Wilder Kaiser Region

The name “Wilder Kaiser” literally means “Wild Emperor”, and keen-eyed visitors may be able to spot a silhouette of an emperor’s face in this majestic chain of mountains in the east of Tirol. Some say it is Charlemagne, while others believe it is Franz I or Emperor Maximilian. However, the true story behind the name remains unclear even today and has over the centuries given rise to many myths and legends about this massif between Kufstein and St. Johann in Tirol.

Whatever the history, the Wilder Kaiser certainly radiates a majestic, indeed imperial, charm as it overlooks a thick mountain pine forest giving way to swathes of lush green meadows. The region’s four villages – Ellmau, Going, Scheffau and Söll – lie at the southern end of the “Koasa”, as the chain is known to locals, and are the ideal base for summer hikes in the surrounding nature reserve and along sections of the Eagle Trail. A popular walk is the Tauern Panorama Trail leading past the Schleierwasserfall waterfall, a hotspot for experienced rock climbers. The further you go into the mountains, the fewer settlements and people you see. Indeed, until just a few years ago the Kaisertal Valley was the only inhabited valley in Austria without a road connecting it to the outside world.

The gateway to Austria’s largest connected ski area

Winter visitors to the region often head south to the SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser-Brixental. With 288 km of pistes and more than ten summits between the Hohen Salve and the Astberg, it is the largest ski area in Austria. Fans of cross-country skiing and tobogganing will also find plenty to keep them entertained. Two attractions popular with families during the summer months are the Hexenwasser and Ellmi's Zauberwelt mountain playgrounds. Both offer action and adventure for children as well as fine mountain views for outdoor enthusiasts of all ages.