Salzkammergut

The rich salt deposits of the Salzkammergut attracted people already over 7000 years ago. They explored the depths of the mighty mountains along the region’s rivers and lakes and traded the extracted salt around the world. The Hallstatt culture characterised the Central European Iron Age, which is why the southern Salzkammergut was protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997. People also discovered the region for themselves in the 19th century. Sommerfrischler moved out of the stuffy cities to discover the fresh air, crystal-clear lakes and panoramic mountain peaks. The imperial family spent much of the summer in their villa in Bad Ischl and famous artists were inspired by the marvellous landscape. Even today, a dip in the refreshing lake water or an ascent of the numerous peaks is well worthwhile. Pretty small towns, villages and castles round off the picturesque region.