Hallstätter See
The Hallstätter See, a mountain lake in the Salzkammergut, lies at the northern foot of the mighty Dachstein in the glacial Trog valley, and is watered by the River Traun. The lake is 8.5km/5.25mi long, 1-2km/0.75-1.5mi wide and some 125m/400ft deep. Surrounded as it is by steep wooded slopes the lake has a certain fjord-like character. Villages on its banks include Obertraun (at the entrance of the river), Steeg (where the river exits the lake) and Hallstatt.
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Must-see attractions nearby:
Hallstätter See
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The first phase of the European Iron Age (eighth-fourth century B.C.) is known as the Hallstatt Period, characterized by the bronze and iron grave goods found in the numerous tombs on the Salzberg.
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Hinterer Gosausee
A road (closed to cars) along the Vordere Gosausee, past the Holzmeisteralm (973m/3,192ft), leads to the Hinterer Gosausee (1,154m/3,786ft; 1.75 hours' climb), situated in a magnificent valley basin, the high walls of which give it the character of a lake normally found only in the highest of mountains. From here it is three hours to the Adamek-Hütte (2,196m/9,205ft; inn); then another three hours' rock-climbing (with guide) to the summit of the Hoher Dachstein.
Salt Mountain
Above Hallstatt, to the northwest, rises the Salzberg ("Salt Mountain", 1,030m/3,379ft). It can be reached by taking the cableway from Lahn and then continuing on foot (15-20minutes), or by walking all the way on the Salzbergweg (fine views), via the Rudolfsturm (850m/2,789ft; restaurant and lookout terrace) and the Iron Age cemetery (1.5 hours). The salt mine is open to visitors.
Salzberg Salt Mine
South of Bad Ischl is the Salzberg; the conducted tour of the salt mine lasts about one hour.
Simony-Hütte
To the southwest of Hallstatt there is a climb (not difficult, three hours) to the Tiergartenhütte (1,457m/4,570ft; inn open in summer), from which it is another 1.25 hours to the Wiesberghaus (1,883m/6,178ft; inn) and then 1.5 hours to the Simony-Hütte (2,206m/7,235ft; inn open in summer) magnificently situated below the Hallstatt glacier. From the Simony-Hütte the Hoher Dachstein (2,995m/9,827ft), the highest peak in the Dachstein group, can be climbed in three hours.
