Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Reutte (ROY-teh, with a rolled
r
), a relaxed Austrian town of 5,700, is located 20 minutes
acrosstheborderfromFüssen.Whileoverlookedbytheinternationaltouristcrowd,it'spop-
ular with Germans and Austrians for its climate. Doctors recommend its “grade 1” air. I like
Reutte for the opportunity it offers to simply be in a real community. As an example of how
the town is committed to its character, real estate can be sold only to those using it as a
primary residence. (Many formerly vibrant alpine towns made a pile of money but lost their
sense of community by becoming resorts. They allowed wealthy foreigners—who just drop
in for a week or two a year—to buy up all the land, and are now shuttered up and dead most
of the time.)
Reutte has one claim to fame among Americans: As Nazi Germany was falling in 1945,
Hitler's top rocket scientist, Werner von Braun, joined the Americans (rather than the Russi-
ans) in Reutte. You could say that the American space program began here.
Reutte isn't featured in any other American guidebook. While its generous sidewalks are
filled with smart boutiques and lazy coffeehouses, its charms are subtle. It was never rich or
important. Its castle is ruined, its buildings have painted-on “carvings,” its churches are full,
its men yodel for each other on birthdays, and its energy is spent soaking its Austrian and
German guests in gemütlichkeit. Most guests stay for a week, so the town's attractions are
more time-consuming than thrilling.
Tourist Information
Reutte's TI is a block in front of the train station (Mon-Fri 8:00-12:00 & 14:00-17:00,
no midday break July-Aug, Sat 8:30-12:00, closed Sun, Untermarkt 34, tel. 05672/62336,
www.reutte.com
).Gooveryoursightseeingplans,askaboutafolkevening,pickupcityand
biking maps, bus schedules, and the
Sommerprogramm
events schedule (in German only),
and ask about discounts with the hotel guest cards. Their free informational booklet has a
good self-guided town walk.
Ask your hotel to give you an
Aktiv-Card,
which gives free travel on local buses (in-
cluding the Reutte-Füssen route) as well as small discounts on sights and activities.
