Hallstatt's Serene Lakeside Setting In Austria's Alps

The body of water next to Hallstatt, Austria, is Lake Hallstatt, also known as Hallstätter See. It is located in the Salzkammergut region, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is surrounded by majestic mountains and charming villages. The lake is a popular destination for tourists, especially scuba divers, and offers a variety of activities such as bathing, boating, diving, and swimming.

Lake Hallstatt: a World Heritage Site

Lake Hallstatt is a majestic Austrian lake located in the Salzkammergut region, surrounded by towering mountains and filled with clear water. It is one of the most beautiful and iconic lakes in the world, attracting sports enthusiasts, romantics, and history lovers alike. Nestled between the mountains lies the small town of Hallstatt, which gives the lake its name.

The area surrounding Lake Hallstatt is steeped in history, with evidence of salt production dating back to prehistoric times. The wealth generated by the salt trade is reflected in the town's fine architecture and can also be seen in the prehistoric cemeteries in Hallstatt. The Hallstatt period, denoting a time of extraordinary cultural advancements, occurred around 1,200 years ago.

The region around Lake Hallstatt was recognised for its cultural and natural significance when it was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996 or 1997. The site boasts numerous historical buildings and churches, as well as natural wonders such as the Glacier Garden in Hallstatt's Echerntal, a remnant of the most recent ice age.

The lake itself is a popular destination for diving enthusiasts, with a maximum depth of 125 meters and clear water. The surrounding area offers a range of activities, including hiking, fishing, boating, and cycling. The villages of Obertraun and Bad Goisern, located on the lake's shores, provide free access to swimming pools and bathing islands.

Lake Hallstatt is also known for its picturesque quality, with the town of Hallstatt being one of the most photographed places in the world. The unique magic of Hallstatt and its surrounding area has attracted writers, tourists, and more recently, an influx of day visitors and East Asian tourists.

The village of Hallstatt

Hallstatt has a population of around 800 people, but it attracts a large number of tourists due to its picturesque setting and cultural significance. The town is built on a narrow strip of land between the lake and the steep slopes of the Dachstein massif, making it quite secluded and inaccessible until the late 19th century. The first road to Hallstatt was built in 1890, along the west shore of the lake.

The village is known for its production of salt, dating back to prehistoric times. The Hallstatt culture, an archaeological culture linked to Proto-Celtic and early Celtic people of the Early Iron Age in Europe, is named after the town. Salt mining has been a major industry in Hallstatt for thousands of years, and it is said to be the site of "the world's oldest pipeline", constructed from 13,000 hollowed-out trees.

In addition to its salt mines, Hallstatt offers a variety of tourist attractions. The Hallstatt Skywalk, located 360 meters above the village, provides a panoramic view of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, including the village, the lake, and the surrounding Dachstein Alps. The Hallstatt Ossuary, located in St. Michael's Chapel, displays over 1,200 human skulls, with 600 of them artistically painted with symbols, names, and dates. The Hallstatt Museum covers the ancient history of the region, including its role in the salt trade, and features artifacts from the Hallstatt culture.

Activities on the lake

The body of water next to Hallstatt, Austria, is the majestic Hallstätter See, also known as Lake Hallstatt. It is one of the most beautiful and iconic lakes in the world, attracting divers, romantics, and history lovers alike. Here are some activities you can enjoy on the lake:

Boat Rentals and Boat Trips

Rent a boat or take a boat trip to explore Lake Hallstatt and its surroundings. Boat rentals include motorboats, kayaks, canoes, and even swan paddle boats. You can also take a cruise ship for around 12 euros, or an electric boat for a more eco-friendly option.

Swimming

Swimming is allowed and encouraged in Lake Hallstatt. The water temperature ranges from 16-23°C during the summer months, but can drop to 8°C in winter, so be sure to check the temperature before taking a dip. There are beaches along the shores, as well as swimming pools and bathing islands in the towns of Hallstatt, Obertraun, and Bad Goisern.

Fishing

Lake Hallstatt is also a great spot for fishing enthusiasts. You can find a variety of fish, including Coregonus (whitefish), brown trout, Salmo trutta fario (river trout), Thymallus (freshwater fish), char, grayling, burbot, pike, perch, and rainbow trout. Fishing regulations allow spinning and fly fishing, with a daily limit on certain fish species.

Water Sports

In addition to swimming and boating, Lake Hallstatt offers a range of water sports activities. You can try water skiing, sailing, or even rent a pedal boat. The clear waters and surrounding mountains provide a stunning backdrop for your water adventures.

Walking and Hiking

For those who prefer to stay on land, there are walking and hiking trails along the lake. The east bank offers a wild and natural experience, while the west bank is more developed. The fjord-like landscape, shaped by glacial ice, features meadows, houses, and forests.

How to get to Lake Hallstatt

Lake Hallstatt is located in the Austrian state of Upper Austria, in the Salzkammergut region. It is known for its stunning scenery, surrounded by mountains that are over 3,000 metres high. The lake is a popular tourist destination, attracting sports enthusiasts, romantics, and history lovers alike.

