Naturpark Karwendel

Nature Park

A Nature Park is a protected landscape that has been preserved in its present state by means of long-term planning and agriculture and is promoted in terms of tourism. Naturpark Karwendel is made up of 13 different protected areas including "Naturschutzgebieten", "Landschaftsschutzgebieten", "Ruhezonen" and "Wildruhezonen".

The Karwendel Nature Park encompasses almost the entire Karwendel massif and the Arnspitze nature reserve and, with an area of 737 km², is the largest protected area in Tyrol and the largest nature park in Austria. Due to its topography, the Karwendel has an above-average proportion of natural habitats such as primeval forests and wild rivers and is home to a high number of animal and plant species that are important throughout Europe, such as the Golden Eagle, White-backed Woodpecker and Lady's Slipper Orchid. For centuries, the area has been characterized by alpine pastures, forestry and hunting as classic alpine forms of utilization. The development of alpine tourism began in the second half of the 19th century and offers numerous opportunities for different forms of alpinism in its current form with more than 50 managed huts and alpine pastures. Naturpark Karwendel is made up of the following protected areas: Naturschutzgebiet Martinswand, Naturschutzgebiet Fragenstein, Naturschutzgebiet Arnspitze, Naturschutzgebiet Karwendel, Landschaftsschutzgebiet Großer Ahornboden, Landschaftsschutzgebiet Bärenkopf, Landschaftsschutzgebiet Vorberg, Landschaftsschutzgebiet Falzthurntal-Gerntal, Landschaftsschutzgebiet Martinswand-Solstein-Reitherspitze, Ruhegebiet Eppzirl, Ruhegebiet Achental-West, Wildruhezone Ankerschlag