Regions of Austria: Salzkammergut

"Country of lakes" Salzkammergut www.Salzkammergut.AT lies the northeast of the city of Salzburg, on the border with Upper Austria and Stir. This extensive water system is almost entirely formed by the tributaries of the River Traun, in one way or another biased ribs, glacier and tectonic processes. As a result, on the border between the Mountains of the Dakhstein and the plains of the Upper Austria, about 76 pure lakes of all sizes and more than fifty large cave complexes, which are essentially a national natural monument and the favorite holiday destination as the Austrian themselves and numerous guests from abroad. Do not forget that in the deprived of the sea coast of Austria there is no better place for yacht sports, windsurfing, swimming and sunbathing than these beautiful lakes. Two most affordable lakes – Wolfgang-Ze (WolfGangsee, sometimes called ABERSEE) and Mondze (Mondsee) – are just an hour of driving from Salzburg.

Lake Wolfgang Ze

Wolfgang Ze has 15 km long and is well heated in summer, which makes the lake very convenient for recreation from the water. Here you can visit such interesting places as a picturesque city St. Wolfgang (Sankt Wolfgang Im Salzkammergut) with his wonderful church, mountain railway Schafberg, Famous as a center of water sports and paragliding town St. Gilgen (Sankt Gilgen), as well as a pretty town Strobl (Strobl) with its typical local architecture.

A little east is the historic center of Salzkammergut – the resort town of Bad Ishl.

Lake Mondze and Attersze

Lake Mondze (Mondsee) is clamped between the rocky peaks of Daeneventand and Shafberg, a narrow twist passing to a large lake Attersze. In itself, very beautiful and calm, besides its natural beauty, it can offer an acquaintance with the town of Mondze, lying on the northwest.

Lake Attersese (Attersee), or Kammersee, lies in Eastern Mondze and has a length of about 20 km (the largest of Lakes Salzkammergut). From the south side, he supports the slopes of Höhlengebirge ("Hellian Mountains") whose dramatic rocky line gives this part of the lake alpine landscape, but in the north end of the mountain retreat and their place occupy the picturesque hills. There is almost no particularly interesting cities or attractions in the surrounding area, but this is more than compensated by the calm beauty of these places. Fans of Gustav Maler can visit the town AM-ATTERME STAINBAH (Steinbach am Attersee) on the eastern shore, where the composer spent four years, working on his works, and in Unterahe (Unterach) in the south-west last 17 years of their life worked Gustav Klimt.

You can visit a small castle Cameras, Go on a boat to a small island near Mitigberg (Litzlberg) on ​​the North-West Bank or make an excursion to a small but very picturesque waterfall Burghaben-Klam, or Burgucumber lying halfway between the towns of Unterah and Weissenbach am Attersee (Weissenbach Am Attersee). But many people come here to rest from year to year simply prefer quiet walking from the peaks and gorges Hölandbeger to Zevalchen hills – excellent maps of the region (in German) can be purchased in any of the local busofis.

Lake Traunze

18 km east, in the valley of the River Thuna, is one of the most beautiful lakes of the region – Traunsee, or just traun. Most of his charm of the lake must be the gray mountains that dominate the region from the East – Erlocohl, Traunchierhnerkogel, Röttelspitz and Peak Traunchin (Traunchin, 1691 m). In the very south city Ebense (Ebensee) might seem like an unsightly industrial center if the Feuerkogegel-Seilbahn funicular line was not held here, passing through the most picturesque places of the West Bank to the Foyerkogel Mountain (Feuerkogel, 1625 m). And the north of Trakincirchen (Traunkirchen) with his beautiful chapel on the mountain and the ancient city church there is already an ordinary railway line to Altmunster (Altmunster), however, also extremely colorful.

Near Abense, you can visit the sad memorial with prisoners of the KZ-Gedenkstollen concentration campaigns, which has been parting in the same galley, and in the city itself there is a good museum of Zeitgesti-Ebense, dedicated to both the history of Austria itself and the concentration camp.

