YOUR GESÄUSE GIVES YOU GIBTSTRENGTH. KRAFT. YOUR GESÄUSE DISCOVER Contents YOUR AT A GLANCE. GESÄUSE Now. WATER The Gesäuse gives you strength. Literally. We don’t say this Emerald waters – the Salza River. A natural because it sounds good, we say it because we really mean treasure – the Enns River. FIND YOUR IDEAL DESTINATION it. We truly believe that it is nature that can give us strength, Page 4 and nature is a vital element of the Gesäuse. Besides the Buchstein and Hochtor mountains, the rivers Enns and Salza MOUNTAINS Accessible by meander through the landscape and make the Gesäuse a Hiking, mountaineering, mountain biking. public transport place of many activities. It’s not without reason that the Ge- Page 16 säuse is home to both a National Park and a Nature Park. And no matter if it happens while hiking or mountainee- NATURE ring, in a rafting boat or on cross-country skis – you will find Barrier-free The National Park and the Nature Park. your own Gesäuse and finally, you will be able to unwind, far Page 44 away from the hectic world. CULTURE Family-friendly (for fami- Tranquility and simplicity are both sources of strength, as is Thousands of books and so much more. lies with children under sport. Not forgetting enjoying authentic regional delicacies, Page 64 the age of 6) submerging yourself in the thousand-year-old high culture of Admont Abbey or in the century-old popular culture that WINTER is still being lived today. All of these things bring back the Far from the madding crowd. strength that so often seems to get lost in our challenging Family-friendly Page 70 everyday lives. The Gesäuse doesn’t provide you with a checklist. Instead, what it does give you with this brochure THIS & THAT is a collection of activities that in the end will make you say: Enough of the Gesäuse, The Gesäuse gives you strength. Rentals, How to get there, Transport. Panoramic view Page 82 Welcome! MAP A fold-out map to find your favourite destinations Bad weather destination Your Gesäuse is waiting for you! Special Page 88 feature! Rafting Get your head under water and enjoy. And don’t let that smile disappear from your face while paddling! A little adrenalin Water never harmed anybody... A BUBBLY EXPERIENCE. The Enns River meanders through the looming rock formations of the Gesäuse, flowing by its keepers and travelling on. Kayaking Just a few kilometres away the Salza River, with its turquoise blue waters, resembles a Sometimes fast, sometimes slow. ribbon unfurling throughout the region. Make your way past bays with the finest sands and rocks made of impressive limestone and Both of them are a splendid sight – but it’s conglomerate. the perspective directly from the water’s surface that is the most enchanting. Canyoning Put on that lovely wet suit and start jumping from stone to stone and down the waterfall, vertigo is a thing of the past! Right through the conglomerate rock Rafting on the Salza River 4 WATERSPORTS WATERSPORTS Reservoir WEICHSELBODEN Wasserloch- klamm Gorge WILDALPEN PALFAU Bärnbach The River Salza Fachwerk Petrus Brunn SALZA Kläfferquelle WHITEWATER HAPPINESS. Spring Saggraben SALZA The emerald waters of the Salza River cleave find in Europe, especially given that it’s one Weiberlauf through the Steirische Eisenwurzen Nature of the continent’s last original wild rivers. ENNS Park and there is no better way to unravel its character than by getting up close and In the very heart of nature GROSS REIFLING personal to it in a kayak, a raft or by simply taking a refreshing splash. There is one place along the Salza River that is particularly captivating. To go there is to feel When the whitewater is calling, we pack up as though you’ve just entered a whole new our paddles and set out to a natural treasure world: the Conglomerate Ravine in Palfau. WATERSPORTS right in the heart of Austria. The activities This unique site in the Gesäuse is best disco- that the Salza River offers always make out- vered from the river itself. Those of you who Adventure Outdoor Strobl Freelife Outdoorsport door sports enthusiasts prick up their ears. want to take away a lasting impression of the t: +43 3612 25 343 t: +43 7230 79 16 Clearly, an oasis such as this one is hard to breath-taking forces of nature should be sure [email protected] [email protected] not to miss this spot. www.rafting.at www.freelife.at BAC Rafting + t: +43 3685 222 45 t: +43 3611 215 [email protected] [email protected] The River Enns www.bac.at www.raftingplus.at THE WHOLE VALLEY GOES BY MY NAME. Deep Roots Raftingcamp Palfau t: +43 664 144 87 