Join journalist Maurizio De Matteis from Dislivelli magazine as he visits Werfenweng, a pioneering alpine village in the Austrian state of Salzburg, to explore how this community is reshaping mobility and tourism. Through the BeyondSnow video narrative, discover how Werfenweng has become a model for car-free travel and sustainable development—balancing ski tourism with low-impact alternatives and a strong commitment to cultural preservation.
Werfenweng: Promoting Gentle Mobility in the World of Skiing
The small village of Werfenweng, a founding member of the Alpine Pearls association – which today includes 23 Alpine destinations across five countries – is home to around 900 inhabitants. It sits at an elevation of 900 meters in the Austrian Alps, in the district of St. Johann im Pongau, Salzburg region, just 50 kilometers south of Salzburg city.
Since the 1990s, this mountain municipality – traditionally reliant on winter tourism – has gained recognition for diversifying its tourism offer with a strong emphasis on sustainable mobility. Through well-connected train services and guest shuttle systems managed by the local administration, Werfenweng has shown that car-free tourism is not only possible, but desirable, becoming a model for gentle mobility in the Alps.
Unlike crowded resorts, Werfenweng has carved a niche as a low-impact destination that appeals to visitors seeking peace and calm in the mountains. This shift attracted new types of tourists and spurred investments that improved accommodation offerings, all while staying true to principles of environmental sustainability.
Now, with the growing impact of climate change, Werfenweng – also involved in the BeyondSnow project – is working to find new ways to adapt, without abandoning skiing and without compromising its commitment to sustainability established over three decades ago.
Nestled among the Tennengebirge mountains, Werfenweng offers two ski areas: Bischling, ideal for families, and Rosnerköpfl, better suited for experienced skiers. Together, they provide 29 kilometers of slopes, a snowpark, and a long cross-country skiing trail. The current strategy focuses on managing these assets through a transitional phase, while promoting off-season tourism and the surrounding dense forests and green meadows, where historic wooden alpine farms offer a strong sense of cultural heritage.
Preserving rural traditions is a priority for the community. For the people of Werfenweng, local culture and heritage are central to maintaining a strong alpine identity. Notably, the village is also home to a skiing museum, showcasing a valuable collection of artifacts that tell the story of skiing – and increasingly, the story of tourism – in the Alps.
