Between Upper Austria, Salzburg and Styria, right on the corner that joins the three Bundesländer, rises the Salzkammergut, a 650 km² mountainous area whose scenic beauty and rich fauna earned it its inscription in the World Heritage Site in 1997. It was It is located in the northern part of the Alps and its main urban centers are Gmunden, Bad Ischl and Hallstatt.
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| Salzkammergut Area Region Austria |
The settlement of the diverse landscape of the Salzkammergut dates back to immemorial times, specifically, the archaeological remains found in the area allow the first settlements to be located in the Neolithic era. Another curiosity is that the intense and egregious industry linked to the extraction of salt so typical of the area has its roots in the distant Bronze Age.
In fact, the Hallstatt salt mines are considered the oldest in the world and constitute a tourist attraction of the first order, since many of them are still active today. It goes without saying that it was this powerful economic activity that gave its name to the area of the Salzkammergut (salt is Salz in German), as well as the Salzberg valley, the river Salzrach and the city of Salzburg itself.
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| Salzkammergut Area Region Austria |
The landscape of the Salzkammergut is crossed by the Traun river system - an important tributary of the Danube - and is dotted with more than 70 lakes of various sizes, among which the Mondsee, Traunsee, Attersee and Wolfgangsee stand out.
The incredible characteristics of this natural space have made it a privileged environment from a tourist point of view and, like some other areas of Austria, it offers a wide range of winter sports and summer entertainment. And as it seems that winter is already a little behind, we will focus on the many possibilities that Salzkammergut presents for the already approaching summer season. Streams, rivers, lakes and lagoons form a perfect framework for surfing, diving, sailing, water skiing or simply relaxing on the beaches that surround the main lakes.
For those who are passionate about sailing, it is recommended to attend the traditional annual event that takes place on the Wolfgangsee. Specifically, this year the regattas have their starting date set on May 17th and will run until the following Sunday, May 24th.
Of course, in addition to the great offer in water sports, the Salzkammergut region also has a wide range of mountain sports for the whole family.