Being married in a hot air balloon will turn you into a balloon enthusiast, especially when you are about to celebrate your eleventh wedding anniversary and you have yet to actually fly in a hot air balloon together. We may still be waiting for our very special first flight after an extremely windy wedding morning left us saying our vows in just a balloon basket, but we were still thrilled to be invited to the opening day of the Filzmoos Balloon Week by Tourismusverband Filzmoos! We had a fantastic time and here are five reasons you should go to Filzmoos Balloon Week:
1. The mountain village of Filzmoos is nestled into the Salzburg Alps and with the Bischofsmütze Mountain as a backdrop, I can’t picture a more idyllic setting for a balloon festival.
More than 40 balloon teams from all over the world make the pilgrimage to Filzmoos each January to take part in Filzmoos Balloon Week and the BP Gas Trophy races. Balloon enthusiasts love the challenging winds from the surrounding mountains and the fact that they can take off literally from the village center.
Not part of a balloon team ourselves (though Tim has looked into becoming a balloon pilot…hmm, around the world in a hot air balloon?), we loved that we could get up close and personal with the balloon teams and the balloons at the Hammerwiese launch site.
2. Grand Balloon Night
Hot air balloons set up from the Bograin Field on the edge of the village, throughout the village center, and in the Hammerwiese launch site, firing their blasters choreographed to live music and lighting up the night sky. The entire village turns into one big festival with snow bars serving up Glühwein (hot mulled wine), pretzels, wurstel (sausages), and Lebkuchen (gingerbread cookies) throughout the center. A fireworks display set off from the ski lift above the launch site kicks off the balloon disco party.
3. A week full of events
Balloons launch every morning (weather permitting) for a week each January. If you tire of watching the balloon teams set up and fly off over the snow covered mountains each morning (but how could you?!), there are plenty of other activities and events going on to keep you busy. Just a sampling of some of the activities are:
- Guided snowshoe walk
- Nordic walking tour
- Curling
- Night tobogganing
- Horse drawn sleigh rides
We took a horse drawn sleigh ride with the snow coming down up to the charming Oberhofalm mountain hut, where we had time to warm with with gluhwein and hot apple strudel. We even saw deer in the forest on the way.
4. Hit the slopes after the daily balloon launch
Filzmoos is quiet village and we didn’t observe queuing at the various lifts. Tim is a skier and I need more lessons, but the Bograinlift literally steps from our guesthouse Landhaus Filzmoos looked liked a great place for me to give it a real go. There are, of course, more challenging runs, snowboarding, and plenty of ski schools if you are just taking up the sport.
5. Delicious Austrian food
Being out in the cold and all the great winter activities makes us hungry! We loved that the small size of the village made it feel so homey, yet there were plenty of choices for dining out. A bowl of Knoblauch soup (creamy garlic soup) hits the spot. Game meats are common on menus throughout the village. Try the venison stew at Hotel Bischofsmütze; it is in a creamy mushroom sauce with a cranberry pear and served with spaetzle (a German dumpling). The Austrians like their schnapps, so get in the spirit and end your meal with schnapps. It will certainly warm you up before heading back out into the cold!
Know Before You Go
- The 2024 Filzmoos Balloon Week takes place January 13 – 19 and Grand Filmooz Balloon Night is on January 13.
- Balloon flights are available. Visit Tourismusverband Filzmoos for booking information and prices.
Our trip to Filzmoos Balloon Week was provided by Tourismusverband Filzmoos in order to bring you this story. However, Luxe Adventure Traveler maintains full editorial control of the content published on this site. As always, all thoughts, opinions, and enthusiasm for travel are entirely our own.
Laurel says
Looks like fun! I love hot air balloons! Did you guys finally get to ride in one?
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Unfortunately, no. We’re still waiting for our special first balloon flight together. Maybe 2013 will finally be there year?
D.J. says
Wow…now that’s some cool stuff. I’ve always loved hot air balloons. Would love to go up in one sometime.
Jennifer Dombrowski says
I’ve always loved them too, D.J. I can remember going down the road with my dad to a field where balloonists used to gather as a child. Hopefully 2013 will be the year that we finally get our first flight.
Kate says
So cool – this looks like such a wonderful festival!
