The ancient little mountain town of Schladming lies in the upper Enns valley, between the Dachstein in the north and the Schladminger Tauern in the south. In the Middle Ages silver and copper were mined here. Its situation makes the town a good base for walks and climbs in the Ramsau area on the southern slopes of the Dachstein and in the Tauern. It is also popular for winter sports, with numerous good ski runs in the surrounding hills.
Much of the town dates from the period when it was a mining community, as witness the old miners' houses.
The 17th C. Salzburger Tor (Salzburg Gate) is a relic of the old fortifications. The Late Gothic parish church (R.C.) dates from the 16th C. but retains a Late Romanesque tower; the Protestant church (1862), the largest Protestant church in Styria, has a winged altar of the Reformation period. A memorial stone in the Unterer Stadtplatz commemorates the burning of the rebellious town during the Peasant War of 1525. The Municipal Museum is also worth a visit. As well as being historically and culturally interesting Schladming has quaint little streets down which you can take a leisurely stroll, visit the restaurants and inns and savor genuine Styrian hospitality. Concerts are held during the "Schladminger Musiksommer".
6.5km/4mi to the east of Schladming lies the winter sports resort of Haus (750m/2,462ft; pop. 2,300). A cabin cableway ascends by way of the Bürgerwald to the Hauser Kaibling (upper station 1,838m/6,032ft, summit 2,015m/6,613ft; panoramic view); there is also a mountain road from Schladming.
Address: Haus im Ennstal Tourist Office, Raiffeisenstrasse, A-8967 Haus im Ennstal, Austria
The Mooserboden skiing area (970m/3,183ft) and the commune of Rohrmoos-Untertal (900- 1,850m/2,950-6,070ft), southwest of Schladming, can be reached on a toll road (12km/7.5mi) up the Hochwurzen (1,852m/6,076ft; hut; extensive views).
To the southeast of Schladming lies an area of good walking and skiing country below the Planei (1,894m/6,214ft). A cableway and a toll road (9km/5.5mi) ascend the Schladminger Hütte (1,830m/6,004ft; inn; accommodation) from which there is a superb view of the Dachstein massif. Near the intermediate station of the cableway (1,350m/4,430ft) is a ski racing run for amateurs (timing facilities).
Skiers from all over Europe have made this one of Austria's most popular resorts. Schladming has hosted the World Championships and numerous World Cup events and the area, known as the Ski Paradise, offers 140 km of runs on seven mountains in the Dachstein-Tauern valley. Although it has something for everyone the area is famous for long and wide runs through pine forest glades. Schladming, a blend of solid stone buildings and wooden chalets, is a safe bet for a ski vacation because the nearby Dachstein glacier guarantees that snow will be available virtually year-round.
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Haus - Hauser Kaibling, Austria
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