From traditional celebrations to modern art galleries, from hearty regional dishes to haute cuisine served in award-winning restaurants – Tirol is home to a hugely diverse food, art and culture scene.
What typically Tirolean? The best way to answer this question is by visiting one of the many traditional celebrations in the region such as the "Herz-Jesu-Feuer", when fires forming religious symbols are lit on the mountain slopes, or the annual "Almabtrieb", a custom which sees cattle that have spent the summer grazing on high alpine pastures decorated with flowers and driven back down into the valley ready for winter. Another good place to explore the nature of the local population is in the countless huts and inns serving regional delicacies such as Kaspressknödel and Tiroler Gröstl, two hearty dishes which themselves are a culinary reflection of the Tiroleans' warm, down-to-earth nature. Visitors to the region’s towns will find an intriguing contrast of the old and the new: modern, eye-catching architecture next to centuries-old castles and fortresses. This juxtaposition is also true for the local arts scene, which sees classical opera and festivals of early music take their place alongside galleries displaying works of contemporary art.
What typically Tirolean? The best way to answer this question is by visiting one of the many traditional celebrations in the region such as the…