Kate
Jennifer Dombrowski says
It definitely is, Kate! If you find yourself in Austria in January, this is one not to miss!
Ali says
Looks gorgeous! Anything that makes the cold and snow more enjoyable sounds good!
Jennifer Dombrowski says
After having just got back from Iceland, Filzmoos felt warm! I’m sure it helped that there was no wind too. Such a gorgeous setting for a balloon festival.
Andrea says
My father took me up in one of these as a kid but these days I get too much vertigo in high places to go. But I LOVE watching balloons in the air.
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Too bad you can’t fly, Andrea. I got to in Napa Valley last May. Now if only Tim and I could finally take our first flight together!
Deb says
Looks like a great time. I hope you get that hot air balloon ride soon! You’ll love it. This is a close second though, how beautiful. I’d love to go to one of these events, balloons in the sky are so beautiful!
Jennifer Dombrowski says
I love seeing balloons in the sky! They used to launch quite close to our house when we lived in Phoenix. Seeing them is always a reminder of our wedding day. I sure hope we finally get our balloon ride together soon too, Deb!
Paula says
I love Balloon festivals- we used to have one here years ago but it was cancelled for insurance reasons which was too bad because it was awesome!
Jennifer Dombrowski says
That’s too bad, Paula. Looking up to see balloons in the sky automatically puts a smile on my face.
Tamara says
Hahah aww funny story about your wedding day. I haven’t been on a hot air balloon ride yet, but would love to!
Jennifer Dombrowski says
We now managed two successful balloon flights: the first in Bagan, Myanmar and earlier this year in Marrakech, Morocco. Hopefully our ballooning luck has changed for the better!
Vicky and Buddy says
I went on a hot air balloon ride earlier this year and I loved it. It was in Florida though, so it was a lot warmer! I wouldn’t mind going up again in the Alps though; the views must be gorgeous!
Jennifer Dombrowski says
I’m sure the views over the Alps from a balloon are gorgeous! The weather is always so finicky when it comes to ballooning in places like the Alps, so our bad luck has so far continued on our attempts with ballooning over mountains.
Rhonda Albom says
Beautiful event and photos. How funny that you got married in a balloon basket and still haven’t flown. Maybe next year. At least you got to ski right out your door,
Jennifer Dombrowski says
It took 11 years, but we finally got our first hot air balloon flight later in the year after attending this festival in Bagan, Myanmar. It was a pretty stunning place to finally go ballooning!
Mar Pages says
Congrats on your 11th year together! The entire festival looks like so much fun, not just the ballooning (but of course including riding a balloon!). Truly draw-dropping scenery.
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Thanks, we’re actually about to celebrate our 14th wedding anniversary in February 2016 now.
Rosemary says
Congratulations on your anniversary. So, have you been in the hot air balloon yet? The festival looks like a great time. It’s nice to see that they have so much to do besides the hot air balloons. The Knoblauch soup does look incredibly appetizing!! Great photos!
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Yes, finally later in the year after this festival we got out first balloon flight. It was over the temples in Bagan, Myanmar and it was spectacular. We ballooned again earlier this year in Marrakech, Morocco and that was also gorgeous.
Indrani says
It is a dream of mine to experience a balloon ride! In India too quite a few cities have this.
Great to know about this balloon festival in Filzmoos. Another month and a half to go and another anniversary! Best wishes to you!
Christopher says
Congrats on the anniversary. Vows in the basket is a cool idea but you have to get up in the sky so next year definately renew your vows in the air. Lol. We rode a balloon in Cappadocia, Turkey and for someone who is not too crazy about heights it was such a memorable experience. The place looks awesome though!!!
Trisha Velarmino says
Balloon festivals are always for the win! you go girl. Congrats by the way on your anniversary! cheers to many more years xx
Elaine J Masters says
Such a tickle to learn about Filzmoos Balloon Week! I wouldn’t have imagined that happening in winter. Must be cold but a gorgeous ride. Sorry to hear about your wedding flight being postponed but look what’s materialized after!
Megan says
Wow! Looks like a particularly beautiful place to catch a balloon ride. Also the food sounds amazing. Can’t wait to get to the Alps one day.