Wolfgangsee
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The Wolfgangsee to the southeast of Salzburg - 10km/6mi long, 2km/1.25mi wide and up to 114m/375ft deep - is the best known lake in the Salzkammergut. Also known to the locals as the Abersee, it is surrounded by wooded slopes and finely shaped hills - to the north the Schafberg, rearing up above the steep Falkensteinwand, and above St Gilgen the Zwölferhorn. The road from St Gilgen to Bad Ischl skirts the southern side of the lake, with a road to St Wolfgang branching off at Strobl. The northwestern shores, with their sheer cliffs, are almost inaccessible. The lake offers facilities for all kinds of water sports: swimming, "electro-boats", rowing, waterskiing, surfing, sailing (sailing schools in St Gilgen and St Wolfgang), fishing; there is a waterski show in St Gilgen once a week, usually in the evening.
Related Attractions
St Gilgen, Austria
At the western end of the Wolfgangsee, in a broad meadow-covered valley, lies the popular resort of St Gilgen (546m/1,791ft; pop. 3,000). Near the Rathaus stands the house in which Mozart's mother Anna Maria Pertl (1720-78) was born; one room has been set aside as a Mozart memorial (letters to his sister, etc.; open in summer only). There is also a beautiful Mozart fountain with a bronze statue of the famous composer. The cableway from St Gilgen up to the Zwölferhorn (1,522m/4,994ft) gives access in summer to fine walking country and in winter to a skiing area with several lifts. There is a pleasant walk (about 1.5 hours) round the north end of the lake and above the steeply scarped shore to the Falkensteinwand, with its little pilgrimage church; the descent to St Wolfgang takes about 1.5 hours.
Fuschlsee, Austria
Northwest of the Wolfgangsee and surrounded by forest nestles the Fuschlsee, 4km/2.5mi long by 1km/0.75mi wide. The area around the lake is a nature reserve. At its eastern end lies the summer and winter resort of Fuschl (669m/2,195ft; pop. 800). On a peninsula in the western half of the lake stands the little Schloss Fuschl (hotel; hunting museum with large collection of tobacco pipes; conference center). 10km/6mi to the south of the Fuschlsee lies the little Hintersee (688m/2,257ft), a favorite spot for bathing. The village of Hintersee (764m/2,507ft) is a good base for climbers and skiers.
Hof bei Salzburg, Austria
Only 13km from Salzburg lies Hof, also known as Mozart's town. The town is located near Lake Fuschlsee and has all sorts of leisure activities, including water-sports, mountain walks and hikes, golf, cycling and tennis. The small town also has numerous luxury hotels, and various cafes and restaurants offering local delicacies.
Hof - Hunting Museum
Hof is the location of a hunting museum. Wildlife is scarce in the town proper.
Strobl am Wolfgangsee, Austria
Strobl is packed with activities for all seasons. Skiing, skating, curling and riding are only some of the many winter activities available. Summer is just as busy, with fishing, bathing, surfing, water-skiing, summer tobogganing, tennis, golf, camping and hiking. Regular festivals and special events are also held.
Vienna
Salzburg
Innsbruck
Graz
Linz