In spa Altmünster, In which almost every home, if not a hotel, so pension, it is worth visiting a charming small museum of old bicycles and motorcycles, located next to the neoclassical castle Ebesentsvier.

In the northern end of the lake lies Gmunden – the largest resort of the area and pretty cute, although the city is eternal crowded city. In good weather, you can reach the pretty villages of both shores on a special ferry (www.Traunseeschiffahrt.AT). However, in the surrounding mountains there are enough other beautiful little lakes – Langbatze (In fact, these are two lakes – Forderter-Langbatze and Hinterer-Langbatze), Offense And others, in the summer period eternally crowded bathers (public transport does not go here, but there are good highways). And 14 km east of Gmunden is a town Sharnestin (Scharnstein) with the end of the XVI century, towering over the Valley of the Alm Castle, in which several museums are now located – modern Austrian history, criminal and reptilenzoo, who are considered one of their best.

Lake Hallastater-Ze

At the Salzbergbahn funicular, you can climb half a kilometer to the mountains and visit the wooded valley Salzberg, Where can I see the Rudolfsturm Tower (1284 g.), Salt mines of the XVIII century, a few kilometers of old workings and underground lake, as well as a number of archaeological finds not exported from mines. And you can drive further to the west, in the mountain village Gosau (Gosau), which is considered one of the best climatic resorts of the region.

Slightly above the valley of the citysubakh lie beautiful lakes Forderter-Gossouz (VORDERER GOSAUSEE) and Hinterer Gosause (Hinterer Gosausee), from which you can climb on the Gosaukammbahn funicular to the tops of the Zwiselle and Goszauki mountain ranges.

Lying on the southeast of the lake, the town of Obertraun has a good gentle coast, perfectly suitable for swimming. From here, the funicular Dachsteinbahn begins to the caves of Risenaishel, Mammuthel and Icegrungenhelen.

Lying 14 km east of Lake Hallstetter-Ze, already on the territory of Styria, the town of Bad Ausza is also widely known as a popular resort.

Lakes Grandlze and Altauszer-Ze

4 kilometers to the northeast of Bad Ausza, a peaceful lake of Grundlze (Grundlsee) was spread, which can be easily reached by bus or by a pedestrian walkway passing through the forest. Lying on the West Bank of Lake Beautiful Village Grundlze Known as one of the favorite places in Sigmund Freud. But tourists are usually coming here for the sake "Tour of three lakes" – DREI-SEEN-TOUR (four times a day in summer; 3 hours, 14 euros), which starts from the pier in the western part of the village, passes through the village Gesl (Gossl) in the eastern end of the lake, and then through the beautiful forest past the flicker ducts displays to the sheephawned legends isolated lake Toplice (Toplitzsee). The boats are then throwing tourists to impressive waterfalls on the northern side of the lake, from where it is literally 15 minutes walk to the third lake – tiny Chamber (Kammersee), which is the source of the River Traun. You can visit each of the lakes and separately – in local conditions it is simpler, but together they look especially picturesque.

Regular buses connect Bad Aussee with lying 4 km north of the town Altausze (Altaussee) and the lake Altauszer-Ze, above which the harsh rocks of the mountains of Schönberg dominate from the east (1863 m). Quiet and pretty cute Altausze is known both as a summer lake resort, and as a winter ski center, but usually positions itself as Luftkurort ("Air resort"). Delightfully pure mountain air can indeed be the only reason for visiting these places, even if you do not take into account other opportunities for recreation, which there is plenty of. Well, the vertex Lozer is popular with paraglider fans, which only adds arguments to the tourist slogan of the region. Also, the locals are very proud of the fact that water from the lake can be filled with. Among the pines on the north shore there are some good places for swimming, and in the summer, a small motor ship commits 45-minute excursions along the coast (6 euros).