The surrounding area of Salzburg:
Excursions into the "Salzburger Land"
The area surrounding Salzburg is one of the loveliest in Austria. There are countless excursions tempting you out into the breathtaking natural setting of the Salzburg Mountains and to the picturesque lakes of the “Salzkammergut” area. On this page, there is a short overview of the best excursions in the vicinity of Salzburg.
St Gilgen, St Wolfgang and the “Wolfgangsee” Lake
The “Wolfgangsee” Lake is one of the loveliest lakes in the “Salzkammergut” area and both the historical towns of St. Gilgen and St. Wolfgang are veritable jewels. The best way to explore them is by boat – there is a regular ferry between St. Gilgen and St. Wolfgang. You can also scale the nearby “Zwölferhorn” Mountain by cable car. Particularly interesting is the cog railway going up the “Schafberg” Mountain. As in imperial times, thousands of visitors are transported yearly to the summit in this way.
“Salzbergwerk” Salt Mine and the “Keltenmuseum” Celt Musem at Hallein
The Celt Museum at Hallein presents some of the most significant Austrian findings from the Celtic Era. Your children however, would probably rather see the salt mines in the “Dürrnberg” Mountain. Wooden slides, many metres long take you into its depths where a graphic exhibition explains the handicraft of salt extraction, this having once brought wealth to the city of Salzburg. To round off the excursion, you can visit the “Brauerei von Kaltenhausen” Brewery and experience real Salzburg beer culture.
The “Festung Werfenweng” Fortress and the “Eisriesenwelt” Giant Ice World at Werfen
The Fortress of Werfenweng sits on a knoll in the middle of the Salzach Valley, surrounded by the rough chalk cliffs of the northern Alps. The dramatic location only enhances the dramatic effect of this medieval fortress. Regular displays with falcons are held, the falconry training still according to medieval methods. Not far from the fortress is the Giant Ice World at Werfen, one of the largest ice exhibition caves in the world. The amazing ice formations are well worth a visit – you should however take warm clothing and shoes with you as the temperature in the Giant Ice World is below freezing all the year round.
If you are interested in any of these attractive excursions, our concierge team at the Hotel Sacher Salzburg would be delighted to help. Further information can also be found on the website of the Austrian Tourist Office in Salzburg under www.salzburgerland.com.
