Hallstatt is a bit of a drive away from Salzburg or Kaprun, the more well known areas of Austria – but if you are in the area for a ski session, then the village of Hallstatt is well worth a day trip.
The oldest village in Austria and UNESCO World Heritage Site, Hallstatt sits nestled in front of the towering Dachstein Mountains, right on the edge of the glassy Hallstätter See and was only reachable by boat until late in the 19th century. With the eye-opening natural scenery and the picturesque 18th century Baroque architecture of the houses built into their mountainous backdrop, the best way by far to experience this village is to approach it via water, by ferry; the way it was built to be seen.
The wealth of Hallstatt is visibly obvious in its beauty and architectural composition. For centuries the villagers have dealt in the sought after commodity salt. Lying deep under the surface of this tiny village are the amazing salt mines, first known of their kind in the world and accessible for visitors to explore. Visitors to the mines can actually glide into their depths on specially built wooden slides and see the subterranean salt lake and the tunnels. It is thought salt production was being carried out in this area as early as the 2nd millennium BCE but truly flourished in the 8th century BCE. The Hallstatt Museum displays artefacts 7,000 years old and delves deeper into the history of the town. There are also a number of tours on offer for those who wish to learn and see a little more. A funicular railway offers you an alternate view of the village and mountains from high vantage points. Meander around the village or take one of the walking routes: the Echerntal trail or the Panorama trail are great for discovering a wider range of the protected landscapes.
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