Until Covid hit, the Dutch Royal family had not once missed their annual ski trip to Lech in 60 years. This mountain village in Austria has a population of just 1,600 or so – roughly the same as Tintagel in Cornwall. Yet during ‘the season’ it transforms into the playground of European royalty, where you might find yourself in a cable car with Queen Maxima of The Netherlands or Princess Caroline of Hanover (Grace Kelly’s eldest daughter – who has a chalet in neighbouring Zürs).
Lech is most famous for being the favourite ski resort of Princess Diana – it was on the slopes here that William and Harry learnt to ski – and has hosted F1 drivers Sebastian Vettel and Niki Lauda. But what draws celebs and royals to this unassuming former farming settlement?
‘We do a lot of bookings to Lech. Many of our clients go time and time again,’ says Peter Anderson, of Knightsbridge Circle, an invitation-only members club which offers travel booking and concierge services for the rich and famous.
‘They tend to prefer Lech as it is less showy than some of the other better known resorts such as Gstaad or Megève.
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