Less mountainous than Tyrol - further west - but significantly more rugged than the Danube Valley, the Salzkammergut is an ideal destination for those who wish to combine nature getaways and cultural breaks.
At the gates of Salzburg and some 250 km west of Vienna, the region is first marked by the presence of numerous lakes (officially 73), bordered by pretty medieval towns and dominated by spectacular relief.
As you descend towards the south and the Dachstein massif, the mountains become steeper and the landscapes become grandiose.
Everywhere, the traveler discovers an abundant and varied heritage, perfectly illustrating the rich history of the region.
Read also: Austria, when the earth touches the sky
Collect sparkling lakes and lake villages
Austria's deepest lake (191 m), the Traunsee is particularly wild and romantic.
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From lagoon blue to emerald green, the lakes of the Salzkammergut display an astonishing palette of colors.
The
Wolfgangsee
, with turquoise water, is perfect for hiking, sailing and even swimming in summer.
Its irresistible medieval villages -
Sankt Gilgen
, dotted with large buildings with flowered balconies, or
Sankt Wolfgang
, whose church hides an extraordinary Gothic altarpiece - invite you to stroll.
Another exceptional lake but with darker shades, the
Traunsee
.
Its hamlet of
Traunkirchen
seduces thanks to its pocket port and its abbey camped on a rock.
As for the historic city of
Gmunden
, it has an elegant lake front in the style of the late 19th century.
An advice ?
Embark on the shuttles that crisscross the Traunsee to enjoy stunning views of the mountains and
Ort Castle
, built on an island.
Follow in Gustav Klimt's footsteps around the Attersee
Attersee is the unique source of inspiration for Gustav Klimt (1862-1918).
Gustav Klimt
The famous Viennese Avant-Garde artist was a regular at
Attersee
, the largest lake in the Salzkammergut.
Between 1900 and 1916, he spent all his summers there with his partner, Emilie Flöge, a fashion designer.
During these stays, Klimt painted a number of landscapes, the style of which contrasts with his great masterpieces.
The most famous is surely
Attersee
(1900), where he succeeds in perfectly transcribing the sparkling colors of the lake.
The
Gustav Klimt Center,
in Schörfling am Attersee, allows you to dive into this little-known part of the painter's life and discover a selection of works from the Leopold Museum in Vienna.
On leaving, follow the
Klimt route
which allows you to find the subjects and landscapes represented in his paintings.
Gustav Klimt center, Schörfling am Attersee AT, Hauptstrasse 30, 4861 Kammer, Austria.
Phone.
: +43 664 8283990.
Rise to the heights
To enjoy the beautiful surroundings without too much effort, you climb aboard the Dachstein-Krippensteinbahn cable car.
Krippensteinbahn
A mountainous country, Austria has an endless number of cable cars, cable cars, funiculars and other cogwheel trains.
The Salzkammergut is no exception to the rule, multiplying the infrastructures.
The most spectacular?
Definitely the
Krippensteinbahn
in the Dachstein massif, a few kilometers south of Hallstatt.
It allows you to climb up to the
5 Fingers
, a platform perched above the void offering an incredible view of the region.
Another possibility not far from Gmunden is to climb the
Baumwipfelpfad,
a curious concentric belvedere from which you can admire the Traunsee from every angle.
Do not forget to take your walking shoes (or your snowshoes in winter!) Because many marked trails crisscross the surroundings.
Discover Sissi's intimacy at her summer residence in Bad Ischl
The Imperial Villa in Ischl, the Emperor's summer residence, was described by Franz Joseph I as "a paradise on earth" for him and his family.
Kaiservilla
The spa town of
Bad Ischl
has long been the star of Austrian summers.
The reason ?
This is where the imperial family came to spend the beautiful season!
The pompous neoclassical residence where she retired, the
Kaiservilla
, was a gift given to Emperor Franz Joseph on the occasion of his marriage to Elisabeth de Wittelsbach, better known as… Sissi.
The visit allows you to discover many effects that belonged to the Bavarian princess as well as her office.
In the park, the emperor had a pavilion built for her in which she organized her private receptions.
Visit the
Musée de la Photo
which is installed there, hosting a fine collection of vintage cameras.
Spend an evening in a
gasthof
Sleeping on a farm, gasthof, is an experience not to be missed.
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This is not the least of the pleasures of a trip to the Salzkammergut… Spending a night in a
gasthof
is an experience not to be missed!
