06.01.2021

TOP 6: Salzburger Land

by Dirk Baumgartl

Whether the cultural metropolis of Salzburg, Lake Wolfgang or the imposing mountain scenery of the Hohe Tauern National Park: In Salzburger Land, varied landscapes and exciting sights are in close proximity.

Grossarl Valley

Known as the valley of alpine pastures, the Grossarl Valley invites you to extensive hikes and journeys of discovery. Here you will find not only one of the longest and most spectacular gorges in the Alps, the 300-meter-deep Liechtensteinklamm, but also around forty alps with alpine cabins that invite you to discover their culinary delights. A popular tour is the ascent of the almost 2,500 meter high Gamskarkogel from the mountaineering village of Hüttschlag. On the summit of the highest grassy mountain in Europe, you can also spend the night in the hut located there and thus enjoy the impressive sunrise or sunset.

www.grossarltal.info

Krimml Waterfalls

They are among Europe’s largest waterfalls. With a total drop of 380 meters, the Krimml Waterfalls are one of the most impressive natural spectacles that the alpine region has to offer. The four-kilometer-long waterfall trail takes you to numerous vantage points and finally to the uppermost edge. The waterfalls are part of the Hohe Tauern National Park, which covers an area of over 1,800 square kilometers, with its extensive glaciers, imposing valleys and vast forests.

www.nationalpark.at

Wolfgangsee

At least since Ralph Benatzky’s musical comedy “Im weissen Rössl” (At the White Steed) you do know that people can be jolly in the Salzkammergut. One or two glasses of wine on the terrace of the legendary inn would be a good starting point. The romantic hotel now offers a whirlpool floating in the lake and a heated lido. Around the lake, Schafberg, Zwölferhorn and Postalm provide an impressive mountain backdrop and invite you to go hiking.

www.wolfgangsee.salzkammergut.at

Grossglockner High Alpine Road

A road like a monument, which is one of the most beautiful panoramic roads in Europe for a reason. Those who set out on a trip on the Grossglockner High Alpine Road in the Grossglockner-Zellersee region in Salzburger Land embark on a journey through various climate and vegetation zones all the way to the Arctic: from evergreen coniferous forests to mountain tundra with alpine mats and heaths to braided tundra and glaciers. The highlight of the excursion is the 2,396-meter-high Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe at the foot of the Grossglockner, named after Emperor Franz Josef. Here on the Carinthian side is also the eight-kilometer-long Pasterze, the longest glacier in the Eastern Alps, and with a bit of luck you can see not only numerous marmots but also the odd ibex.

www.grossglockner.at

Salzburg

The picturesque old town, Baroque architecture and Mozart history make Salzburg a unique setting for a cultural trip to Austria. If you take a closer look in the streets and squares, in the parks, and in the cafes and bars, you will definitely discover gay life in the city of a 150,000 inhabitants. Whether in the Café Mozartwinkel with its self-proclaimed “best Nuss-Schnecken (pastry) in the world” or on the roof terrace of the adults-only Hotel Stein on the opposite side of the Salzach River, which guarantees a dream view, the community can be found everywhere.

www.salzburg.info/gay

Eisriesenwelt

With a total length of 42 kilometers, the Eisriesenwelt is considered the largest ice cave on Earth. Discovered in 1879 by Salzburg naturalist Anton von Posselt-Czorich, the cave system, located about fifty kilometers from Salzburg, developed into a popular tourist attraction starting in the 1920s. In pre-COVID times, some 150,000 visitors came to the Eisriesenwelt during the summer months to marvel at its bizarre ice formations. This is where the real “frozen feeling” comes in. Especially in bad weather, the cave is an exciting alternative to a hike.

www.eisriesenwelt.at