Salzkammergut: Lakeside and Mountain Holidays in the Summer!

The Salzkammergut area is one of the most impressive and culturally in-teresting regions in the heart of Austria.

It is set between the Alps and the Al-pine foothills and covers the provinces of Upper Austria, Salzburg and Styria. A total of 76 lakes, numerous rivers and brooks and striking limestone mountains, including the Dachstein Mountains, the Tote Gebirge Mountain Range, the Sengsen- and Höllengebirge Mountain Ranges, make up an impressive and incomparable setting.

The charming landscape of the Salzkammergut area has inspired many rulers, scholars and artists. It was the official summer residence of the Habsburg Dynasty.
Villages like Attersee, Bad Ischl, Gmunden, Hallstatt, Mondsee and St. Wolfgang made history.

Gustav Klimt, Gustav Mahler, Hugo von Hoffmannsthal or Christian Ludwig Attersee created some of their most important works in this popular area.

The Inner Salzkammergut area (Hallstatt-Dachstein World Cultural Heritage Region), the Ausserland-Salzkammergut area, the Wolfgangsee holiday region, the Almtal, Traunsee, Attersee and Attergau areas, the Mondseeland, Mondsee-Irrsee area, and the Bad Ischl and Fuschlsee area are part of this world-famous summer resort.

The Salzkammergut area can be reached easily via the Munich-Salzburg autobahn. In Salzburg you take the A1 Westautobahn and leave it at the Thalgau, Mondsee, Seewalchen or Regau exit. The airports of Salzburg and Linz are nearby. Of course you can also get there by train.

Hiking Between Lucky Spots and Treasures

The Salzkammergut area boasts plenty of nature and culture. It is loved for its scenic variety that features plenty of options for hikers, ranging from leisurely walks to exhausting hikes.

This wide landscape surrounding the big lakes of the Alpine foothills is a paradise for hikers.
The “Gustav Klimt Theme Trail” follows the tracks of the artistic work that the world-famous painter created in his loved Attersee area.
Famous works of the art nouveau painter including “Houses in Unterach at the Attersee” were painted here.

The Via Nova European Pilgrim Trail that follows the tracks of Saint Wolfgang, gives a deep insight into culture and history. The Kirchenweg Trail leads to Austria’s oldest wooden church at Kolomansberg Mountain; the Soleleitungsweg Trail starts in Bad Ischl and follows the world’s oldest saltwater pipeline (1607).

Enjoy the view of the Dach-stein Mountain Range in the south of the Salzkammergut area on a hike from Nussdorf am Attersee to Rossmoos.
On an easy mountaineering tour to Zwieselalmhöhe Pasture or along the new adventure hiking trail around Sarstein Mountain you get even closer to the limestone massif.
In the Koppenbrüller Cave in the newly designed Dachstein Adventure World that features a gigantic ice cave and the “5 Fingers” observation platform, it’s all about caves and glacial ice.
Hochlecken and Schoberstein Mountain are perfect for more demanding mountaineering and climbing tours - overnight stays at the quaint Hochleckenhaus Hut (1,572m) are possible.

Between the Alpine foothills and the high mountains are many more power and lucky spots and places of cultural interest and scenic beauty.

On a hike to Kasberg Mountain in the Almtal valley, along Traunreiterweg Trail in Bad Goisern, along Tannenweg Trail in the Mondseeland area, the Mondsee-Irrsee area, on a 6-Lakes-Hike to Tauplit-zalm pasture, a hike around Lake Wolfgang or Lake Fuschl or one a hike from Gmunden to Laudachsee Lake you are sure to see plenty.

Hub for Arts and Culture

In the heart of Austria and in the heart of the Austrians: the Salzkammergut is the geographic centre of the Alpine republic and has often been a hub for arts and culture.

It used to be the summer residence of Gustav Mahler, Johann and Richard Strauss, Gustav Klimt, Richard Tauber, Franz Lehár, Alexan-der Girardi – and of the entire family of the Habsburg dynasty.
Today it is the home of Klaus Maria Brandauer, Barbara Frischmuth, Alfred Komarek, Ferdinand Götz, Fritz Idam and Hubert von Goisern.

6000 years of art history can be experienced in the Mondsee region, ranging from lake dwelling times to the Baroque times (Meinrad Guggenbichler) to “Jedermann” times and the music days.
In 2007 the “300-year Anniversary of Mariahilf” is celebrated with an interesting anniversary exhibition at the Mondseeland Museum.

For 300 years pilgrims have been visiting this famous pilgrimage place dedicated to Virgin Mary.
The Innere Salzkammergut area with the villages of Hallstatt, Gosau, Obertraun and Bad Goisern is referred to as cradle of mankind. It looks back to more than 7000 years of salt mining and it has been declared UNESCO World Heritage Region.

Mozart, Music Days &Exhibition

The Mozart Festival that has been set up in Hallstand and Bad Goisern in 2006 has received a lot of attention.
Unlike similar events it stands out with high quality performances, unconventional venues and an artistic experimental approach.
In 2007 even a broader spectrum of artists will enter stage. Mozart’s opera Cosi fan tutte which is directed by Wolfgang Schilly is in the centre of the attention.

The Mondsee Music Days have become established as a meeting place for music lovers a long time ago. The cello player and conductor Heinrich Schiff acts as arts director. The nine concerts bring internationally renowned artists to the Mondsee area.

Attersee Lake used to be a summer resort for world-famous artists: the “1st Gustav Klimt Theme Trail” is located here, as is the “Gulda Grave” and the “Gustav Mahler Composing House”. You shouldn’t miss out on the St. Laurentius parish church in Abtsdorf, the “5 Churches” power spot in Attersee-Abtsdorf and the “Ricek and Beer Exhibition” at the “Haus der Kultur” in St. Georgen am Attersee.

Bad Ischl, the “secret capital of the Salzkammergut area” still has the monarchy’s atmosphere.

In St. Wolfgang or Gmunden you can visit the venues of famous films including „Weißen Rössl“ or „Schlosshotel Orth“.