Kaprun

Kaprun is a small alpine town in the Pinzgau district of Land Salzburg in Austria. At the foot of the Kitzsteinhorn Glacier, at 47°16′21″N, 12°45′34″E, it is a winter-sports centre with a population of 2,903 (2001).

The town is also known for its power plant, construction of which began during World War II and was finished after the war was over. One of the dams for the power plant bears an inscription:

In 2000, it was the site of the Kaprun disaster, in which 155 skiers lost their lives in a tunnel fire.

Bus-linked to Zell am See, Kaprun makes up part of the Europa Sport region, with 130km of pistes, 50 of which are local. Like its neighbour, Kaprun is a year-round resort, with the Kitzsteinhorn glacier and lots of summer pursuits (golf, climbing, water sports). Unlike the bigger Zell, Kaprun is a traditional Austrian village, with a decent selection of restaurants and accommodation. It has quieter nightlife, but its still pretty fun and varied. Its skiing is mainly for beginners, intermediates and cross-country, while experts don't receive extensive attention. You will have the slight inconvenience of a bus ride to get to Zell. Kaprun is great all year round, but for more varied skiing, it is worth exploring some of the other nearby terrain, such as Saalbach and Schladming.