Tyrol is full of other surprises, too, from Gothic castles to century-old bakeries.
I concurred: Half of Europe is dying of heat right now, and were in winter jackets.
As avid hikers, Ketil and I had wanted to visit for years.
From left: The recently renovated Entners am See, which was built in 1954; a guest room at Entners am See.Credit:Jaka Bulc
But for me, Tyrol had another appeal.
This tradition became known asSommerfrische(literally summer freshness).
For centuries, Tyrol was a part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and extended south across the Alps.
From left: Summer skiing at Hintertux Glacier; Schloss Tratzberg sits above the Inn River.Jaka Bulc
Pertisau itself has a long history as a travel destination.
He had the right idea: the temperatures are a dozen degrees cooler than in Munich and Berlin.
Nearly every large mountain in Tyrol is outfitted with a hut that offers lodging and home-cooked meals.
The pool at Entners am See, a resort on the southwestern shore of Austriaâs Achen Lake.Jaka Bulc
Our next stop was the Alpbach Valley, an area known for its traditional multistory wooden farmhouses.
We avoided its crowded alleyways and headed directly forCafe-Konditorei Valier,a 121-year-old bakery known for its cakes.
Behind an unassuming storefront, a trio of older women presided over a vitrine of exquisite baked goods.
From left: The courtyard of the 800-year-old Schloss Tratzberg; a tiled stove in the castleâs former dance hall.Jaka Bulc
If we squinted, we could see a herd of cows grazing more than 3,000 feet below.
I was especially excited about its rooftop pool, with its panoramas of the Ziller Valleys jagged peaks.
I gazed up at the mountains and, despite my sore muscles, felt ready for more.
Hygna Chalets, near the town of Reith.Jaka Bulc
The cassis mousse cake at Café-Konditorei Valier, in Innsbruck.Jaka Bulc
