Whilst one lady is a symbol of buffoonery, the other lady is beauty. Whilst one has an air of eccentricity, the other an air of exclusivity and not to mention elegance. Whilst in one we see the clown, in the other we see the crown. Bridget Jones and Princess Diana. What could they possibly have in common, you ask? The answer: Lech, the Austrian ski resort.

In 2004, the slopes of Lech witnessed the filming of the iconic skiing scenes in ‘Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason’. And more poignantly so, in the 1990s, Lech welcomed in Princess Diana to teach her sons, Will and Harry, how to ski. It’s not a wonder why both chose Lech as their skiing destination. Just like these two British leading ladies, Lech has a sort of gravitational pull that’s impossible to deny.

Lech stands tall in the Arlberg region of the Austrian Alps at 1,450m altitude. And its slopes stand taller at 2,811m, meaning snow is guaranteed all through the season. Hence why the most loyal of guests don’t just return yearly, they come monthly even. But affluent travellers don’t just gaggle to Lech for the elite skiing. When deciding on a skiing destination, everything must be to a five-star standard. From chalets to hotels and from restaurants to après and events, Lech surpasses the highest of standards.

Skiers have been descending the slopes of Lech since the roaring 20s, but settlements were established long before then. Wander past the Lech River and through the streets. Here, you’ll find glimpses of the resort’s history from its late 1300s church to its time as a thriving farming village in the 18^th century. Now, Lech is a part of the ‘Best of the Alps’. This 13-member strong group unites the most opulent skiing destinations in Europe. From France’s Chamonix and Megève to Switzerland’s St. Moritz and Zermatt, these resorts are market leaders that pride themselves on utter luxury and outstanding skiing.

Skiing

When it comes to skiing, the Austrian ski resort is rarely thought of in isolation. Instead, it is bundled together with seven others to make up the Arlberg region. Thanks to 88 lifts and cable cars, 305km of ski slopes have been connected since 2016. The Arlberg isn’t just an impressive part of the Alps, it’s the fifth-largest ski area in the world. It’s almost a little world in itself – a ski-topia world.

Its versatile slopes quench the thirst of skiers from beginners to advanced, and of groups from family to friends. Even those who don’t wish to colour in between the lines and follow in others’ footsteps are spoiled for choice. The Arlberg invites you to stray outside of the poles and make your own tracks over its 200km of off-piste area. These high alpine powder runs can be reached by chairlifts. So, spending labourious hours trekking up to a sweet spot isn’t necessary. But if you like breaking a sweat before feeling a face-full of rushing air, then ski-touring can be arranged too.

Lech also prides itself on being the only Austrian ski resort that offers heli-skiing. Not to mention, it was the first ski resort in Europe to cap the number of day passes issued to ensure that crowding doesn’t get in the way of the all-important carving – especially on race days.

Events and Après Ski

The White Ring Lech am Arlberg

Taking place in January each year, the White Ring race is one of the biggest dates in the alpine calendar. Starting and finishing in Lech, 22km of runs take skiers through the villages of Zürs, Zug and Oberlech making it the longest ski circuit in the world. So come on race day or give it a go at some other point in the season. Because after finding out that the fastest time to date is 44 minutes and 10 seconds, it’s impossible to resist seeing what the White Ring is all about.

Tanzcafé Arlberg Music Festival

For those who prefer to swap goggles for glasses and thermal jackets for thin jumpers, then Tanzcafé Arlberg Music Festival is the one. After a morning of spring skiing, swing songs and old-school jazz steer the afternoon into the evening. Don’t judge the bands’ books by their covers either, because some may sport saxophones, but others erupt with rock ‘n’ roll and modern electro-beats. This festival unifies the sophisticated, the soulful and the suave with sounds from the radio. Beyond the music, seeing the stage surroundings of the Lech mountains alone are enough to pull you into this après ski event.

Wine Gondola am Arlberg and K-club

No après ski is complete without a well-deserved drink. In Lech, they take this concept to new heights by transforming gondolas into private vineyards. At Wine Gondolas am Arlberg, some of Austria’s finest sommeliers will take you on a wine tasting experience through the mountains. With four bottles of signature wines, champagne, and whiskey on board, it’s lucky that the event doesn’t end here. Guests are invited to Hotel Krone’s terrace bar at the bottom of the slopes before a six-course tasting menu dinner at their fine dining restaurant. Then it’s off to K-club, located just beneath the hotel, for those still itching to dance away the day and into the night.