63 t: +43 3638 240 The wilder one of the two beauties is cer- ever-changing atmosphere of the seasons. [email protected] [email protected] tainly the river Enns. Depending on its The last untamed sections of the Enns are www.rafting-salza.at www.raftingcamp.at mood, it can be fizzy and dynamic, but also located in the Gesäuse and when observing quiet and serene. In the Gesäuse, the river the forces of nature that are released here, draussen.at Up & Down Enns is surrounded by the steep rock walls one can only marvel at them. t: +43 650 8911 000 t: +43 664 767 63 33 of the Hochtor Mountains and the Buchstein [email protected] [email protected] Mountain. Looking at the so-called »Gesäu- However, you can also experience the ri- www.draussen.at www.up-down.at se entrance« makes you understand what ver close up. If you plan to go rafting, the whitewater class 5 means, and why it is al- »Road Roller« is awaiting you, as are the Floß & Co Thank God most impossible to navigate! »Rolling Stones« – another rapid with a pun- (or Guide)! t: +43 3632 73 45 chy name. All the watersports companies are [email protected] Water and rock form a unity here – the Al- highly competent and are looking forward to www.floss.at pine river and the mountainous landscape taking you on an adventure along this Alpine surrounding it glimmer and sparkle in the beauty – the Enns River. 6 7 WASSERLOCHKLAMM GORGE WASSERLOCHKLAMM GORGE Hungry! After the experience at the Wasserloch- 14 WASSER- klamm you have earned yourself a snack. 13 Thankfully the tavern Wasserlochschenke offers just that. Choose between the best 12 LOCH- baked potatoes in the area or indulge in 10 a delicious waffle while sitting on a comfy 11 bench, watching the rafting boats pass by. 9 KLAMM You might even suddenly feel hungry again – Like a duck takes hungry for going rafting yourself! We’ve he- 8 to water! Near Palfau you can find the ard it has happened more than once... Wasserloch Mystery. Go on a hike through the gorge with its suspension 1 bridge, waterfalls and splendid views, and the prospect of Opening hours ArenaSalza and Wasserlochklamm Gorge: culinary treats! Mid-April – end of October: open daily from 9:00 am 7 1 ARENA SALZA (INFORMATION, TICKETS, TOILET) 2 WASSERLOCHSCHENKE TAVERN The hike begins by crossing the suspensi- Opening hours Wasserlochschenke Tavern: 3 SUSPENSION BRIDGE on bridge leading over the emerald green End of April – end of October: open daily from 9:00 am 4 WATERFALL (22M) Salza River. Those who dare to look down 6 5 CANYON can catch a glimpse of the colourful helmets 6 WATERFALL (26M) of the kayakers and rafting groups. Con- 7 WATERFALL (28M) tinue on your way and the gorge will soon 8 WATERFALL (39M) pull you in. The sturdy wooden stairs up the 5 climb to the Wasserloch Spring allow even 9 OHRWASCHLBAUM families with children to live this experience. 10 WATERFALL (37M) 11 »JÄGERRIEDL« DESCENT Like a duck takes to water 12 NATURAL BRIDGE 4 13 VIEW OF THE SALZA VALLEY On this excursion the water is your constant 14 WASSERLOCH KARST SPRING companion. First, be in awe of the flam- boyant Salza River, then let the five roaring waterfalls along the way take you in (one of them has an impressive dropping height of 3 37m!). Finally, arrive at the unpredictable 11 Wasserloch Mystery, a karst spring that is sure to mystify any onlooker. Where does the water come from and when will it ap- pear again? P 2 1 8 9 SWIMMING FUN SWIMMING FUN 2 Water Park St. Gallen LIVING WITH WATER. Not far from St. Gallen, water is the main enough you can also go rafting or test your theme – in a water park that offers so much agility in the rope climbing area. In short, variety it’s safe to assume that you’ll never there’s a ton of adventure activities and re- get bored. When the summer arrives at the laxation opportunities for the whole family. Gesäuse there’s nothing like having fun in and around the water, but the park also of- Loveliest terrace in the world fers activities for bad weather days. The Almhütte restaurant in the water park During the hot summer days the best equip- suits both small and large appetites. We ment for visiting the park is a bikini or a pair say: make sure to sample the special treats of swimming trunks. Even in case of bad we- and delicacies made using fresh ingredients ather, there are still plenty of activities to from the region. The best thing about it? Af- enjoy – how about going boating? While the ter a few hours in the water park the hearty covered stations are the perfect place for meals and the cold drinks taste even better.