A look back

Ski circus in the Tyrolean winter sports mecca of yesteryear

What a panorama! Here is the view from the Kölner Haus towards the Alpkopf.(Bild: Archiv Praxmarer)

Once a poor mountain village, today home to one of the most popular ski resorts in the Alps. A short journey through time with historical photos from the private archive of "Krone" reader Klaus Praxmarer to Serfaus in the Tyrolean Oberland. 

The Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis region now counts around 1.6 million overnight stays in winter. In 1981, the figure was a comparatively modest 530,000. The high plateau is considered a vacation paradise, especially for families.

The rise of tourism after the Second World War was as steep as the mountains around the Samnaun group.

View towards Serfaus: a fire destroyed 14 houses in 1942. After the war came the reconstruction.(Bild: Archiv Praxmarer)

While some skiers queue in front of the Gampen T-bar lift, others use their break to sunbathe.(Bild: Archiv Praxmarer)

Here the photographer stands on the Alpkopf and looks towards the Kölner Haus.(Bild: Archiv Praxmarer)

Patiently queuing at the old Plansegg T-bar lift. There was time for a chat.(Bild: Archiv Praxmarer)

The first T-bar lift in Serfaus was built in 1954, according to the mountain railway chronicle. Then things took off and from then on, skiers could be seen carving their turns in the snow on the historic smuggler routes of the once bitterly poor mountain village.

The photos taken by "Krone" reader Klaus Praxmarer from Innsbruck show the ski circus on the high plateau in the 1960s.