Fisser Höfe is an outlying district of the mountain village of Fiss, which lies in Austria’s West Tyrol. It sits on a stretch of the 517-kilometre-long Inn River, which rises in the Swiss Alps.
Shortly after leaving its source, the Inn River flows through Lakes Sils and Silvaplana, the largest on its course, running north-eastwards to enter Austria, then continues east from Landeck through the Tyrolean capital, Innsbruck ( “bridge over the Inn”), eventually crossing the border into German Bavaria to join the Danube.
The centre of Fiss is composed of narrow, winding alleyways – at one time the village consisted mainly of typical West Tyrolean farms, but its appearance has changed over the course of time – largely due to a fire that devastated many of the old timber chalets in 1972, after which modern buildings were constructed.
One old tradition that the men of the village still continue is the carnival custom of “Blochziehen”, which takes place every four years to drive away the winter. For this occasion, the trunk of a pine tree, a symbol of fertility, is decorated and carried through the village, while 'evil spirits' try to hamper and obstruct it by whatever means they can.
Summer here is perfect for mountain walking; a network of seven cable cars serves hikers up to 2,400 metres, and many trails lead up to around 3,000 metres, from where you can scale several higher summits. However, if you prefer more comfortable walking, there are several lower and less taxing panoramic trails in the vicinity, and one unusual activity for non-walkers in these parts is segway trekking. Seekers of high-adrenalin adventure will enjoy rafting in the nearby Tösner and Imst gorges, and in winter many skiers are attracted to the 196 kilometres of ski slopes and 16 kilometres of ski trails. Nowadays the area’s main source of income is tourism.
Led by wildlife photographers Alex Hyde and Nick Garbutt, this trip visits the Tyrol in June when the alpine meadows are in their full glory. With a spectacular show of wildflowers and an array of butterflies and other insects, this is the perfect time for wildlife and macro photography. Find out more about Close-up on Alpine Nature
This friendly, family-run, chalet-style hotel is located on a sunny plateau in Fisser Höfe, next to the village of Fiss in the West Tyrol. Comfortable, clean and bright, apartment-style rooms all have an en suite bathroom and balcony, and the restaurant serves delicious Tyrolean-style food in a relaxed atmosphere. Find Out More about Wiesenheim Familien Hotel
