Unspoilt Nature. A Park. Unique Treasures.

The fifth – Nature Park Info Point is installed on the valley’s uppermost floor, opposite the Rotmoostal and Gaisbergtal glaciers. It revolves around the eternal ice of the Ötztal Alps in the course of time and climate change.

Thomas Schmarda, managing director of the Nature Park, has fired my curiosity to take a closer look at the fifth information point inside Hohe Mut Alm at about 2600 m above sea level.

“A separate room of about 130 m² on the lower floor of Hohe Mut Alm hosts an interesting multi-media exhibition focusing on high Alpine glacier and climate research,” he mails, “as well as on archaeological facts and the ecological footprint in terms of climate change.”

Okay, finally I know what people do at the research station in the village outskirts of Obergurgl. It is a branch of Innsbruck’s University called “Obergurgl University Center” and hosts an Alpine research station deeply rooted in tradition.

The research specialists also give their input into the Nature Park Info Point: the high Alpine habitat of humans, plants and animals in the eternal ice. Glacial recession. Wonders of the eternal ice. Visitors will receive detailed information on all this and a lot more at the new information point.

Central valley. A futurist building at the edge of the Horlachtal parking area in the idyllic mountain village of Niederthai near Umhausen: Is it a monument? An abstract art installation? These are exactly the questions my Nature Park Guide Thomas is expecting.

He answers quickly: “We have intentionally installed open-air Info Points in public areas of Niederthai and Gries near Längenfeld. They have an eye-catching effect and invite visitors to explore the scenery and to take a closer look at the information panels.” Bronze reliefs of the surroundings. Touching typical local stones. Graphics. Information boards. Alpine plants.

A huge range of detailed information is displayed on only 20 m² at the Niederthai and Gries Info Points – including also sitting areas. Nature lovers can learn many interesting things by answering questions or scanning QR codes. So we leave Niederthai with heaps of new knowledge about the huge primeval rockslide in Köfels some 8700 years ago.

Landscape art objects are the latest trend in the Nature Park. At the Info Point in Gries (parking area), close to the hiking area in Sulztal valley, I sit down and enjoy a rest in the quite eccentric landscape furniture. Listening to the murmuring waters of the Fischbach and Winnebach Alpine brooks. Admiring the bronze relief that displays the surroundings from a bird’s eye view.

Reading the information panels, I get to know more about naturalistic features and cultural highlights: metal-framed boxes show plants, animals, grass and flowers growing close to the mountain brooks. Stones with strange grooves formed by glacial polish.

Around 1860, Ötztal’s tourism started in the mountaineering village of Vent. Invented and founded by the then priest Franz Senn. The local mountain farmers were extremely poor and grateful for the new income.

The priest installed walking paths and hiking trails for mountaineering guests. The first Alpine refuge huts were built. Vent is located at almost 1900 m above sea level, therefore its Info Point is protected by a roof. In a location in style: the Old Parish House at the entrance to Vent. On the first floor you’ll find an exhibition area showing historical details on the beginnings of alpinism, sheep drives and Ötzi – The Iceman as well as descriptions of the local fauna and flora.

The almost 300 m² big natural history exhibition shows Ötztal's natural diversity in all its facets in a truly unique way. Additionally, all aspects of the omnipresent theme of Ötztal waters is clearly presented - ranging from glaciers and Alpine lakes to mountain brooks and moorlands. Besides bilingual (de/en) information panels, the content was made accessible through sensory impressions, e.g. listening station, touch screens, VR glasses, hologram and digital wall relief. Exhibits in the form of true-to-original wood carvings should inspire visitors to explore and feel the special features within the valley together with certified nature guides. The nature park building also houses a shop selling regional products, a library and the nature park administration.

Highlights:

• Multimedia exhibition
• Digital relief
• Interactive elements
• VR glasses with 360-degree view
• Listening station & fragrance station
• Hologram
• Wooden exhibits
• Children's quiz
• Shop
• Seminar room
• Temporary exhibition area
• Ötztal Nature Park library (bibliography download)
• Nature Park afternoon - every Wednesday

Isolde von Mersi comes from South Tyrol's Pustertal valley and lives in Vienna now. As a popular reporter and book writer for Austrian and German magazines and publishing houses, she explores a huge variety of cultural, culinary and naturalistic treasures of the Alpine countries and its people.

She has been feeling at home in Ötztal for many years already as she contributes to the ÖTZTAL MAGAZINE on a regular basis. And she has found many friends in the valley.