Lech am Arlberg

Infobox Ort in Österreich
Art = Gemeinde
Name = Lech
Wappen = Wappen_at_lech.pnglat_deg = 47 | lat_min = 12 | lat_sec = 00
lon_deg = 10 | lon_min = 09 | lon_sec = 00
Bundesland = Vorarlberg
Bezirk = Bludenz
Höhe = 1444
Fläche = 90
Einwohner = 1896
Stand = 2005-12-31
PLZ = 6764
Vorwahl = 05583
Kfz = BZ
Gemeindekennziffer = 8 01 13
NUTS = AT341
Straße = Dorf 329
Website = [http://www.gemeinde.lech.at www.gemeinde.lech.at]
Bürgermeister = Ludwig Muxel
Partei =
Gemeinderatanzahl = 15
Gemeinderat = Mehrheitswahl
Wahljahr = 2005
image_photo = Lech village 2005.jpg

Lech am Arlberg (1,440m) is a mountain village (population: 1466, December 2002) and an exclusive ski resort in the Bludenz district of Vorarlberg, Austria. Founded in the fourteenth century by Walser migrants from the canton of Wallis in Switzerland, it has grown to become one of the world's premier ski destinations and the home of a number of world and Olympic ski champions. It is administered together with the neighbouring villages of Zürs, Zug, and Oberlech.

Lech is best known for its skiing (both on-piste and off-piste). It is well connected via mechanical lifts and groomed pistes with the neighbouring villages of Zürs, St Christof, St. Anton and Stuben - together they form the Arlberg region, the birth place of the modern Alpine skiing technique and the seat of the Ski Club Arlberg, the world's oldest ski club, founded in 1901. Lech is also the starting and finishing point for "Der Weisse Ring" ("The White Ring"), a circle of runs and lifts that is a popular tour and the scene of an annual race involving both experts and others.

Although not as well frequented in the summer as it is in the winter, Lech nevertheless has much to offer the summer visitor, in terms of sporting, cultural, culinary and other activities.

There are many premier hotels in Lech am Arlberg. The most exclusive hotels in the village are Hotel Arlberg, Gasthof Post and Hotel Schneider, as well as numerous top class restaurants. Lech is a popular holiday destination for Royal families and celebrities, for example Tom Cruise, Princess Diana, and Queen Beatrix and family. The mountain trip in the movie Bridget Jones' Diary 2 was shot in Lech.

Well-known residents

*Egon Zimmermann, 1960s Olympic skiing champion
*Patrick Ortlieb, 1990s Olympic skiing champion and World skiing champion

ister cities

*flagicon|United States Beaver Creek Resort, Avon, Colorado, United States of America
* Kampen, Sylt, Germany
* Hakuba, Happo, Japan

External links

* [http://www.nevasport.com/nevablogs/detalle.php?id_blogs=31&id_articulos=1134 Postcards from Lech]
* [http://www.lech-zuers.at/ Official web site of Lech am Arlberg]
* [http://www.gemeinde.lech.at/ Official Page of Lech am Arlberg]