Frustrated by the Dinner Train debacle in May 2024, Sam, Danny and I looked for an alternative activity. As Sam is water baby, we and we don’t object to swimming pools, whirlpools and wellness facilities either, we booked three nights and two days in August 2024 at Aqua Dome – Tirol Therme Längenfeld. This ‘Signature Spa of the Alps‘ is located in Oberlängenfeld, in Längenfeld, in the Ötztal or Ötz Valley in Tyrol, in Austria.
Wanting to do more than bathe, we decided to go to Sölden – or Soelden for alphabets and keyboards without umlaut and the municipal website is Soelden.com – to take the cable car on the Gaislachkogel. On top of this mountain, there’s the 007 Elements “cinematic installation”, as it’s called.
Sölden
Sölden is an Alpine resort nestled in Ötztal. The town is famous for its scenery, skiing, and vibrant après-ski scene, Sölden attracts visitors from around the globe.
The area has been inhabited for centuries, with evidence of early settlements dating back to the Bronze Age. Over time, Sölden developed as a farming community, relying on agriculture and livestock rearing for sustenance.
It has has some 3,110 inhabitants (as of 1 January 2024). The village of Sölden is located at an altitude of 1368 m above sea level, all other hamlets and towns in the municipality are higher.
With around two million overnight stays per year and around 15,000 guest beds, Sölden is an important tourist area, mainly for winter sports, and Austria’s municipality with the most overnight stays.
The former character of a mountain farming village, which was prevalent until the second half of the 20th century, was lost and replaced by a tourist-alpine architectural style.
The region’s potential for tourism began to be recognized in the early 20th century, with the construction of the first ski lifts in the 1940s. Since then, Sölden has undergone a significant transformation, evolving into a modern ski resort while preserving its traditional charm.
Today, Sölden offers a wide range of activities for visitors. In the winter, the resort is a skier’s paradise, boasting over 150 kilometers of well-groomed slopes suitable for all levels.
The area is also popular for snowboarding, cross-country skiing, and winter hiking.
In the summer, Sölden transforms into a hiking and mountain biking haven, with stunning trails leading to alpine lakes and glaciers. Other popular activities include paragliding, rafting, and climbing. Indeed, we saw many sports equipment shops and rental places such as Bike Republic.
Beyond its natural attractions, Sölden is known for its lively après-ski scene. The resort offers a variety of bars, clubs, and restaurants where visitors can unwind and enjoy live music, dancing, and delicious local cuisine. Sölden is also a popular destination for events such as the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup, attracting thousands of spectators each year.
Gaislachkogel
The Gaislachkogel is impressive 3,058 metres or 10,033 feet high. It offers “breathtaking” (you will feel the altitude) panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and valleys.
The history of the Gaislachkogel is closely linked to the development of Sölden as a ski resort. In the mid-20th century, the construction of ski lifts and cable cars made the mountain accessible to skiers and tourists. Over the years, the Gaislachkogel has become a renowned destination for winter sports enthusiasts, with its modern infrastructure and challenging slopes.
Today, Gaislachkogel is a major attraction in Sölden, offering a variety of activities for visitors. In the winter, the mountain is home to numerous ski runs, ranging from gentle slopes for beginners to steep, challenging terrain for expert skiers. There are also opportunities for snowboarding, cross-country skiing, and winter hiking.
In the summer, Gaislachkogel transforms into a popular hiking and mountain biking destination. Visitors can enjoy panoramic views, explore alpine meadows, and visit the Ice Grotto, a man-made attraction featuring ice sculptures and installations.
One of the most notable features of Gaislachkogel is the Gaislachkogelbahn, a high-speed cable car that takes visitors to the summit in just a few minutes. From the top, visitors can enjoy breathtaking views of the Ötztal, the surrounding mountains, and even the border with Italy on a clear day.
Gaislachkogelbahn or Bergbahnen Sölden
The Gaislachkogelbahn cable car or Bergbahnen Sölden (BBS) leads from Sölden up to 3,041 metres, just below the summit, which can be easily climbed from the mountain station.
There is a ski area on the Gaislachkogel that is connected to the Giggijoch ski area.
In 1971, the Gaislachkogel and Hochsölden ski areas were merged. A year later, the Ötztal Glacier Road to the Rettenbachferner was built. This meant that the Sölden ski area was guaranteed snow all year round for the first time. However, summer operations had to be stopped again in the early 1990s due to global warming.
The cable car, built in 1966 under the name Ötztal Glacier Cable Car (Ötztaler Gletscherbahn), was first replaced by a new cable car in 1988. The model was a double cable car that was spectacular at the time and is still extremely rarely built (the only one in Austria) – a predecessor of the funitel cable cars used today.
The cable car with a 16-kilometer-long cable provided high stability and a large transport capacity, but brought with it high wear and tear costs. The long cable had to be replaced every 4 to 6 years.
This led to the cable car being renewed again in 2010. The first section was replaced by an 8-person monocable gondola and the second section by a 3S cable car, on which a scene for the 2015 James Bond film ‘Spectre‘ was also shot.
007 Elements
007 Elements is an attraction dedicated to the iconic James Bond film franchise. It’s a “cinematic installation” and interactive experience that allows visitors to immerse themselves in the world of 007. The focus is set on ‘Spectre’, as the Ice Q restaurant and the cable car feature in the film. The ensuing car chase was filmed in the surrounding areas.
The attraction is housed in a modern building designed by Tyrolean Johann Obermoser architect to blend seamlessly with the surrounding alpine landscape. Inside, visitors can explore various themed areas inspired by the Bond films, including a state-of-the-art cinema, a showcase of iconic Bond gadgets, a stylish lounge area, and a multi-sensory experience that simulates the conditions of the Alpine environment.
In nine rooms, you get an idea on how the Bond films are made. While not mind blowing or particularly informative (as in providing shocking and new information, 007 Elements is nicely done.
The ‘villain’s lair’ architecture and styling add to the experience. Afterwards you can grab a bit or have drink at Ice Q, which was used as the office of Madeleine Swann (Léa Seydoux) in the film.
We were happy to have visited.
So?
Our excursion to Sölden was a success, even if the late lunch at a generic pizzeria will not win any awards.
If you have trouble with altitude, take a paracetamol before going up. And don’t forget there’s less oxygen up there.
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