Admittedly, James Bond would never qualify as an eco-friendly traveller, given the wake of destruction that follows him, but the crew sure knows how to pick the most incredible locations for the franchise. Spectre was filmed in the Austrian Alps, the Moroccan desert, Mexico City, Rome and of course, England.
Here’s how to travel like Bond in Austria, but without all the blood and gore in a place that is the posterchild for tranquility. Follow in the footsteps of the dishy Daniel Craig in the Austrian ski resort of Sölden, Obertilliach and Lake Altaussee.
Tirolean Alps vista. Photo: Tirol Werbung Aichner Bernhard/ www.visittirol.co.uk
Sölden
The ski resort of Sölden is a perfect setting for thrills, chases, stunts and other acrobatic feats that Bond seems to perform with such ease. The ski resort is has access to two high glaciers, a lift system and lively apres ski. With over 140 km of slopes, it is quite the playground for skiers and snowboarders.
Soelden Oetztal. Photo: Tirol Werbung/ www.visittirol.co.uk
Sölden features one of the highest mountain roads in the Alps and a restaurant in the shape of a giant ice cube. The ski resort in the Ötztal valley of Tirol, Austria, co-stars in of one of the major action sequences in the movie. The ICE Q restaurant, located at 3048m at the top of the Gaislachkogl, has the cutting-edge design element that fits the bill perfectly.
Soelden IceQ restaurant. Photo: Bergbahnen Sölden
Obertilliach
The village resort of Obertilliach, located in East Tirol, also stars in Spectre – a traditional mountain hut here becomes the focus of a spectacular explosion. The ‘Bond House’, as named by the locals, originally from the neighbouring region, Styria, was dismantled and re-assembled on the slopes of the Golzentipp ski area.
Expect to find four locations in and around Obertilliach including the Grade II listed historic village centre. The village is located at 1450 m and has a small skiing area.
Obertilliach. Photo: www.visittirol.co.uk
The nearest airport to Obertilliach and Sölden is Innsbruck.
Bergisel ski jump. Photo: TVB Innsbruck
Lake Altaussee
Lake Altaussee is among the most beautiful lakes of the Salzkammergut, located at the foot of Loser Mountain. The crystal clear water has a dark blue hue which is why the lake is also known as the “dark blue inkpot”.
It is also the region where Bond’s house came from.
Lake Altausee – water chase, anyone? Photo: Taranis-iuppiter/ CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
We’re in a Bond frame of mind… for when he’s not exploding things, and beating people up, Bond has exquisite taste in travel.
Obertilliach. Photo: Tirol Werbung/ www.visittirol.co.uk