Fritzens

Back

800m above sea level, population 2,003

The small, but pretty village of Fritzens is much revered in gourmet circles and also way beyond the region's boundaries. The striking bottles of the Fritzens-based Rochelt company, which makes high-class schnapps and brandies from the finest fruit, are essential stock items for every award-winning restaurant. But there are other brandy distilleries in Fritzens, such as Zalesky and Zimmermann, and guided tours through the fascinating world of fruit brandies are available to interested parties. The history of this attractive village, which is repeatedly voted the prettiest floral village in the district, goes back to the La Tène era. Fragments of pottery, known as "Fritzner Keramik", played an important part in unravelling the mysteries of the Tyrol's distant past. The gently rolling countryside around Fritzens is inviting territory, particularly for families keen to undertake interesting days out and explore higher altitudes. But one special attraction well worth a visit is the parish church, where precious carvings and portrayals of the church's patron, John the Baptist, provide good opportunities to stop and reflect.