Cherish, Cuisine & Custom
Paradisical Pleasures
Winston Churchill once said: Nourish your body well, make it a home where your soul will swell."
Zillertaler Krapfen, (traditional savoury crepes), Schliachta-Nudeln (ribbon pasta in cheese sauce) or traditional Melchermuas (dairymen's pancake) are certain to make your mouth water!
These delicacies are an integral part of Zillertal tradition and are served in summertime at the Schmankerlfest (Food Festival) in Hippach and the Krapfen Festival in Schwendau.
The region's best
Great food is yet another pleasing aspect of typical Zillertal hospitality. Regional Zillertal Cuisine has long been awarded with the well-deserved rating of "very recommendable" by food-loving connoisseurs.
Friendships are often forged over a shot (or two) of schnapps
The crowning glory of any meal is a shot of the finest schnapps. Only the best - mostly hand-picked - fruits are used for the distillate.
Tip: the Tyrolean Schnapps Route - is a journey of discovery through the diverse world of Tyrolean fruit schnapps.
Discover...
Restaurants
Pamper your taste-buds in one of the excellent restaurants. Savour regional, national and international delicacies. The choice of restaurans in the Mayrhofen-Hippach holiday region leaves nothing to be desired.
▲Restaurants in Mayrhofen-Hippach
Schmankerl Week & Food Festival
FOOD FESTIVAL - traditional food is served and celebrated in many restaurants during the annual Schmankerlfest (Food Festival) in Hippach, Zillertal. You are what you eat - Zillertal tradition.
KRAPFENFEST - nestled in the midst of orchards and farms. Schwendau presents a very special summer festival. The Krapfen-Fest celebrates Zillertal delicacies in the Mayrhofen-Hippach holiday region.
Schnapps Route
General Info
Embark on a culinary journey through the diverse world of Tyrolean fruit schnapps making along the Tyrolean Schnapps Route. Learn all about the art of creating and the long tradition that lies behind these fine spirits.
Ever since the reign of Empress Maria Theresia, 2,500 Tyrolean schnapps distilleries have been in posession of distilling rights. Knowledge about producing fine spirits has been passed down and refined over generations. International awards attest to the quality delivered by Tyrolean schnapps makers.
Since 2014, you have been able to take a trip down the Tyrolean Schnapps Route and learn about the art of schnapps-making from the master distillers themselves. During these tours you will find out about the special clarity, fruitiness and purity of these local spirits. For a small fee, you can also sample these inimitable and high quality products.
This opportunity is offered by four traditional distilleries in the Mayrhofen-Hippach holiday region.
Hans Dengg
Contact & Enquiries:
Hannes Dengg - Innerummerland
Schwendberg 272, 6283 Hippach
Tel.: +43 5282 50949
www.ummerland.at / hannes.dengg@aon.at
Family Fankhauser
Contact & Enquiries:
Kathrin & Martin Fankhauser - Stiegenhaushof
Dorf 130, 6283 Hippach
Tel.: +43 664 1983150
www.stiegenhaushof.at / info@stiegenhaushof.at
Markus Spitaler
Contact & Enquiries:
Markus Spitaler - Außerummerland
Schwendberg 268, 6283 Hippach
Tel.: +43 5282 4178
www.hausspitaler.at / info@hausspitaler.at
Hannes Sporer
Contact & Enquiries:
Hannes Sporer - Klammsteinhof
Kleinschwendberg 272, 6283 Hippach
Tel.: +43 5285 62915
www.klammsteinhof.at / info@klammsteinhof.at
Schnapps-Makers
| Name | Address | Telephone Number |
| Erlebnisbrennerei Feldishütte | Bichl 109, A-6283 Ramsau | Tel.: +43 664 3446106 |
| Schnapsbrennerei Trummlerhof | Schweinberg 40, A-6290 Mayrhofen | Tel.: +43 664 4936002 |
| Schnapsbrennerei Kreidl | Göttstätt 355, A-6283 Hippach | Tel.: +43 664 3876006 |
| Schaubrennerei Stiegenhaushof | Schwendau Dorf 130, A-6283 Schwendau | Tel.: +43 664 1983150 |
| Schnapsbrennerei Klammsteinhof | Kleinschwendberg 272, A-6283 Schwendau | Tel.: +43 5285 62915 |
| Schnapsbrennerei Innerummerland | Schwendberg 272, A-6283 Hippach | Tel.: +43 5282 50949 |
| Schnapsbrennerei Stiefelscherm | Dornaustraße 615, A-6290 Mayrhofen | Tel.: +43 699 19049897 |
| Schnapsbrennerei Ausserummerland | Schwendberg 269, A-6283 Hippach | Tel.: +43 664 4756244 |
| Schnapsbrennerei Zeile - Zillertaler Edelbrände | Schwendau Dorf 179, A-6283 Schwendau | Tel.: +43 664 1755789 |
Taste of Place Routes in Tyrol
Tyrolean Taste of
General Info
Take a Tyrolean Taste of Place Tour through the heart of the Alps and discover exquisite and hearty Tyrolean specialities.
