Oberstdorf Ski Jump (Schattenberg-Schanze)
From the valley floor, the Schattenberg-Schanze reads as a concrete ribbon pinned to the northwestern flank of a 1,845-metre mountain — steep, purposeful, a little severe. Stand at its base and tilt your head back: the inrun tower climbs 140 metres above you, and the town of Oberstdorf fans out below like a map someone left in the sun.
This is the opening stage of the Four Hills Tournament, the oldest and most-watched ski jumping circuit in the world. More than 40,000 spectators pack the 24,000-capacity arena for that January competition, spilling onto every available slope. In summer, the place belongs to whoever shows up to look.
💛 What travellers fall for
People who've done the guided tour mention the same moment: stepping onto the observation deck at the top of the K120 inrun and looking straight down the hill. The two-minute inclined elevator ride up is unremarkable; what waits at the top is not. Book the 11 a.m. tour in advance — groups must be at least eight, so solo visitors should check whether a group already has a slot.
The story behind Oberstdorf Ski Jump (Schattenberg-Schanze)
The first ski jump in Oberstdorf went up in 1909 on the Halden hill, where Bruno Bieler from Freiburg covered 22 metres. The Schattenberg-Schanze itself came later, designed by architect Hans Gschwender and set in motion by spa director Hermann Schallhammer; it opened on 27 December 1925. Enlargements followed — for the German Championships in 1930, then Olympic qualifiers in 1936 — and after the war, three local jumpers (Heini Klopfer, Toni Brutscher and Sepp Weiler) revived the facility. Weiler set a hill record of 82 metres in 1950.
The Four Hills Tournament held its first competition here on 4 January 1953. A reinforced concrete inrun tower went up in 1972, the 1987 Nordic World Championships came and went, and a €16.6 million modernisation in 2002 expanded the complex to five hills: K120, K90, K56, K30 and K19. The normal hill was rebuilt again in 2011. The arena has traded commercial names several times — Erdinger Arena, Audi Arena, Skisprung Arena — and currently goes by ORLEN Arena Oberstdorf.
Good to know
The arena is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 or 6 p.m. A family ticket runs around €20; guided tours add €8.50 per person and require advance booking (+49 8322 80 90 360). Parking on-site is limited — arriving on foot or by bus from Oberstdorf centre is easier. Wheelchair access is available with prior registration.
July through September gives you mild days (up to around 22°C) and the best odds of a dry visit, though the Allgäu is one of the wettest corners of Germany and a shower can arrive without much warning. If you're coming for the Four Hills Tournament in early January, expect temperatures well below freezing and dress for a long afternoon in the stands.
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What travellers say about Oberstdorf Ski Jump (Schattenberg-Schanze)
Nice expirience. Magical view on Obertsdorf
Hi everyone, I recently visited the Schattenberg Ski Stadium. It was a truly fantastic experience. The stadium is really spectacular, and with 25,500 fans in winter, the atmosphere must be incredible. Now, in summer, the ski stadium is an absolute must-see when visiting Oberstdorf. It's easily accessible on foot from the town center. The lifts to the ski jump are included in the price. I highly recommend this trip for families.
スキーのジャンプ台には長野県にあるそれに一度行ったことがあるが、ここは長野のものよりもかなりスケールが大きい。 それとテレビで見るのとは違ってとても勾配がキツイ。 これは怖い。滑る降りるというよりまるで落下してゆくかのような感じだ。 少しのミスが命取りになるような気がする。 実際はジャンプ競技でまず死者などでないからそこまで危険ではないのだろうけど。。。 しかし着地後のスペースも少なくてK点を越えるようなジャンプができた時など止まれるのだろうか？ それにしても怖すぎるような気がするが競技者の根性には恐れ入る。 今回実際に誰かがジャンプしているところは見られなかったがテレビではなく実際に間近で見ることができたならそれこそ大迫力だろう。 高所恐怖症の私にはとても耐えらない景色であった。
A very beautiful and worthwhile destination. We enjoyed it very much 😃👌
Unfortunately, we arrived shortly after the last trip and were unable to go up.
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