Lech, Austria and Zurich, Switzerland
March 5 – 15, 2010
Lech is a picturesque village cum ski resort part of the world famous Arlberg ski area. The interconnecting ski region includes these resorts: Zürs known for its I-want-to-be-alone clientele, St. Anton with its young burn-the-mountain Turks, historic St. Christoph atop the Arlberg Pass, romantic Stuben, and tiny Klosterle. The total skiable terrain is larger than Vail, Aspen, Whistler, Park City, Snowbird, Alta, and Bromley combined ~ about 30,000 acres.

Today’s sophisticated village of Lech originally was settled in the 1200’s by dairymen from a region near Zermatt. It hasn’t grown much in the ensuing 700 years. Lech, with its namesake rushing river and old world charm, was voted Europe’s prettiest village in 2004. Buildings, ancient and new, are colorfully painted in Tyrolean style. Elegant restaurants mix with discos, cozy stüblis and a small number of elite shops that appeal to its worldly guests.

Local dairymen put on their barrel stays in 1895. Skiing’s changed a lot since then! Today more than 88 up-to the-minute lifts speed you to Alberg’s five connecting resorts and fun parks. Skiing prowess can be timed near the Kriegerhorn lift and off-piste enthusiasts are in the midst of Austria's largest powder arena. Lech also is a founding member of the ‘Best of the Alps,’ a dozen of Europe’s best ski resorts.

Lunch can be had at a 1750 mountain hut restaurant where drovers pnce sought refuge for Lech, the Resort, Region & Skiingtheir pack animals, one of the towns’ popular ice bars or the hamlet of Oberlech, with its plethora of sun decks.

Lech’s 1390 St. Nikolaus Church – with a 110 foot high onion dome steeple perched on the town’s only hill – is the town’s focal point. Inside, the original Romanesque frescoes were retained when, in 1791, the interior was changed to then popular rococo style. Its original pastoral history is documented in the Lecher Heimatmuseum. St. Anton, the world’s cradle of skiing, has its fine Alpine Skiing Museum in a unique 1912 mountain villa.

Paralleling Lech’s natural beauty is a wide selection of superior quality accommodations.

No wonder many of Europe’s remaining royals from the Netherlands, England, Monaco, and various country leaders have brought their families to Lech and the Arlberg for generations.

Two Nights in Zurich
Switzerland’s premier city bustles during the week with the world’s financial matters and commerce. Come weekends it’s a peaceful cultural hub with Old Town and its winding narrow streets dating back to Roman times, 40 museums including the Kunsthaus’s famous impressionist art collection, the renowned 1890 opera house, and conductor David Zinman’s symphony orchestra performing in the 1898 Tonhalle. Its lake and Limmat River, surrounded by snow capped mountains, are surrounded by the towering 11th century Grossmünster cathedral, the city’s Rathaus, and the Fraumünster with its Marc Chagall stained glass windows.

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