Pertisau is a holiday and climatic health resort at the southern
end of the Achensee in Tyrol. Administratively, the place Pertisau
belongs to the municipality of Eben am Achensee.
Pertisau was
first mentioned in a document from the St. Georgenberg-Fiecht Abbey
in the 14th century.
The place was of supraregional
importance due to the Habsburgs, the rulers of Austria used the area
around Pertisau from the 15th century until the end of the First
World War in 1918 as a hunting ground and the Achensee for fishing.
Tourism in the village started around the middle of the 19th
century and, with many hotels, can be classified as more upscale.
Dreifaltigkeitskirche: modern church, built in 1970 according to
the plans of the well-known architect Prof. Clemens Holzmeister. The
Ave Maria can be heard from the tower every day at 12 p.m. and 6
p.m.
Anna Chapel: built in 1804 and furnished by Josef Arnolf.
The chapel is looked after by the Protestant parish in Jenbach, in
July and August there is a service every Sunday at 9 a.m.
Princely house, former hunting lodge of Emperor Maximilian.
Tiroler Steinöl Vitalberg (historical museum, origin, importance and
variety of uses of Tiroler Steinöl®) (Am See 56, 6213 Pertisau am
Achensee).
Achensee
Karwendelbahn: the mountain railway leads
to the Zwölferkopf.
By plane
The nearest international airports are Innsbruck,
approx. 50 km away, and Salzburg Airport, approx. 153 km away. The
Munich / "Franz Josef Strauss" airport north of Munich is also
within reach, a distance of approx. 109 km.
By train
The
nearest train station is Jenbach im Inntal. Some long-distance
trains on the Munich - Rosenheim - Innsbruck line also stop in
Jenbach. From here you can take the 8332 bus up to Pertisau. (see
also Verkehrsverbund Tirol)
Those who like it more nostalgic can
use the historic steam cog railway of the Achenseebahngesellschaft
(www.achenseebahn.at) together with the ship to get there from
Jenbach (costs significantly more). You drive from Jenbach to
Seespitz and from there by ship to Pertisau.
In the street
Via the Inntalautobahn Rosenheim - Innsbruck (toll): You leave the
autobahn at the exit Achensee / Zillertal (No. 39), from here via
the well-developed federal highway 181 up to Achensee. At Maurach
then turn off the main road to Pertisau.
If you want, you can
stop on the B 181 in front of Maurach and enjoy a beautiful view
back into the Inn Valley.
Toll-free from Munich: A8 motorway
towards Rosenheim; Leave the A8 at the Holzkirchen exit (No. 97).
From here there are two variants to the Achensee:
Bundesstrasse 318 through the beautiful Tegernsee valley
Bundesstrasse 13 via Bad Tölz, Lenggries and the Sylvenstein
reservoir.
Both routes meet again in the area of the
Austrian border. From here it is not far to the lake via the federal
highway 198, the route then runs along the eastern shore of the
lake. Then turn off the main road at Maurach and continue to Maurach
on the western shore of the lake.
By bicycle
Munich-Venezia - The cycle route connects Munich with Venice. The
path also leads past the Achensee. At Maurach you leave the route to
cycle to Pertisau.
Inn cycle path - from Jenbach driveway to
Achensee (approx. 400 m). It is recommended to use the old road from
Jenbach for the driveway. This is significantly steeper and less
traveled than the main road.
From Tegernsee (train connection to Munich) there is a bus line
to Achensee. The RVO line 9550 makes u. a. in Achenkirch, Buchenau
and Maurach stations. The end of the line is in Pertisau. From
Jenbach the ÖBB-Postbus 8332 goes via Wiesing and Maurach to
Pertisau.
With the white guest card, holiday guests from
Pertisau, Maurach, Achenkirch and Steinberg am Rofan can use the
buses in the immediate area of the Achensee free of charge.
Achensee shipping
The Tirol-Schiffahrt (www.tirol-schiffahrt.at)
connects the places Seespitz, Buchau, Achenseehof, Scholastika and
Gaisalm with Pertisau, your home port:
Pertisau is the main
landing stage for Achensee Schiffahrt; further landing stages are in
Achenkirch and Maurach.
