When the first snow falls and the lights begin to twinkle in Lech, the village is transformed into a true Christmas wonderland. The air is filled with the scent of cinnamon, baked goods and hot punch. As you stroll through the streets, you immediately sense that special blend of tranquillity, joy and festive anticipation. For guests at the Hotel Tannbergerhof, this winter wonderland is right on their doorstep. No other hotel is so centrally located: the church square with the Lech Christmas market is just a few steps away, and the markets in Zürs and Zug are only a few minutes’ bus ride away. Anyone who experiences the Advent season on the Arlberg will feel just how peaceful yet vibrant winter can be.
Right on the doorstep of the Tannbergerhof, on the festively decorated church square, the Lech Christmas Market takes place every December from Friday to Sunday. The scent of fresh pastries fills the air, children laugh at the sight of the brightly lit stalls, and Christmas carols drift in from afar, played by the tower brass band or sung by the local choir. Guests, locals and friends from all over the world gather around the warming wood fires. There are handmade gifts, warming mulled wine and homemade specialities – and right in the middle of it all, the feeling of having arrived. After a stroll through the market, the Tannbergerhof invites you to enjoy a glass of champagne, a hot chocolate or a homemade eggnog at the outdoor bar, or to dine at the Restaurant Martinstüberl. There, the warmth quickly makes you forget the chill of the pre-Christmas season.
Just outside the city, in the idyllic Zug Valley, a Christmas market straight out of another era awaits. The Christmas market in Zug opens its doors once a year in December. On this day, from 3 pm to 7 pm, visitors can immerse themselves in an atmosphere described as small, charming and authentic. Wooden stalls, lanterns and snowflakes falling silently. When St Nicholas arrives at 5 pm on 6 December, the children’s eyes light up, whilst the adults find warmth and a sense of community around the fire pits. Anyone visiting this market will sense that Christmas is still something special here. A winter’s day could hardly end more beautifully than with a winter walk through the snow-covered Zug Valley back to Lech, followed by a warm-up in the spa area of the Hotel Tannbergerhof.
Similarly, once a year in December, the Edelweißplatz in Zürs is transformed into a sparkling winter wonderland. The small but charming Advent market opens its doors at 4.30 pm and captivates visitors with mulled wine, music and lovingly decorated stalls. Here, at an altitude of 1,700 metres, you can feel the crispness of the mountain air, the crunch of snow underfoot and the tranquillity that the Advent season is really meant to embody. Then, when the Christ Child arrives in Lech at 6.00 pm, it is one of those unforgettable moments: a carriage drives through the village, accompanied by music and children’s singing, and the whole village holds its breath. It is the magic of Christmas, palpable in every sound and every light.
On 25 December, Father Christmas returns to Zürs. Between 2.30 pm and 4.30 pm, he visits the children at the ski school’s meeting point, hands out small gifts and brings a smile to every face. Anyone staying in Lech during this time will see how the Arlberg itself becomes a stage for wonder.
The Tannbergerhof is the ideal place to enjoy this special time of year to the full. After visiting the various Christmas markets in Lech and the surrounding area, you can warm both body and soul in the hotel’s saunas. Dinner at the Martinstüberl restaurant, which has been awarded two toques, or at the Tannberg Stube restaurant is the perfect way to round off the day. The three bars at the Hotel Tannbergerhof serve winter drinks, whether classic or non-alcoholic, and the covered terrace offers the most beautiful view of the winter festivities. When you stand outside in Lech on a December evening, whilst snowflakes fall softly and church bells ring in the distance, you know: there is no better place to experience Christmas.
As well as relaxing snowshoe walks or alpaca treks through the unique winter landscape, Lech has plenty to offer in the run-up to Christmas: enjoy a variety of Christmas concerts, lantern walks, the Lech alphorn players, Christmas readings, the sound fireworks display or the New Year’s concert.
Combine your visit with a short break at the Tannbergerhof. Two to three nights’ stay over one of the Christmas market weekends is ideal. Stroll through the snow-covered village, visit the market in Lech, go on a winter hike to Zug and experience the Christ Child or Father Christmas up close. The team at the Tannbergerhof will be happy to advise you on the various activities in Lech as well as the culinary highlights during the run-up to Christmas.
Enquire now with no obligation or book directly and experience Advent just as it should be: peaceful, warm, full of light and life.
