Obertauern first made a name for itself as a winter sports centre more than 50 years ago when fans of the then new sport of skiing realised how reliable the snow was up on the road over the Tauern Pass. The rest, as they say, is history. Sometimes said to be `the only purpose built resort in Austria` - although you wouldn`t think so if you weren`t told. Perhaps most others are based on an original settlement of some sort or another. Whatever the truth of the matter, since 1942 hotels and other resort buildings have grown up along the rather desolate and treeless Tauern Pass road in a slightly strung out fashion. On the plus side, it means that doorstep skiing is also offered by the majority of accommodations. The ski lifts have also sprung up on all sides of the snowy bowl above the Pass, with nine beginning at resort level and giving a wide choice of access points in to the big ski area. This is an ideal intermediate skier`s resort with a huge amount of its terrain just perfect for this standard. The village is popular with Germans and there`s also a strong British package tour operator presence. The excellent snow record can, ironically, lead to floods of skiers when snow is limited elsewhere. A sports centre was constructed recently housing tennis and squash courts, bowling alley, fitness room, solarium and restaurant - scotching earlier criticisms that there was little to do besides skiing. The ski scenes in the Beatles film Help were filmed here in 1965.
Apres Ski
Obertauern`s jolly apres ski scene begins with a mug of gluhwein or jagertee in one of the many local cafes or bars at the bottom of the slopes. Tea dancing at the Latsch`n Stubn or Lurzeralm cafe or tavern is particularly popular and later the Romer Bar or Hotel Edelweiss are normally busy, with live music on occasion. The Lerzeralm keeps the crowds all night being home to one of the five late-night spots and discotheques which give night owls more choice than the norm after midnight in the Alps. The liveliest spot in town is reportedly the Gasthof Taverne where a raucous evening is normally had by all.
