The Salzkammergut is a resort area located in Austria. It stretches from City of Salzburg to the Dachstein mountain range, spanning the federal states of Upper Austria (80%), Salzburg (7%), and Styria (13%). The main river of the region is the Traun, a tributary of the Danube. The name Salzkammergut means "Estate of the Salt Chamber" and derives from the Imperial Salt Chamber, the authority charged with running the precious salt mines in the Habsburg empire.
With its numerous lakes and mountains, the Salzkammergut offers many opportunities to take part in water sports, bathing, hiking, cycling and golf as well as relaxing around lakes such as the Grundlsee or Toplitzsee. The Katrinalm, an alpine pasture, is found near Bad Ischl. Typical Salzkammergut culinary specialities include dishes such as Kaiserschmarrn (cut-up and sugared pancake with raisins), Krapfen (similar to donuts) or Lebkuchen (gingerbread).
Large parts of the region were listed as a World Heritage Site
in 1997, with the description: "Human activity in the magnificent
natural landscape of the Salzkammergut began in prehistoric times,
with the salt deposits being exploited as early as the 2nd
millennium B.C. This resource formed the basis of the area's
prosperity up to the middle of the 20th century, a prosperity that
is reflected in the fine architecture of the town of Hallstatt."
with St. Gilgen in the foreground]] The Salzkammergut consists of ten regions which also include lakes:
Town | Elevation (m) | Population | Additional information |
---|---|---|---|
720 - 1800 |
1897 |
||
Altmünster |
433 |
9485 |
|
Attersee |
469 |
1500 |
|
Aurach am Hongar |
498 |
1585 |
|
650 - 1500 |
5037 |
|
|
Bad Goisern |
504 |
8462 |
|
468 |
16680 |
Summer residence of Emperor Franz Joseph |
|
Bad Mitterndorf |
812 |
3035 |
Location of the largest natural ski-jump, Kulm |
Bad Wimsbach-Neydharting |
385 |
2300 |
|
607 |
1352 |
|
|
425 |
8734 |
|
|
786 |
2900 |
|
|
536 |
3500 |
|
|
Fuschl am See |
670 |
1323 |
|
425 |
15075 |
|
|
767 |
2000 |
|
|
Grünau |
528 |
2100 |
|
712 |
1218 |
|
|
523 |
2500 |
|
|
508 |
950 |
World Heritage Site |
|
746 |
460 |
|
|
Hof bei Salzburg |
730 |
3600 |
|
520 |
1046 |
|
|
750 |
3044 |
|
|
441 |
9133 |
A natural preserve and Mud Spa is situated here, the Moorbad Gmös |
|
481 |
3100 |
|
|
Nussdorf am Attersee |
500 |
1120 |
|
Oberhofen am Irrsee |
573 |
1335 |
|
514 |
764 |
|
|
572 |
1572 |
|
|
Pichl-Kainisch |
803 |
782 |
|
493 |
3585 |
|
|
501 |
4876 |
|
|
Schörfling am Attersee |
510 |
3163 |
|
389 |
4330 |
|
|
Seewalchen am Attersee |
495 |
4977 |
|
Steinbach am Attersee |
509 |
1003 |
|
Sankt Georgen im Attergau |
540 |
6546 |
|
486 |
2008 |
|
|
St. Gilgen |
542 |
3706 |
Mozart's mother was born here (and the birth house has been preserved), and his sister also lived here. |
585 |
1033 |
|
|
579 |
1498 |
|
|
542 |
3466 |
|
|
St. Wolfgang |
540 |
2797 |
Former German Chancellor Helmut Kohl used to spend his summer holidays here. The real "Im Weißen Rössl", (the "White Horse Inn"), that inspired the famous "operetta" of Ralph Benatzky is located here. |
900 - 2000 |
1005 |
|
|
545 |
5200 |
|
|
550 |
2950 |
|
|
422 |
1775 |
|
|
Unterach am Attersee |
468 |
1500 |
|
433 |
12000 |
The Gateway to the Salzkammergut |
|
Vöcklamarkt |
488 |
5000 |
|
Weyregg am Attersee |
482 |
1503 |
|
Zell am Moos |
573 |
1400 |