Filzmoos Ready For Holiday Season
Filzmoos in SalzburgerLand offers a tranquil escape in the mountains during Advent.
- Original mountain Advent in the Salzburg mountain village of Filzmoos with Christmas idyll at the foot of the Bischofsmütze mountain and mountain village Advent at the village square of Filzmoos
- Out and about in the winter forest: By horse-drawn sleigh, on the winter hiking trail or with snowshoes to the Hofalm at the end of the valley
- Romance in the village center: The Advent market attracts visitors with Christmas baking, handicrafts, alpine cuisine and a visit to the "Filzmooser Kindl" (a local legend).
The "Filzmoos Christmas Idyll" on the Hofalm, at an altitude of approximately 1,300 meters, has been synonymous with an authentic Advent walk across snow-covered alpine meadows for over 30 years. True to the vision of its founder, Wasti Schörghofer, it offers a genuine, nature-based experience far removed from kitsch and commercialism. It is considered one of the most extraordinary Advent experiences in the Salzburg mountains. The Hofalm, located at the end of the valley in Filzmoos, is closed to private vehicles in winter and can only be reached by bus taxi or – for a particularly atmospheric experience – by horse-drawn sleigh. Pedestrians and snowshoe hikers need about an hour from the parking lot near the toll station, either on the cleared winter hiking trail or through the snow-covered forest.
At the end of the trail, visitors are greeted by a winter wonderland at the foot of the Bischofsmütze mountain. Torches mark the path across the snow-covered alpine meadows from the Oberhofalm and Unterhofalm to the Almsee lake. Along the way, a nativity scene with life-size figures, a giant illuminated silhouette depicting the Holy Family, shepherds, and the Three Wise Men, as well as other Advent scenes, can be seen. Visitors can enjoy mulled wine, punch, or tea by open fires. Brass bands and singing groups provide festive music. A small hut by the wayside invites visitors to listen to Advent and Christmas stories told by a storyteller. For an extra surprise, the traditional Filzmoos Perchten (a type of masked figure) appear unexpectedly from the forest.
Good, winter-appropriate footwear is recommended for visiting the Christmas market. The Filzmoos Christmas market is open from November 28th to December 27th, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, as well as on Christmas Day and Boxing Day, December 25th and 26th, from 5 pm to 8 pm. Admission: Adults €7, free for holders of the Filzmoos Winter Card, children up to twelve years old are free.
Mountain Village Advent at the village square of Filzmois
On the four Advent weekends, the Mountain Village Advent takes place in Filzmoos' village square. The scent of incense, vanilla crescents, and mulled wine is accompanied by the sounds of brass bands and horse-drawn sleigh bells. Locals and visitors alike gather to get into the Christmas spirit. At the festively decorated stalls, regional handicrafts, farm products, homemade Christmas baked goods, traditional Christmas tree ornaments, and regional specialties are offered. The pilgrimage church is easily accessible from the village square. The late Gothic image of the "Filzmoos Child" in the parish and pilgrimage church is one of the few remaining pilgrimage sites dedicated to the Christ Child. Numerous pre-Christmas music and traditional events in Filzmoos' restaurants and farmhouses are also just a short walk from the village square.
The village Advent market is open on all four Advent weekends from Friday to Sunday, from 4 pm to 8 pm.
Those wishing to stop at one of the alpine pastures after visiting the Christmas market should make reservations well in advance: Oberhofalm: Phone +43(0)664 4457781, filzmoos@oberhofalm.at / Unterhofalm: +43(0)664 3566751, info@unterhofalm.at , Horse-drawn sleigh rides: bookable with all horse-drawn carriage drivers in Filzmoos, Alpine pasture shuttle: Taxi Jäger, +43 (0)664 1806453, info@taxi-jaeger.at
More information: www.filzmoos.at