By Train

Take the train from either Salzburg or Vienna to Attnang-Puchheim, where you can transfer to the local REX train towards Hallstatt. From Salzburg, trains depart from the main train station (Hauptbahnhoh). In Vienna, they depart from either the Wien Hauptbahnhof or the Wien Westbahnhof, located in the 6th district. Your final destination is Hallstatt Bahnhst.

Please note that Hallstatt is a small town with no room for train tracks, so the train station is across the lake, in the direction of Obertraun Dachsteinhohlen Bahnhof. From there, you will need to take a ferry to Lake Hallstatt, with the ferry schedule matching the train arrival times.

By Bus

Taking the bus from Vienna to Salzburg is not recommended. Instead, you can opt for the train or consider the following bus connections from Salzburg:

• Bus 150: Departs twice an hour from Stall 'F' at the bus depot in front of Salzburg's main train station (Sudtirolerplatz) and arrives at Bad Ischl Hauptbahnhof (main train station). The journey takes approximately 90 minutes.
• Bus 541: At the Bad Ischl train and bus station, switch to Bus 541 towards Hallstatt Gosaumuhle.
• Bus 543: At Gosaumuhl, switch to Bus 543 to reach Hallstatt Lahn. This bus also takes you to the Dachsteinseilbahn at Obertraun, where you can take the gondola up to the Five Finger Lookout and Ice Caves.

By Car

There are a few options for driving to Lake Hallstatt:

• Option 1: Drive south on the A10/Tauern Autobahn to Golling, then take the B162/B166 to Hallstatt.
• Option 2: Drive north on the B150 to Obergnigl and then take the B158, known as the Austria Romantic Street or Wolfgangseestrasse. This route will take you through Fuschl, St Gilgen, and Bad Ischl before arriving at Lake Hallstatt.
• Take the A1 and follow the signs for St Polten/Linz, continuing until near Hinterbuch. Take Exit 224 for the B145 toward Regau and continue via Gmunden, Ebensee, and Bad Ischl before reaching Lake Hallstatt.

Please note that you will need a Vignette, the Austria highway toll sticker, for driving on the highways. There is a toll exemption for travellers on the Munich-Salzburg route (A8 motorway), where no motorway toll sticker is required from the Walserberg border to the Salzburg-Nord exit.

By Plane

The closest major airport to Lake Hallstatt is Salzburg Airport (SZG). From there, you can take a bus, train, taxi, or rental car to reach the lake.

Things to Keep in Mind

• Hallstatt is a small town with limited parking, so it is recommended to arrive early, especially during peak season.
• Consider spending the night in or near Hallstatt to avoid the crowds and experience the town during quieter times.
• If you plan to visit the salt mines or take the funicular, note that they are closed during the winter months.
• The best time to visit Lake Hallstatt to avoid the crowds is during the off-season, particularly in March, April, May, October, and November.

The history of Hallstatt

Hallstatt is a small town in the district of Gmunden, in the Austrian state of Upper Austria. It is situated on the southwestern shore of Lake Hallstatt and is known for its production of salt, which dates back to prehistoric times. The town gave its name to the Hallstatt culture, an archaeological culture linked to the early Celtic people of the Early Iron Age in Europe (c. 800–450 BC).

In 1846, Johann Georg Ramsauer discovered a large prehistoric cemetery near Hallstatt, which he excavated over the next few decades. The excavation yielded 1,045 burials, with around 2,000 individuals, including women and children but few infants. The style and decoration of the grave goods found in the cemetery are very distinctive, and artefacts made in this style have been found across Europe. The salt in the mine has preserved many organic materials, such as textiles, wood, and leather, as well as abandoned artefacts such as shoes, pieces of cloth, and tools, including miner's backpacks.

Hallstatt is known for being the site of the world's oldest salt mine, which is still in operation today. The mine is located within the Upper Permian to Lower Triassic Haselgebirge Formation of the Northern Limestone Alps and comprises 21 levels and several smaller shafts.

The Hallstatt culture, which flourished in Central Europe from the 8th to the 6th century BCE, was responsible for the exploitation of local salt and iron deposits. The abundance of these resources allowed the Hallstatt people to prosper and trade with neighbouring cultures. The success of the Hallstatt culture can be attributed to two main factors: the exploitation of local deposits of salt and iron, and their favourable location along established trade routes.

The principal archaeological remains of the Hallstatt culture are the fortified buildings and tombs of the society's elite. These sites are typically located on hilltops and show evidence of narrow streets lined with small residences and larger timber residences. The quantity of foreign goods excavated in Hallstatt tombs, such as eastern drinking horns, Etruscan bronze vessels, fine Greek pottery, and silk from the eastern Mediterranean, indicates that trade was booming during this period.

The decline of the Hallstatt culture began around 500 BCE as local natural resources, particularly salt, ran out and rival trading centres emerged elsewhere. The production of salt in Hallstatt ended around 400 BCE, and the culture was replaced in terms of regional dominance by the La Tène culture.

Today, Hallstatt is a popular tourist destination, known for its picturesque setting on Lake Hallstatt and its well-preserved ancient history. The town has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, and it is known as one of the most photographed places in the world.

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