Lungau

The Lungau, is in the southeast of Salzburg province. From the Taurach valley, traversed by the southern section of the Tauern pass road, numerous smaller valleys branch off, giving access to the mountains with their rushing mountain streams, their lakes and attractive little villages.

The Langau is a wide forest covered basin (alt. 1,000- 1,200m/3,300-3,900ft) watered by the tributary streams which form the River Mur and lying between the Schladminger Tauern (part of the Niedere Tauern) to the north and the Gurktal Alps to the south. Open only to the east, it is cut in two by the long flat-topped ridge of the Mitterberg (1,581m/5,187ft). In winter it is one of the coldest areas in Austria. Many old customs have been preserved in this remote high valley, including the "Samson Processions", in which the (often over-lifesize) figures of Samson traditionally serve as a symbol of fertility. Until 1975 the Lungau could be reached from the north only by the Tauernpass Road (height of pass 1,739m/5,706ft), from the south only by way of the Katschberg (1,641m/5,384ft). Now, however, the Tauern motorway (toll), passing through the Tauern Tunnel (6.5km/4mi) to the north and the Katschberg Tunnel (5km/3mi) to the south, has opened up this sunny valley, with its fine walking country and its new winter sports facilities.