castle served as his summer residence. Legendary castle Neuschwanstein, seat of the Bavarian kings, is certainly worth a day trip! The road leading to the castle is closed to traffic. Nostalgic horse-drawn carriages will take you to the fairytale castle of Ludwig II. You may also want to enjoy the marvellous natural environment by daring the ascent on foot.

Schloss Hochschwangau castle is 1.5 hours drive from Hotel Gridlon.

„Innsbruck, beautiful Innsbruck, jewel at the heart of the Tyrolean Alps. During your stay at the Hotel Gridlon in Austria you should not miss the opportunity of taking a day trip to Innsbruck, you certainly will not regret it. The historic city centre, the famous Hofkirche church and the legendary Golden Roof. A stroll through the picturesque city centre alone is worth the journey.

The Golden Roof was built by Archduke Friedrich IV in the early 15th century as the residence of the Tyrolean sovereigns. The Golden Roof is actually the three-story balcony on the central plaza at the heart of the Old Town. It was constructed for Emperor Maximilian I to serve as a royal box where he could sit in luxury and enjoy tournaments in the square below. Completed at the dawn of the 16th century, the Golden Roof was built in honour of Maximilian's second marriage to Bianca Maria Sforza of Milan. Not wishing to alienate the allies gained by his first marriage to Maria of Burgundy, he had an image of himself between the two women painted on his balcony.

The provincial capital of Tyrol lies at a distance of 100 kilometres from the Hotel Gridlon.

This high alpine road is 26 km long and was embedded into the landscape with great care in regards to preserving the alpine nature. The marvelous scenery, the majestic glaciers and the awe inspiring summit of the Weißseespitze mountain make this day trip a wonderful nature experience. Follow the trails of many of the world's best skiing and snowboarding athletes who use the superb conditions of the glacier for their training during the year. Originating at Feichten, the 26-kilometre-long scenic route leads past the Gepatsch reservoir to the Gepatschhaus chalet at 2,750 metres above sea level, and further to the glacier region of the Kaunertal valley. The cable car will take you up to 3,000 metres, from where you may hike to the Three-Country Point with its unique view.

The Kaunertaler Glacier is a 1.5 hour drive from Hotel Gridlon.

All around the world ladies' accessories sparkle with precious crystals from Austria. Visit the unique wonders of the Crystal Worlds of the Austrian Svarovski company (15 minutes drive from Innsbruck) during your stay in Tyrol. The Svarovski Crystal Worlds count among the most popular sights of Austria. Fantastic, poetical art installations await you within, beckoning you to enter a sparkling wonderland. The Crystal Worlds were designed by the famous Austrian artist Andre Heller. Works of Haring, Warhol, Dali and St. Phalle wait to be marvelled at.

The sparking Crystal Worlds lie at a distance of 110 km from the Hotel Gridlon in Pettneu.

An archaeological theme park was dedicated to the famous ancestor of the Ötztal valley, a mummy found in the glacier 1991. An exciting time travel experience awaits you at Umhausen, taking you back to the stone age, the time of Oetzi. Travel back in time 5,000 years and glean an interesting insight into daily life in the stone age.

Opening hours: daily from 10am to 6 pm from May to October

Oetzi's Village lies at a distance of 60 km from the Hotel Gridlon in Pettneu.

The landmark of the Tyrolean town of Landeck: the pride of Castle Landeck is the famous collection of rural utility objects, art and customs. Plunge into the fascinating world of traditional Tyrolean crafts.

Opening hours:
May 19th – September 30th Tuesday to Thursday 10am to 5pm

30 km von St. Anton am Arlberg ideal train connections
The Castle Landeck lies at a distance of 40 kilometres from the Hotel Gridlon in Pettneu.

Castle Ambrass as we know it today was redesigned as a renaissance castle and museum by Archduke Ferdinand II (1529-1595). Visit the picturesque castle in the middle of a wonderful English garden and marvel at the precious collection of paintings, knight's armours, works of art and minerals.

The Castle Ambrass lies at a distance of 100 kilometres from the Hotel Gridlon in Pettneu.

A day trip destination that will make children's hearts leap with joy. Observe lynxes, fish otters, brown bears and wolves at the highest situated zoo in Europe with a marvellous view, and learn more about the lives of these animals in the wilderness.

Here you will find a unique cold water aquarium with many local fish.