Original Lakes & Mountains + Hallstatt Salt Mine (Oldest Mine In The World)

“… NATURE OF EXTRAORDINARY BEAUTY ADDED TO SCIENTIFIC IMPORT …”

From Salzburg we will pass Fuschl Castle above the mystic Lake Fuschlsee, in olden days a hunting residence, now used as a luxury hotel. Our first photo stop will be St. Gilgen, the village at Lake Wolfgangsee where W.A. Mozart’s mother was born. Driving along the lakes, surrounded by impressive mountains and rock faces we will pass Bad Ischl, the former summer residence of the Austrian emperors, known for healing cures and world famous operettas.
At last we will get to the very heart of Salzkammergut, the UNESCO Cultural Heritage of the World Hallstatt and Lake Hallstättersee which were described by the committee as “Nature of extraordinary beauty added to scientific import”. Here besides the beauty of the site you can marvel at archaeological excavations, findings from the oldest salt mine of the world, the world’s biggest collection of sculls with elaborate paintings and much more. The sensational findings even gave an entire epoch and a culture its names: The “Hallstatt Period” and “Hallstatt Culture” are scientific names for the Early Iron Age.

You will never forget what many guests have called the most beautiful lakeside village in the world.

Hallstatt Salt Mine Visit

Hallstatt has 7,000 years of salt mining:  Actually inconceivable but yet possible to experience now due to venturesome pioneers and the work of present-day professionals.
In the Salzberg funicular you are comfortably taken up the mountain to the Upper Hallstatt Valley and farther with a panorama lift to the vantage point bridge. After a short walk you reach the mine building where the tour will begin. A mine train takes you along glistening rock faces into the mountain. By slides (64 m!) you change the levels. Of course, you also can use the stairs, but the slides are safer and fun. In the tunnels and chambers a fascinating world displays itself: The place where miners once did their heavy labour. Ancient relics like pine wood torches which miners held in their hands thousands of years ago. The oldest staircase in the world. A salt lake in the mine. A Time Spiral covering 7,000 years of mining and the history of the probably most important find: The Mann im Salz (man in the salt), an obviously by salt well-preserved corpse of a man discovered in 1734 by miners. It’s an unforgettable experience!

Our way back we will take a panorama route through the Gosau mountains and passing some ski resorts, views onto the Tennengebirge mountains