Hotel Tannbergerhof Eisbar

Any seasoned skier knows just how seriously après ski drinks are taken. More so, how seriously one drink, in particular, is taken. Not your stereotypical magnum of rosé or a shot of Jägermeister. Not even your whisky Hot Toddy. No, the number one drink of any ski resort is mulled wine. Some may call it Vin Chaud and others Glühwein. But independent of where you live, The Sunday Times has accredited the Hotel Tannbergerhof’s Ice Bar with the best mulled wine in the world. Along with this, you’ll find its beating terrace atmosphere and its immensely popular indoor Irish pub ‘The Cottage’.

Fux Bar

As one of Ski Luxe Magazine’s ‘Top 10 Austrian Resorts for Après-Ski’, Lech offers variety. Après ski doesn’t have to mean busy bars and late-into-the-night music, it can also mean sophistication and style. At Fux, there’s exactly that. The lounge lulls you into calm complemented by a cocktail or two. And over at the restaurant, there’s the choice of both European and Asian cuisines. Fux is the place to come straight from the slopes as well as for a nightcap.

Lodging

Hotel Arlberg

When it comes to where you lay your head at night, Lech is inundated with choice. Five-star standard choice. Following Princess Diana’s extravagant expertise would be to stay at Hotel Arlberg. This boutique hotel has 51 entirely unique rooms and has been in the family for three generations, since 1956. Recognising the importance of a ski resort spa, this hotel prides themselves on their wellness centre. They don’t stop at spa treatments, an indoor swimming pool and an outdoor one too. They also have a hydrotherapy centre with multi-sensory experience showers. Such luxury can be lapped up before making way to one of the hotel’s five restaurants and bars.

Chalet Überhaus

For those wanting a truly exclusive experience, then make a booking at Chalet Überhaus – if you can. This chalet is set just above the village and sleeps ten adults with space for six children. Grand fireplaces, an open-plan lounge come dining room and its own wellness centre makes this chalet hard to tear away from, even to go skiing. Re-energise in the gym, outdoor hot tub, sauna, steam room or massage room. And then entertain either at the cocktail bar, around the pool table or in the cinema room. The host will nip down to the wine cellar for you. And the chef will be at your service as you please. Enjoy a five-course dinner in the dining room, lunch on the sun terrace, afternoon tea in the lounge or breakfast at your request before hitting the slopes. Chalet Überhaus is the height of luxury and anyone who stays there will know that, really, it can’t get better than this.

Restaurants

Griggler Stuba, Burg Vital Resort

Just 150m away from Chalet Überhaus is Griggler Stuba restaurant. This gourmet restaurant has been awarded four toques from Gault Millau, and with one bite you’ll know why. Chef Matthias Schütz uses solely Austrian products with a particular focus on sourcing local ingredients. Whether its meat, fish, crustaceans or vegetables, everything is cooked with a sense of elevation. Dine at this restaurant and you’ll see a creative flair with strong use of flavours from herbs and spices. You’ll be just one of 20, as here, and throughout Lech, giving quality is prioritised over harbouring quantity.

Aurelio Gourmet Restaurant

Aurelio Gourmet restaurant proudly proves its four toque awards through both traditional and international cuisine. Chef Christian Rescher says “for me, a plate is like a blank canvas”. And so, he treats every dish as if it is a piece of artwork. A natural one too. His concept of ‘Natural Art Cuisine’ is ambitious, yet always successfully aesthetic – on the eye and the tongue. At Aurelio Gourmet Restaurant, they’re not stuck in the ski resort bubble either. Their vegetarian, vegan and dietary requirement dishes are equally as appealing as their à la carte. The design of the entire place is enough to tease the senses even before you set eyes on the fine dining food. It’s not a wonder that Aurelio has a history of winning ‘Best Ski Boutique Hotel’ title in the World Ski Awards.

Village

Lech village goes beyond gourmet food and five-star accommodation. To pull you in deeper it creates that true winter wonderland feeling with horse-drawn carriages trotting through the snowy streets. Because after all, once an afternoon at the shops is complete, those bags can get a little too heavy. In the way of shops, delve into the traditional Tyrolean fashion at Lenai & Linai. Then take a trip to Sagmesiter for a more international style. And if you’re missing Knightsbridge, then Lech’s shop Strolz will make you feel at home.

Making Lech a second home is a temptation too hard to resist. Whether it’s for a week, a month or season after season, this ski resort has been pulling people in for decades. So, when choosing a ski resort, don’t look at the latest craze or the newest lifts. Look at those who are loyal; those who return to the same place, time and time again. As they return not just for the skiing, but for everything. By homing plenty who are loyal and countless who are royal, Lech has a gravitational pull that’s impossible to deny.