CAn anyone suggest villages or small towns in the alps that *dont* have apartments and ski chalets clustered around the edge? I'd love something that felt more authentic.

Hi melissa131,

I haven't been there, but Gimmelwald in Switzerland's Berner Oberland sounds like just what you want. The villagers never tried to update/overcome their avalanche-area restrictions, so no new buildings, hotels, etc. can go up. It's a Rick Steves favorite. Of course, there's not much there -- a few houses, a few barns (at least that's what I understand). Do a text search here or go to www.ricksteves.com

Hope this helps.

s

You might purchase a good map of Switzerland, select the smallest names, and then do an image search at Google or Alta Vista. I can think of several places where I didn't see condos, but its harder to be sure there were not chalets or flats to rent because they are likely to blend. Leissigen on Thunsee is small and quiet, but even there you can rent an apartment in a house. Iseltwald on Brienzersee is another, ditto re rental possibilities, however. Both are on picturesque lakes. Did you mean literally up on a mountainside? What about Gsteig or Rossiniere or Rougemont (S? Ingo?) I recall seeing very tiny and very lovely villages from the train along the railroute that runs from Pfaffikon to Goldau (between lakes Zurich and Vierwalter the back way). That route even has a name, but I can't remember it. Have fun searching. J.

Anice quiet village is Alpbach. Building is restricted and must conform to alpine style. It is located at the end of a nice valley and provides many opportunities summer and winter.
www.alpbach.at ( also in english ) for more information

You might consider going through Idyll Untours. Theirs is extremely reasonably priced and includes airfare, apartment rental for two weeks, and a transportation pass (including trains, buses, and most lake steamers). The Swiss transportation system is so efficient that the pass can get you easily to any place you would want to go.
I have used the Untours program in Switzerland two times, both on the Hasliberg, a mountain between Luzern and Interlaken. I have stayed in 2 of the 4 tiny villages on the mountain, Hasliberg-Reuti and Hasliber-Hohfluh. I did not see any condos on the mountain, and the villages are so small that close contact with locals is a given.
Go to www.untours.com to see what they have to offer.

I could list a hundred villages or more.

My favourites are Guarda, Soglio, Ernen, Diemtigen ... (in Switzerland) or like Molker said Alpbach in Austria.

ok, Ingo, so there's another book idea: "My 100 Favorite Swiss Villages". Reserve a copy for me. (with photographs please) Did I say 'book'? How old-fashioned. I suppose it could be a website. Affectionately, J.

I suggest the town of Lermoos, with Ehrwald and Obermoos nearby, at the base of the Zugspitze, on the Austrian side.

We liked Boltigen; very quiet except for the cows, and not even an ATM.

Thanks all! I'll go check out your suggestions...