Experience where Tirol’s quality agricultural products begin by visiting the farms and food producers on 22 specially designated Taste of Place Tours—on foot or by bicycle.
Discover the fine art of "Zillertal Hay Milk Cheese Making" in the Mayrhofen-Hippach holiday region. Walk through the mountain meadows of the Zillertal Valley and find out where the main raw material for milk and cheese production thrives. Of course, a visit to the ErlebnisSennerei Mayrhofen Dairy for cheese tasting is an absolute must after this walk
"Zillertal Hay Milk Cheese Route"
- Natural cultivation of the alpine pastures in Zillertal means hard work and low yields for the hay farmers. The resultant milk, however, is the basis for top class milk and cheese products of international repute. Because the cows and goats graze predominantly on grasses, mountain herbs and pure spring water, the resultant products are both silo and GMO free.
- The rich flora of the mountain meadows on calcareous bedrock near Mayrhofen in particular , form the perfect foundation for high quality milk products. Farmeres still scythe the steep pastures by hand, thus maintaining these ancient cultural landscapes.
- After the tour of the diary a cheese tasting session rounds of this culinary tour. Detailed information
Contact & Enquiries:
ErlebnisSennerei Zillertal · Tel +43 5285 62713 · Fax +43 5285 63712 · www.sennerei-zillertal.at
Route description
Park at the ErlebnisSennerei Dairy for the Taste of Place Tour. You can get to Gasthof Thanner by bus, where the Bergmähderweg (Mountain Meadow Walk) to Steinerkogel Guest House will take you around 2 hours.
On your way back to Brandberg you should definitely visit the listed Mitterstall Barn. The bus will then take you back to the Erlebnis Sennerei Dairy. (Bus schedule)
- Starting point: Brandberg village centre, 1,082 m
- Walk ends: Brandberg village centre, 1,082 m
- Elevation uphill: 500 m
- Elevation downhill: 500 m
- Highest point: 1,269 m
- Level of difficulty: medium/difficult (red)
- Trail surface: Path, forest trail
- Route length: 5.0 km Walking time: 2 h 30 min
Customs in Tyrol
TRADITION IS ALIVE
"Anklöpfler" (carol singers), "Perchten" (bringers of New Year greetings in masquerade), "Grasausläuter" (boys that walk from farm to farm ringing cow bells in order to speed up crop growth: as diverse and weirdly wonderful these customs may be, they have one thing in common: they serve to uphold Zillertal tradition.
"The Easter Fire Tradition in Zillertal" - find out more in the Mayrhofen-Magazine (german).
A GLÜCKSELIG'S NEUS JOHR - A BLISSFUL NEW YEAR
Is wished for the New Year by "Perchten", "Anklöpfer" announce the coming of Advent and the "Grasausläuter" hear the grass grow,...
Tradition is cherished and relished throughout the whole year in the region.
Zillertal Tradition
Grasausläuten
With today's winter tourism it is hard to imagine that many spring customs are intended to drive winter away. One such custom, known as "Grasausläuten", still survives to this day.
Groups of men and boys go from farm to farm, crossing the meadows and fields ringing cow bells in order to speed up crop growth.
Processions
Religious processions take place in late spring and early summer. The local priest walks with the Blessed Sacrement through the blossoming nature, praying for protection against lightning and storms.
He is joined on this procession by the villagers, brass band and the "Schützen Company" (Home Guard).
Almabtrieb - Cattle Drive
The "Almabtrieb" takes place at the end of September/beginning of October. Cows adorned with magnificent headdresses and beautiful bells are driven down from the Alpine pastures.
The safe home coming of the farmers and their cattle is celebrated in the villages with great festivities.
Anklöpfen - Advent Carol Singers
The nativity story is an important part of local custom during the advent period. For this reason, carol singers of all ages go from door to door dressed as shepherds to sing seasonal songs and read poems every Thursday evening during Advent.
This tradition is known as "Anklöpfeln"and anyone can take part. The Men"s Choir and members of the local brass band also perform in various locations in and around the town (church, Hotel Edenlehen, the village well at Hollenzen and the cemetary).
Perchten
On the day before Epiphany a very strange custom takes place. Peculiar to upper Zillertal, local children and adults hide their faces behind a mask before going from house to house to wish the inhabitants a happy New Year in a high vocal tone. Years ago, these "Perchten" were given food in exchange for their good wishes.
This tradition is still practised today. Children go during the day and are given treats and/or money. The adults go in the evening and are given a glass of schnapps.