The Salzkammergut: Dare to be Yourself As the home of spring rains and summer resorts, rich in salt, gentle meadows and forests, blue-green lakes and native traditions, Austria’s ‘tenth state’ is well-known to many people. Each of its eight tourism regions is a world of its own. Still, they all have one thing in common: a beautiful landscape which invites visitors to wander its mountains, dive into its lakes, enjoy its natural surroundings and get carried away by its irresistible charm. The Healing Power of Salt During the mid-19th century, city dwellers discovered their love of the Alps and mountaineering. Summits were scaled, mountain huts were built and after the discovery of the healing power of salt, brine baths were established. The summertime presence of the emperor in Bad Ischl ennobled the region and attracted the High Society of the day. In this way, an economic region once dominated by salt mining came to be known as a natural and tourism landscape with gorgeous lakes, forests and mountains. The ‘white gold’ of yore still retains an important function today: the exhibition salt mines in Hallstatt and Altaussee provide a glimpse into the mining and transport of this natural resource, and in addition, there are brine baths and salt grottos which still take advantage of the healing effects of salt. Visitors can even take home a piece of the Salzkammergut in the form of mineral-rich rock salt. Activities for Everyone The leisure offerings of the Salzkammergut are as varied as the landscape itself. An impressive network of cycling paths with various levels of difficulty is available for mountain bikers, racing or trekking cyclists as well as e-bike enthusiasts. Nine golf courses wait to be played. More than a dozen lakes, all with drinking water quality, invite visitors to hours of swimming fun: large inland lakes like Lake Traunsee or Lake Attersee and small mountain lakes like Almsee, Offensee and Laudachsee. Water transportation is available on the large lakes; paragliding is offered from various summits and there are innumerable hiking opportunities for both beginner and more advanced hikers. Ringing Landscape A love of music in all its facets is well represented in the Salzkammergut. The early isolation of the region led to a unique and strongly pronounced musical culture. Keeping with this tradition, the region hosts a string of top-class musical events: the Salzkammergut Festival in Gmunden, which is dedicated to classical music, the Attergauer Culture Summer, the Operetta Festival in Bad Ischl, the Mondsee Music Days and the Goiserer Violin Festival. The Salzkammergut tradition of ‘Paschen’, a rhythmic clapping accompanied by folk music, is seldom found anywhere else. Culinary Delights The tastes of the Salzkammergut are abundant. Native char and whitefish arrive fresh on the plate from clear regional lakes: fine fish dishes delicately prepared in local restaurants. Regional farms and dairies produce full-bodied and mild cheeses from cow, goat and sheep milk. Homemade speciality sausages and smoked meats from local farmers or aromatic bread from wood-fired ovens are special treats presented at the tables of many regional restaurants. Finally, sampling ‘Kaiserschmarrn’ in the imperial summer resort of Bad Ischl is a must for any visitor to the Salzkammergut. More information: Salzkammergut Tourismus Salinenplatz 1, 4820 Bad Ischl Tel: 0043 (0)6132/26909-0 [email protected] salzkammergut.at .