Pinzgau Attractions
The Pinzgau, through which the River Salzach flows, extends eastward from the Gerlos pass to the Gasteiner Tal, bounded on the north by the Kitzbühel Alps and on the south by the national park of the Hohe Tauern. Beautiful lateral valleys sculpt their way up into the mountains to north and south, carrying important traffic routes, including the road over the Thurn pass, the Felber-Tauern Road, the road through the Saalach valley and past the Zeller See to Saalfelden and the Grossglockner Road. The Pinzgau joins the Pongau at the point where the Salzach turns northward beyond the mouth of the Gasteiner Tal.
Sulzbach Valley
One hour's walk to the southwest of Neukirchen, at the mouth of the Sulzbach valley, are the impressive Sulzbach Falls.
Bruck an der Grossglocknerstrasse, Austria
The road throungh the Pinzgau continues past Uttendorf via Niedernsill and Piesendorf, passes a side road to Zell am See and reaches Bruck an der Grossglocknerstrasse (758m/2,488ft; pop. 3,700), a resort with a busy passing trade. Note the parish church of St George (19th C. Gothic Virgin); and Schloss Fischhorn (13th C.; rebuilt in 1920 following a fire). The Kapruner Tal branches off to the south past Piesendorf, and the Grossglockner Road runs southward from Bruck to Heiligenblut.
Neukirchen am Grossvenediger, Austria
Past Wald im Pinzgau is Neukirchen am Grossvenediger (856m/2,809ft; pop. 2,100), an idyllic holiday and winter sports resort in the upper Pinzgau with a Late Gothic church (14th C. fresco) and Schloss Hochneukirchen (16th C.).
Neukirchen am Grossvenediger Tourist Office
A-5741 Neukirchen am Grossvenediger
Austria
A-5741 Neukirchen am Grossvenediger
Austria
Grossvenediger
Neukirchen is a starting point for the ascent of the Grossvenediger (3,674m/12,054ft); the route leads up the Sulzbach valley to the Kürsingerhütte (2,549m/8,363ft; 6.5 hours; accommodation), from which it is a further 4.5 hours (with guide) to the summit. Another good climb, to the southeast, is up the Habach valley to the Thüringer Hütte (2,300m/7,550ft; 6.5 hours; accommodation), near the rugged Habachkees, a good base for further climbs and mountain treks.
(Pinzgau)
The Venediger group, the most westerly part of the Hohe Tauern, has the largest area of glaciers in the Austrian Alps after the mountains of the Ötztal. Its main peak, the Grossvenediger (3,674m/12,054ft), first climbed in 1841 by Ignaz von Kürsinger and 40 companions, is the second highest in the Tauern. Its magnificent névé-covered pyramid, surrounded on all sides by ice, presents no great difficulty to experienced glacier walkers, and is frequented not only by large numbers of climbers in summer but also by skiers in winter, particularly for the splendid descent on the Obersulzbachkees.Neukirchen is a starting point for the ascent of the Grossvenediger (3,674m/12,054ft); the route leads up the Sulzbach valley to the Kürsingerhütte (2,549m/8,363ft; 6.5 hours; accommodation), from which it is a further 4.5 hours (with guide) to the summit. Another good climb, to the southeast, is up the Habach valley to the Thüringer Hütte (2,300m/7,550ft; 6.5 hours; accommodation), near the rugged Habachkees, a good base for further climbs and mountain treks.
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Wald im Pinzgau, Austria
Wald im Pinzgau (885m/2,904ft; pop. 900) is a summer and winter sports resort at the junction with the old road from the Gerlos pass. Beyond the village to the south towards Mittershill there are magnificent views of the mountains and glaciers of the Grossvenediger group. An excursion to the Krimmler Falls is strongly recommended.
Wald im Pinzgau - Fluorite Demonstration Mineshaft
In Wald im Pinzgau the interested visitor can see the Fluorite Demonstration Mineshaft. Fluorite is a common mineral, calcium floride. It is the principal source of fluorine. Fluorine is the most reactive nonmetallic element and is used in fluorine dating. Fluorine dating is a method of determining the providence of fossils.
Wildkogel
A modern chairlift runs northward from Neukirchen up the Wildkogel (2,227m/7,307ft; upper station 2,093m/6,867ft; skiing area), from which there are superb views.
