Sightseeing highlights in the province of Salzburg for your summer holidays in Austria
Various day trip destinations in the close vicinity
Various attractive day trip destinations and sightseeing highlights await you in the vicinity of Hotel Oberforsthof in Austria during your summer holidays.
Enjoy the view from Großglockner Mountain, the highest
mountain of Austria; experience Salzkammergut region with its marvellous lakes;
or set out to discover the traces of the famous musical genius Mozart at
the city of Salzburg during your family summer holidays.
Explore
one of the deepest and longest ravines of the Alpine region,
Liechtensteinklamm Gorge, near your hotel. Or why not enjoy a
hiking tour to an Alpine chalet?
Have you always dreamed of taking a journey back in time to the middle ages? Enjoy a trip to castle Hohenwerfen and marvel at the sight of eagles circling in the sky during a falconry show. Would you love to experience a different side of the mountains? The World of Ice Giants in Werfen, a natural monument only slightly less fascinating than the Grand Canyon, awaits you. Experience a unique natural spectacle, when the waters of the Krimml Waterfalls (the highest waterfalls in Europe) plunge 380 metres into the deep.
A roaring waterfall, boulders covered in dark green moss, a history shrouded in legend, rainbows wherever the sun touches the fine mist in the air. These are some of the things you will find in the Liechtensteinklamm Gorge (or 'Klamm', for short), located near St. Johann in the heart of Salzburg. Not only is it one of the most beautiful, it is also one of the deepest, longest gorges in the Alps.
After several failed attempts, a handful of members of the local
Alpine Association succeeded in 1875 in making the wild and romantic gorge
accessible to the public. Unfortunately, the valiant pioneers soon ran out of
money. Not knowing where else to turn for help, they approached Johann II,
Prince of Liechtenstein, who owned a hunting ground in the nearby town of
Grossarl. With his donation of 600 guilders the project was finished in
1876.
The culture city Salzburg surrounded by majestic mountains lies
approximately 45 minutes by car from St. Johann. Various sightseeing highlights,
restaurants and shopping opportunities await you during an exciting day at the
city of Mozart.
The Fortress Hohensalzburg, Mozart's Birthplace and
Hellbrunn Palace with its famous trick-fountains are especially
recommended.
The famous high Alpine road will take you to the heart of the Hohe Tauern national park, Großglockner mountain, which at 3,798 metres is the highest mountain in Austria, and its glacier.
The 900-year-old Hohenwerfen Fortress towers high above the Salzach Valley,
between the Tennen and Hagen mountain ranges. Adventurers and culture buffs will
find just what they're looking for at Hohenwerfen: a variety of attractions
including tours of the fortress, a weapons exhibit, a romantic castle tavern, a
medieval shop and the historic Falconry Centre with daily flight demonstrations,
the first Austrian Falconry Museum, as well as changing special
exhibitions.
Special evening programmes with an extensive social programme
are offered during the summer months of July and August. The visitors programme
is rounded off by countless afternoons offering folklore, theatre performances
and the special falconry programmes.
The fortress is accessed by a shaded
footpath (approx. 15 minutes' walk). An elevator carrying passengers straight up
to the fortress courtyard is available at extra charge.
The salt mines at Dürnberg mountain near Hallein were the foundation for the wealth of the city and province of Salzburg. Experience the 2,500-year history of salt mining and fascinating facts about the 'white gold' at the oldest show mine in the world. Follow the traces of the Celts who mined salt as early as 400 B.C. Explore the mysterious world of the miners and marvel at a maze of kilometres of tunnels cut into the rock by hand. Today small and big guests alike experience adventures, fun and interesting facts, regardless of the weather.
At the end of the nineteenth century the caves were only known to hunters and
poachers. Not until 1879 did Anton Posselt, a natural scientist from Salzburg,
push 200 metres into the darkness of the caves and officially 'discover' the
World of Ice Giants – the largest ice caves in the world. The World of Ice
Giants is accessible from May 1st to October 26th. Guided tours are available.
Good shoes and warm clothes are highly recommended as temperatures are below
freezing, even in summer.
The caves are always well worth a visit, even when
the weather is nice and warm. Good weather has the advantage of exciting
panoramic views of the Salzach valley from the entrance and the change from
light to dark is particularly striking when it is sunny outdoors.
The parish church with its Gothic wooden statuary sculptures and two towers is the landmark of St. Johann. The church is first mentioned in 924 A.D. After a fire in 1855 the church was completely rebuilt. The Neo-Gothic altars contain a variety of Late-Gothic sculptures. The imposing location high above the Salzach Valley and the mystic interior make the parish church a unique example of ecclesiastic architecture.
With their impressive 380m waterfall drop the Krimml Waterfalls are the fifth highest waterfalls in the world. With approx. 350,000 visitors each year they are one of the most visited tourist features in Austria. A hiking trail built by the Austrian Alpine Association (OeAV) makes it possible to get very close to this breathtaking natural spectacle, affording sensational views. Enjoy the refreshing mizzle and the impressive power of the water amidst the gorgeous scenery of the Hohe Tauern National Park.
