Kössen

Altitude: 588 m a.s.l.

Already in the Bronze Age, Kössen was known for the Klobenstein Pass (673 m a.s.l.), which leads into the Bavarian Aschau - this is proved by findings such as an axe. Also for this reason, first accommodations around the village were built early, including the "Erzherzog Rainer" inn, which was erected in 1587 AD in Gothic style and has survived up to present times, or the pilgrimage church Maria Klobenstein from 1674, used as resting place for travelers.

And right here, between the Chiemgau Alps and the Kaiser Mountains, there is the holiday area Kaiserwinkl with its villages Walchsee, Rettenschöss, Kössen and Schwendt. Kössen itself consists of different hamlets - the northern and eastern border of the village represents also the border to Bavaria. In summer, this place is particularly popular with paragliders and hang-gliders thanks to its good thermal winds. If you prefer playing golf, there is the 18-hole Kaiserwinkl Golf Course at Kössen, which was planned and designed by the British architect Donald Harradine.

Kössen is a winter sports paradise, as it is located in one of the most snow-sure areas of Tyrol: For its relatively low position, it is the most rich in snow of the entire Alpine area. The local mountain, the Unterberg, offers 22 km of well-groomed ski slopes, furthermore a network of 250 km of cross-country ski trails is available in the region of Kaiserwinkl, including the popular Lake Track.