Samuel Eto?o, Petr Cech, Joleon Lescott ? names that cause excitement amongst football fans. And, although they all play for different teams, they have one thing in common. Their club or national team training camp is in Austria.
AMAS, the Austrian Moderate Altitude Study, has documented that training in alpine regions has a positive effect on health. This is just another reason for the current German and English champions, Borussia Dortmund and Manchester City, to hold their training camps in Austria.
While West Ham, Blackburn Rovers, and PSG will be in Styria, a well-established football training centre and a location that has been host to European football elite for many years, Premier League Champion Manchester City will train in Seefeld, Tirol from 8 ? 20 July. The team will be accommodated at Hotel Klosterbr?u***** & SPA in Seefeld with three test matches planned at the football stadium Tivoli in Innsbruck. http://www.seefeld.com/en
Another popular region for football teams is Montafon in Vorarlberg, with the winning Spanish national team having prepared in the valley for UEFA EURO 2012? (and also for the FIFA World Cup 2010). The beautiful surroundings are perfect for training pros, amateurs and youth teams. Due to its state-of-the-art football pitches (2 synthetic-turf pitches, 4 natural-turf pitches), Montafon has established itself as a top training camp address. Football experts appreciate the diverse training opportunities in Montafon, both in the valley and in special higher altitude training camps on the mountain. Numerous sports and leisure activities, including the Europatreppe 4000 (a staircase of 4,000 steps), 534 miles of mountain bike trails and open-air baths, can be enjoyed in addition to football training. www.montafon.at
Beyond football
Apart from football, visitors will appreciate a colourful and multi-faceted array of cultural events in Austria. There is highly sophisticated culture along with avant-garde art. Internationally acclaimed festivals such as the Bregenz Festival and the Schubertiade, as well as numerous other festivals and cultural performances, are true entertainment highlights and take place across the country.
And, there is of course the food. Delicious traditional offerings such as Schnitzel, Tafelspitz, and Kaiserschmarren can be found almost everywhere in Austria. In addition, various award-winning restaurants offer exquisite international culinary delights. For anyone with even the slightest interest in good organic food, not to mention a delectable palate, the Zillertal in Tirol, where the German clubs Hamburger SV and Werder Bremen have their training camps, is a veritable promised land. The Zillertal is well known for its healthy cuisine using organic herbs, naturally reared beef and award-winning dairy products. From the lush pastures of the Zillertal valley to your plate! www.zillertal.at
For more information or if interested in a press trip, please contact Martina Jamnig at the Austrian National Tourist Office ([email protected], Tel: 020-7440-3840, www.austria.info).