SEE WHAT ALL THE FUSS IS ABOUT!

It's clear to ski why Irish tourists flock to Zell am See-Kaprun

- CATHERINE MURPHY

SET ON the edge of the Hohe Tauern national park and within reach of the UNESCO city of Salzburg, Irish families and groups love Zell am See-Kaprun's combination of mountains, lake and glacier.

There's nothing quite like skiing down from the top of the Schmittenhohe lift station and seeing the lake appear magically before you. There's hardly a skier or snowboarder who doesn't stop to take selfies at this spot on the mountain.

Families and intermediate skiers love the wide open pistes of Zell am See, the children's fun slope and the more challenging 4km-long Trass run.

After skiing, they enjoy returning to the charming medieval village centre and to hotels like The Grand, set on the lake shore, or Der Waldhof, a highly popular choice amongst Irish families thanks to its kids club and soft play area.

Equally, non-skiers can take blissful walks around the lake on crisp winter days, potter around Zell's shops, do some winter yoga or take a bus to the Tauern Spa, one of the most impressive spas in the Alps with twelve pools, ten saunas, skyline pool and Kidstein spa for families.

The Tauern spa and hotel is run entirely on renewable energy and is symbolic of this region's commitment to true sustainability with Zell am See-Kaprun currently in the process of being certified with the Austrian Eco Label.

QUIET

There are multiple sides to skiing in this region. One of them is Kaprun, reachable from Zell am Zee by free ski bus. A quiet village with a smattering of restaurants, cafes and bars, Kaprun is at a similar altitude to Zell am See.