At the gateway to Salzburg, seven reasons to visit the Salzkammergut

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.

Adobe Stock

From lagoon blue to emerald green, the lakes of the Salzkammergut display an astonishing palette of colors.

The

, with turquoise water, is perfect for hiking, sailing and even swimming in summer.

Its irresistible medieval villages -

, dotted with large buildings with flowered balconies, or

, whose church hides an extraordinary Gothic altarpiece - invite you to stroll.

Another exceptional lake but with darker shades, the

.

Its hamlet of

seduces thanks to its pocket port and its abbey camped on a rock.

As for the historic city of

, 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

, 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

, 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

(1900), where he succeeds in perfectly transcribing the sparkling colors of the lake.

The

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

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

in the Dachstein massif, a few kilometers south of Hallstatt.

It allows you to climb up to the

, a platform perched above the void offering an incredible view of the region.

Another possibility not far from Gmunden is to climb the

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

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

, 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

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.

Adobe Stock

This is not the least of the pleasures of a trip to the Salzkammergut… Spending a night in a

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

, such as char or

(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

, a magnificent lake where the famous village of

(the darling of Asian tourists!), Was the nerve center of this activity.

On the heights, we discover the remains of what would be

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

, 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.

Adobe Stock

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

and her frenzied celebration of

, her artistic richness is much more diverse.

Thus, one can discover the innumerable Renaissance or Baroque wonders of the

before going to see the last contemporary art exhibition of the

, installed in the Villa Kast.

End the day on the terrace of the

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

!) 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

choice of sweet delicacies, from

(chocolate cake, caramel and

) to

(nougatine log coated with chocolate).

The whole thing is to be accompanied by a

typically Austrian latte.

Konditorei Zauner, Pfarrgasse 7, 4820 Bad Ischl, Austria.

Phone.

: +43 6132 23310.