The old Celtic town of Hallein lies about 15km/9mi south of Salzburg on the River Salbach, which here emerges from the mountains into the Alpine foreland. It takes its name ("hall" is an old word for "Salz" = salt) from the ancient salt mines here. It is the chief town in the Tannengau and of industrial importance (chemicals, machinery, salt
-mining in the Dürrnberg), with a college of woodworking and masonry. There were settlers on this site as early as 700 B.C. Hallein was granted its charter in 1230. Prehistoric inhabitants probably worked the Dürrnberg salt mines some 4,500 years ago. In 1938 the spa town of Dürrnberg to the south was made a part of Hallein.
In this picturesque old town you will find numerous little streets, gateways and statues, as well as houses built in the typical Salzach style. Opposite the parish church (Gothic choir) stands the house of the organist Franz Xaver Gruber (1787-1863), composer of "Silent Night" (see Salzburg, Surroundings); in front of the house is his grave.
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