The lake tour takes 2 hours. Tickets
for sections of the route are also available.
Pertisau, a quaint village nestled on the western shore of Lake
Achensee in the Schwaz district of Tyrol, Austria, has a rich history
intertwined with imperial patronage, natural resource exploitation,
literary fame, and the evolution of alpine tourism. Part of the
municipality of Eben am Achensee since 1971, it sits at an elevation of
about 940 meters within the Karwendel Alpine Park, one of the oldest
protected areas in the Eastern Alps, spanning Austria and Germany. Its
development from a remote farming and hunting outpost to a premier
wellness and recreational destination reflects broader trends in
Tyrolean history, marked by royal visits, economic shifts, and cultural
representations. Historical records are sparse for prehistoric or
medieval times, but the area's pristine alpine landscape—featuring
turquoise glacial waters, dense forests, and towering peaks like the
Karwendel and Rofan ranges—likely supported early seasonal herding and
fishing by Bavarian settlers as far back as the Roman era, though no
major archaeological sites are documented in the village itself.
Imperial Era and Early Recognition (15th–18th Centuries)
Pertisau's
documented history gains prominence in the late medieval period, largely
due to its association with Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I (1459–1519),
often hailed as the "first guest" at Lake Achensee and a pivotal figure
in kickstarting the region's tourism legacy. Maximilian, an avid hunter
and fisherman, frequently visited the area for expeditions, drawn to its
abundant wildlife—chamois in the mountains and fish like char and trout
in the lake. Around 1500, he commissioned the construction of the
Fürstenhaus (Prince's House) in Pertisau as a summer residence and
hunting lodge, establishing it as a base for his recreational pursuits.
This structure, now a luxury hotel, symbolized imperial prestige and
helped popularize the Achensee region among European nobility.
Maximilian immortalized the area in his illustrated hunting and fishing
treatise, *Theuerdank* (1517) and other works, praising its natural
bounty and scenic beauty, which he described as an idyllic retreat. A
famous depiction from the Austrian State Library shows the emperor on
horseback with his entourage, Venetian gondola-style boats on the lake,
and the dramatic alpine backdrop, underscoring Pertisau's role in early
Renaissance leisure culture. Later Habsburg rulers continued this
tradition; for instance, Archduke Ferdinand II (1529–1595) expanded on
Maximilian's legacy by building an exclusive hunting lodge (possibly an
extension of the Fürstenhaus) and commissioning a personal ship for lake
excursions, further embedding Pertisau in royal hunting lore.
By
the 18th century, Pertisau remained a modest agrarian community, with
farming, forestry, and small-scale fishing sustaining its sparse
population. Oil shale mining emerged as a key industry around this time,
with extraction from local deposits dating back to at least the 1700s.
The shale, rich in kerogen, was processed into oils and waxes, initially
for medicinal and industrial uses. This "stone oil" (Tiroler Steinöl)
became a hallmark of the region, with products like ichthyol used in
skincare and pharmaceuticals, transitioning from rudimentary mining to
more organized operations in the 19th century. The industry shaped local
economy and culture, with remnants like mining tunnels still visible
today, now repurposed for wellness tourism.
19th Century: Rise of
Tourism and Infrastructure
The 19th century marked Pertisau's shift
toward tourism, fueled by Romanticism's fascination with alpine sublime
and improved accessibility. In 1794, the Karlwirt estate was established
as a simple farmhouse with an attached inn, veranda, and four guest
rooms, serving as one of the village's earliest hospitality venues. It
gained royal attention in 1847 when Crown Prince Franz Joseph (later
Emperor Franz Joseph I) stayed there during a hunting holiday, boosting
its prestige. The inn evolved into a guesthouse, catering to increasing
visitors drawn by the lake's beauty and health benefits, such as fresh
air cures popular in the Victorian era.
