THE SALZKAMMERGUT 245 Gmunden © Lonely Planet Publications Planet Lonely © Dachstein Caves 5Finger Platform Kaiservilla St Wolfgang Hallstatt Not least because of the Salzkammergut’sNot least because of the
( p249 ) ( p249 ) ( p247 ), 5Fingers 5Fingers Museum fürMuseum ( p257 ) – a museum p257 ( St Wolfgang St Wolfgang Kaiservilla Hallstätter See See Hallstätter ( p252 ) ( p253 ) in the Dachstein Mountains ) in the Dachstein p253 ( platform Franz Josef’s summer residence, now a now a Franz Josef’s summer residence, handsome museum set in parkland masterfully towers of ice in the illuminated from Obertraun to Hallstatt and cooling off between trails in the crystal waters Caves Dachstein able pilgrimage church in ( p260 ), filled with priceless works of art p260 ( Historische Sanitärobjeckte Sanitärobjeckte Historische must be potty… to loos? They dedicated
into the chilling depths to Plunging Strolling through the and the remark- Exploring the Wolfgangsee Hiking around the Reeling from views at the surreal the toilet in Gmunden’s Finding
HIGHLIGHTS HIGHLIGHTS
Whatever your reason for coming to the Salzkammergut – swimming, boating, hiking, your reason Whatever Salt is the ‘white gold’ of the Salzkammergut, make and the mines that made it famous now Salt is the ‘white The highest mountains climb to almost 3000m. highest mountains climb The alpine and sub-alpine lakes, picturesque valleys, rolling hills and rugged, steep mountain ranges. mountain ranges. valleys, rolling hills and rugged, steep alpine and sub-alpine lakes, picturesque Sometimes called the ‘cradle of Austrian culture’, the Salzkammergut is a spectacular region of the Salzkammergut is a spectacular region culture’, called the ‘cradle of Austrian Sometimes TheSalzkammergut climbing or exploring cultures – this region rewards the curious and adventurous. rewards – this region climbing or exploring cultures Today, the narrow swathe cut out to build and serviceToday, the narrow swathe cut out to build and the pipeline is a lush hiking trail. the Hallstätter See is a pipeline reputed to be the oldest in the world, used to transport to be the brine. See is a pipeline reputed the Hallstätter the Celts and Romans – all of whom sullied their hands in the mines. Along the western side of Along the western and Romans – all of whom sullied their hands in the mines. the Celts for an interesting journey back in time to the settlers of the Iron Age Hallstatt culture, and to Hallstatt culture, Iron Age journey back in time to the settlers of the for an interesting Strike out deeper into the region, and you will be rewarded with isolated splendour. with isolated and you will be rewarded Strike the region, out deeper into of summer visitors, across the lake a sleepy, swampy Obertraun retains a village atmosphere. the lakeof summer visitors, across a sleepy, swampy Obertraun a village atmosphere. retains popular Hallstätter See is no exception. When the pretty streets in Hallstatt township are full in Hallstatt township are streets See is no exception. When the pretty popular Hallstätter boating, swimming, fishing or just sitting on the shore and chucking stones into the water. The The and chucking or just sitting on the shore boating, swimming, fishing stones into the water. always find isolated sections where peaceful, glassy waters provide limitless opportunities provide for peaceful, glassy waters sections where always find isolated derness, and even in those heavily visited parts and Mondsee, you’ll visited in those heavily as the Wolfgangsee such derness, and even can at times be swamped with visitors. But don’t despair – much of the region is remote wil- is remote don’t despair – much of the region But with visitors. can at times be swamped startling beauty, parts of this region – especially those lakes easily reached from Salzburg – startling from Salzburg lakes – especially those easily reached parts beauty, of this region THE SALZKAMMERGUT inces: UpperAustria,which takes thelion’s their elaborate palaces and pleasure gardens. profits from the dark,dankminestobuild of Salzburg tookover the theshafts andused theprince-archbishops ofthe demise the Celts, sloshed After downthemtorelease thesalt. tunnels were hacked intotherockandwater times,when the Salzkammergut since Celtic theprincipal activityinMining hasbeen History www.salzkammergut.at. ince. Forgeneral information,check out andSalzburg prov- Aussee; around Bad share; Styria,comprisingthesmallarea 246 The Salzkammergut fallswithin three prov- Orientation &Information Munich To (München; 130km)
THE SALZKAMMERGUT G E R M A N Y Salzach H AZAMRU • Oinain&Ifrain &Information ••Orientation THE SALZKAMMERGUT Berchtes- gaden A10 To BadGastein (50km) Salzburg Bischofshofen A1 Hallein Werfen Strasswalchen 162 Kuchl Fuschlsee SALZBURG
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154 Wolfgangsee g e 166 Mondsee 151 Postalm Vöcklamarkt 166 To Villach 158 (120km) Mondsee Gosausee Falkenstein (795m) Radstadt Gosaukamm Attersee St Wolfgang (2459m) Strobl Gosau A1 Bad Goisern Mt Katrin 1 (1542m) Attersee Bad Ischl 152 Krippenstein Hallstatt (2109m) Weyregg Alberfeldkogel gion’s lakes tend tobe quite warm, withanav- Summers down bytheSalzkammergut re- Climate of unwary deer. forests thesnowymountain through insearch elegant spatownslike Ischl, ortotramp Bad came topromenadearoundtheparks of the tocracy totheregion intheirdroves. They patronage central Europeanaris- brought EmperorFranzJosef’s out.Later, smuggled ing here, wanted toprevent frombeing salt min- ment, which heldamonopolyonsalt theSalzburg19th centurybecause govern- region wasbannedtovisitors untiltheearly a touristarea, thewholeof theSalzkammergut 153 320 Vöcklabruck Schörfling (1708m) Hoher Dachstein Sandling (1717m) Ironically, consideringitslater popularityas Steeg (2995m) Feuerkogel Altmünster Hallstätter (1592m) See Schladming 145 5Finger Lookout Pinsdorf Obertraun Dachstein IceCaves 145 Puchheim Attnang- Schönberg (2093m) Ebensee Traunstein
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To Murau e A8 (35km) (2064m) Woising Vorchdorf Toplitzsee Elmberg 145 (2128m) 120 Grünau Heckenau Seehaus Habernau lonelyplanet.com Almsee an derKrems A1 bachwald Donners- Wels Kirchdorf Stainach Vienna (200km) Hebenkas Hochmölbing (2285m) münster Linz (24km); Krems- (180km) To Graz (2332m) Irdning (190km) To Graz A25 To 122 A9