The clean and warm interiors, with almost outdated traditional decoration, invite nostalgia.
As for the bedrooms, often cluttered with rustic furniture, they are as cozy as they are warm.
In the restaurant, bouquets of fresh flowers, immaculate tablecloths and traditional costumes are the order of the day.
The cuisine is always generous: in summer, we enjoy asparagus and seasonal fruit tarts;
in autumn, we taste game and mushrooms.
Try the
fish from the region's lakes
, such as char or
reinanke
(a type of trout).
Visit a salt mine several thousand years old
Visit of the Salzwelten Hallstatt, the oldest salt mine in the world.
Salzwelten hallstatt
The territory has long benefited from the lucrative salt trade, white gold already exploited by the Celts.
It is found in the very name of “Salzkammergut”, associated with this precious resource.
The
Hallstättersee
, a magnificent lake where the famous village of
Hallstatt is located
(the darling of Asian tourists!), Was the nerve center of this activity.
On the heights, we discover the remains of what would be
the oldest salt mine in the world
at the Salzwelten Hallstatt.
It would have been created as early as the Bronze Age, some 7000 years ago.
The visit allows you to walk through reorganized hoses and descend to the bottom of the mine using ancient slides.
Multimedia projections, scholarly lighting and films add a contemporary touch to the visit.
When leaving, do not miss the
superb terrace
, offering a magical view of the lake.
Discover the artistic wealth of Salzburg, gateway to the region
Salzburg, Mozart's birthplace, is fascinating because of its Baroque old town, fortress, and cultural events throughout the year.
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Dominated by the Festung Hohensalzburg, a proud medieval fortress, Salzburg is a city where art seems to be omnipresent.
If she is best known for her love of classical music, which is expressed through her famous
Festspiele
and her frenzied celebration of
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
, her artistic richness is much more diverse.
Thus, one can discover the innumerable Renaissance or Baroque wonders of the
residence of the Bishops
before going to see the last contemporary art exhibition of the
Thaddaeus Ropac gallery
, installed in the Villa Kast.
End the day on the terrace of the
Museum der Moderne,
the eccentric museum of contemporary art perched above the city, with a spritz, an Austrian invention.
Practical notebook
GO
From France, no direct flights to Salzburg.
The easiest way is to fly to Munich, which is only 1.5 hours from Salzburg by road.
For the contemplative, it is possible to get to Salzburg by train with Lyria then the ÖBB via Zurich.
(Allow 10 hours for the journey from Paris).
OR SLEEP ?
Seehotel Swan
The location of the Seehotel Swan is right in the historic center of Gmunden, by the lake.
Seehotel Swan
In the heart of Gmunden and on the banks of the Traunsee, this hotel is housed in a spectacular building from the end of the 19th century.
The classic and comfortable rooms almost all have a view of the lake.
From 120 € per night.
Seehotel & Restaurant Schwan, Rathausplatz 8, 4810 Gmunden, Austria.
Phone.
: + 43 7612 633 910.
Gasthof Zur Post
Housed in a former post house, this establishment exudes an incomparable charm.
Its large bedrooms, which can be reached after climbing a creaky staircase, offer total comfort.
The restaurant is worth a visit.
Gasthof zur Post, Mozartpl.
8, 5340 St. Gilgen, Austria.
Phone.
: +43 6227 2157.
WHERE TO EAT ?
Wirtshaus Post Stube 1327
Located opposite the adorable miniature port of Traunkirchen, this vast inn has been in existence since… 1327. You can sit under its whitewashed vaults to taste great classics (delicious
veal
schnitzel
!) Or products from the region (fish from the lake , local cheese…).
Mains between € 23 and € 36.
Wirtshaus Poststube 1327, Ortspl.
5, 4801 Traunkirchen, Austria.
Phone.
: +43 7617 23070.
Konditorei Zauner
Emperor Franz Joseph came to taste delicious pastries at Café Zauner.
Zauner
One of the most famous pastry shops in Austria.
Created for the imperial family, it offers an
amazing
choice of sweet delicacies, from
kaisertorte
(chocolate cake, caramel and
marzipan
) to
zaunerstollen
(nougatine log coated with chocolate).
The whole thing is to be accompanied by a
mixture,
typically Austrian latte.
Konditorei Zauner, Pfarrgasse 7, 4820 Bad Ischl, Austria.
Phone.
: +43 6132 23310.