Infrastructure
developments accelerated growth: The Achensee Railway, Europe's oldest
cog railway, opened in 1889, connecting Jenbach to the lake and making
Pertisau more reachable from Innsbruck and beyond. Steamboat services on
the lake, starting in the mid-1800s, facilitated scenic tours. Oil shale
mining peaked, with companies like Tiroler Steinölwerke refining
products for export, employing locals and attracting workers. By the
late 1800s, Pertisau had small hotels and guesthouses, setting the stage
for its resort identity.
20th Century: Literary Fame, Sports, and
Modernization
The early 20th century brought cultural prominence
through literature. In 1924, British author Elinor M. Brent-Dyer visited
Pertisau during a holiday, inspiring her to set the first 13 books (and
part of the 14th) of the Chalet School series (1925–1970) in a
fictionalized version called Briesau am Tiernsee. The stories, about a
girls' boarding school, incorporated the village's landscapes and later
addressed Nazi persecution in The Chalet School in Exile (1940),
reflecting Brent-Dyer's experiences amid rising tensions in Europe. A
commemorative plaque on the local bookshop honors this connection,
drawing fans to the area.
Sports and leisure defined mid-century
growth. In 1934, the Golf & Country Club Achensee was founded by Dr.
Leopold von Pasquali and 14 enthusiasts, opening a 9-hole course that
year—making it Tyrol's oldest golf club and one of Austria's earliest.
Despite challenges like farmer disputes over land use in 1937 and a
World War II shutdown from 1939 to 1945, it reopened and expanded. Under
presidents like Alfred A. Hartmann (1969–1989), it added facilities; by
1995, it became an 18-hole course with innovative dual greens, earning
accolades as Austria's best in 2010 and a Leading Golf Course in 2013.
Recent upgrades include a 2007 clubhouse and 2015 driving range.
Post-war tourism boomed with winter sports. The Karlwirt burned down in
1954 but was rebuilt by Alois and Marianne as a 50-bed guesthouse,
initially summer-only. The 1950s chairlift and 1964 Innsbruck Winter
Olympics spurred cross-country skiing, with trails through Pertisau. In
1978, the Langlaufstüberl opened as an Olympic center. Other hotels,
like the Pfandler (taken over in 1947 by Anton Entner and expanded
stepwise), followed suit. Oil shale mining declined after WWII, shifting
to wellness applications like spa treatments at facilities using Steinöl
products.
Contemporary Developments (Late 20th–21st Centuries)
Since the 1980s, Pertisau has modernized while preserving heritage.
Hotels underwent renovations (e.g., Karlwirt in 2018–2021, now with 120
beds and a wellness oasis), and the golf course expanded (2004, 2008).
In 2019, during the Maximilian Year commemorating the emperor's 500th
death anniversary, a "Emperor’s Throne" viewpoint was installed on a
hiking trail, reinforcing historical ties. The parish church, designed
by modernist architect Clemens Holzmeister in the 20th century, adds
architectural significance. Today, with a population of around 500,
Pertisau thrives on eco-tourism, skiing (via the Achensee Card for free
transport), golf, and wellness, blending its imperial past with
sustainable alpine living.
Pertisau is a small village located on the western shore of Lake Achensee in the Schwaz district of Tyrol, Austria. It forms part of the municipality of Eben am Achensee and lies within the Karwendel Alpine Park, the largest nature park in Austria and one of the oldest cross-border protected areas in the Eastern Alps. The village's coordinates range approximately from 47.42007°N 11.67901°E to 47.46007°N 11.71901°E, positioning it about 50 kilometers northeast of Innsbruck and near the German border. Situated at an altitude of around 940 meters above sea level, Pertisau serves as a key hub for tourism, with access to Lake Achensee's shipping services (operating since 1887) and the Achenseebahn rack railway at nearby Seespitz Station. The area blends alpine village charm with recreational infrastructure, including ski lifts like the Karwendel Bergbahn, making it a gateway to both lakeside and mountainous activities.
