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Hallstatt lake is a lake situated in the market town of Hallstatt, which is located in Gmunden district in Upper Austria state, Austria. The town and lake form the Dachstein Salzkammergut Cultural Landscape, which has been designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Hallstatt lake and town is regarded to be the oldest people-inhabited place in the world.

The area is famous for its salt production, which dates back to the prehistoric period known as Hallstatt era. The culture of that era was associated with Proto-Celtic, Celtic, and the pre-Illyrian population of Iron Age Europe lasting from 800 to 400 BC. It was here that the earliest archeological proof of Celts was found.

Location of Hallstatt lake

Besides the ancient history, the region’s landscape is majestically picturesque because of its unique location on a rugged narrow bank west of the Hallstättersee (Hallstatt Lake) with huge mountainous ranges behind it. Hallstatt is occasionally referred to as the ‘pearl of Austria’ and is regarded as one of the most stunning places on the planet.

Hallstatt town is situated between the steep slopes of the massif of the Dachstein and the Hallstättersee coast, in the Salzkammergut geographical area, on the national highway that links Graz and Salzburg.

The region has been very wealth through history due to its salt production activities. Salzwelten, the first known salt mine in the world, is open for tourists to visit. The village of Hallstatt is quite small can be toured via foot in just 10 to 15 minutes.

Hallstatt Lake – How to reach

Tourists need to note that not many restaurants or shops are open during the off season. Sometimes, it may also be hard to find a hotel or a place to stay. It is therefore important to make reservations in advance to avoid the unnecessary hassle of searching for lodging.

Hallstatt lake is accessible by public bus, shuttle, cab, and train. You can even drive there. There is a tunnel and a street in the mountain located above Hallstatt and it has underground parking.

• Train travel: Take a train running on the main line between Vienna and Salzburg and alight at Attnang-Puchheim. Then board a train to Obertraun and Bad Ischl; Hallstatt station is 1 stop north of former and south of latter, on the eastern banks of the Hallstatt lake. A boat dock is present near the rail tracks and there is regular ferry service that runs in conjunction with train timings, to take tourists across the lake into the town.
  • The ferry ride is one the best ways to check out the beautiful landscape of the town, particularly in the mornings when the town is illuminated by the warm sunshine.
  • Travelers could buy the tickets on the train. That practice has been discontinued as of 2017. Now tickets need to be purchased at the station via a ticket machine. The departure screens have information about the platform number at Attnang-Puchheim where you need to transfer. The conductor can also provide you with this information. It is important for tourists to be prepared for a fast transfer as the station is small and trains do not stop for a long time at Attnang-Puchheim.
• Bus travel: There are several buses and shuttles that provide door-to-door transportation between Cesky Krumlov and Hallstatt, Salzburg and Hallstatt, and Ceske Budejovice and Hallstatt, etc.

Hallstatt Lake – Ferry Ride

The ferry ride gives you stunning views of the Hallstatt lake and the town.  Make sure you sit on the outside to enjoy the natural splendor. Remember to check the ferry schedule for departure, when you get down the boat. The last ferry tends to leave at 6.15 PM (the time may change so make sure you check it out). The last train to Attnang-Pucheim leaves at around 6.32 PM. The last bus leaves before 7.30 pm.

Hallstatt lake – tourist attractions and walk through

The best way to check out the village is on foot. You can easily walk from one side of the town to another in around 30 minutes. The town has only one road running across it. Cars are not allowed on the road between 10 am to 5 pm from May to Oct.

Tourists can enjoy a variety of activities during their stay near Hallstatt lake. You can go hiking, boating, rock climbing, surfing, and visit the ice caves or the salt mines. The FKK nude beach is another place that you can visit during the summers.

• Beinhaus/Bone House: The local cemetery has very limited space and hence burials of the decease tend to be temporary in Hallstatt. The graves get opened after 10 to 15 years, the bones get removed, and then they are bleached under the sun. Later they are arranged in the Beinhaus. The skulls are typically embellished with the family named and painted flowers. After the Catholic Church approved cremation in the 1970s, this practice was ceased. The bodies that remain buried in the cemetery are of the recently deceased.
• The Cultural Heritage Museum: It is a small but intriguing museum with information and displays about the nearly 7000 years of the history of Hallstatt.

Things to Do

• Take a boat tour across the Hallstatt lake and enjoy the spectacular views.
• Check out the salt mines and explore the underground network and beauty of the over 2 centuries old mines.
• The mountains across the Salzkammergut region and behind Hallstatt are full of hiking trails. You can take a good hiking map and enjoy the alpine weather and the beauty of nature.
• Across the Hallstatt lake in Dachstein, there are several caves with lakes, ice waterfalls, and ponds streaming from the limestone. A ticket is required to enter these ice caves. Once there, tourists should definitely visit the five fingers lookout point which offers an amazing view of the surroundings as well as a rush of adrenaline as you get up on the glass-bottomed platform and look below.
• About half a kilometer towards the south of Hallstatt village is a beautiful lakeside playground. It has facilities like swimming, free WC, and sunbathing, etc. It also offers a great view of the town and the surroundings.
• Enjoy the quiet and peace that pervades the serene village. Go to a café next to the Hallstatt lake and enjoy a delightful lunch as well as feed the swans. You can also try the local fish delicacies. Stroll along the streets and window shop. Try out regional beers either at a restaurant or buy it from local stores.

Hallstatt lake- Pictures