The Lechtal (Lech Valley) is a stunningly-beautiful valley in the Austrian Tirol, not far from Reute in Austria and just south of Füssen in the Allgäu, Germany, famous for Neuschwanstein Castle. Liechtenstein and Basel are also nearby.

The principal activities of the people living in small villages along the river Lech are wood-carving and tourism, with every village full of guesthouses.

As is the norm in these parts the buildings are very pretty and often painted in bright, pastel colours with amazing decorations - it's archetypal "picture-postcard" territory.

Tourists come to enjoy the fresh mountain air, a wood-carving course and/or the innumerable walks and paths. And your mountain bike that usually wheels serenely on flat city roads can really come into its own here! There are also many luxury swimming-pools, hang-gliding, ski and climbing centres, and of course amazing cuisine.

Maybe you should start with the maps HERE!