Pertisau's topography is characterized by its lakeside position transitioning into steep, forested alpine terrain. The village itself sits at an average elevation of 1,141 meters, with local elevations ranging from a minimum of 920 meters near the lake shore to a maximum of 1,901 meters in the surrounding hills. The landscape features a mix of gentle lakeside plains and rising slopes, with three forested valleys (such as the Falzthurntal) ascending sharply from the village into the Karwendel Mountains. This creates a dramatic relief, ideal for hiking trails like the Pertisau-Gaisalm path, which covers 5.6 miles with an 885-foot elevation gain over 2.5–3 hours. Ski areas, including the Zwölferkopf at 1,491 meters, are accessible via cable cars and dominate the higher terrain, offering panoramic views of the lake and valleys. The overall setting resembles a fjord-like valley, with steep mountain walls enclosing the elongated lake basin.
The defining hydrographic feature of Pertisau is Lake Achensee, the largest lake in Tyrol, often dubbed the "Tyrolean Sea." This glacial lake stretches 9 kilometers in length, up to 1.3 kilometers in width, and reaches a maximum depth of 133 meters, covering a surface area of about 6.8 square kilometers. Its waters are crystal-clear and turquoise, fed primarily by mountain streams and groundwater, with an average surface elevation of around 929 meters. In summer, the water temperature rises to 19–22°C, supporting swimming, boating, and water sports. Pertisau acts as a central hub for lake ferries, connecting to nearby towns like Achenkirch and Maurach. Smaller streams from the surrounding valleys drain into the lake, contributing to its pristine quality, though the area is prone to seasonal fluctuations in water levels due to alpine precipitation patterns.
Pertisau is nestled between two major alpine ranges: the Rofan Mountains to the east and the Karwendel Mountains to the west. The Karwendel range, part of the Northern Limestone Alps, dominates the landscape with rugged peaks rising directly from the lake's western shore, including notable summits like Mt. Sonnjoch (2,457 meters) and Mt. Lamsenspitze (2,508 meters). These mountains create a natural barrier, fostering a sense of enclosure and providing extensive hiking and climbing opportunities. The Rofan range, on the opposite side, features more accessible terrain with cable car access to areas like the Zwölferkopf (1,491 meters). The Karwendel Alpine Park encompasses much of this region, protecting over 727 square kilometers of diverse alpine ecosystems. Trails wind through valleys and up to high plateaus, offering views of glaciers and rock formations typical of the Eastern Alps.
The geology of Pertisau is shaped by glacial activity from the last Ice Age, which carved out the deep, narrow basin of Lake Achensee and formed its fjord-like structure. The surrounding mountains belong to the Northern Limestone Alps, composed primarily of Triassic and Jurassic limestones and dolomites, resulting in karst features like cliffs, caves, and steep escarpments. Tectonic uplift during the Alpine orogeny has elevated these formations, creating the dramatic relief seen today. Glacial moraines and alluvial deposits cover the valley floors, supporting fertile soils around the lake shore. The area's seismic activity is low, but it is influenced by ongoing erosion from mountain streams and avalanches in winter.
Pertisau experiences a temperate alpine climate, moderated by the lake's thermal mass. Summers (June to August) are mild and sunny, with daytime highs of 20–25°C and occasional peaks up to 30°C, while nights cool significantly due to the elevation. Precipitation is moderate, averaging 1,200–1,500 mm annually, with frequent afternoon showers in summer. Winters are cold and snowy, ideal for skiing, with temperatures often dropping below freezing and heavy snowfall supporting the region's winter sports infrastructure. Spring and autumn bring variable weather, with föhn winds occasionally warming the valley. The lake influences local microclimates, reducing frost risks near the shore.
Vegetation in Pertisau reflects its alpine setting, with dense coniferous forests (spruce, fir, and pine) covering the lower slopes and valleys, giving way to alpine meadows, shrubs, and hardy grasses at higher elevations. Lakeside areas feature mixed deciduous trees and wetlands, supporting biodiversity including wildflowers in summer. The Karwendel Nature Park protects this ecosystem, home to species like chamois, red deer, and golden eagles, while promoting sustainable tourism through trails and conservation initiatives. Environmental efforts focus on water quality preservation, with the lake's clarity attributed to low nutrient levels and glacial origins. Challenges include tourism pressure and climate change impacts on snow cover, but the protected status ensures ongoing habitat conservation.