The European Sojourn Part 2 – A Day in Austria’s Prettiest Village

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Leaving down the art, past and civilization of Vienna, it was clip to fulfil 1 of those long-nurtured dreams. It had been galore years erstwhile a peculiar and precise acquainted representation of Hallstatt triggered the wanderlust successful me. Probably I don?t person to archer you which representation that is, and if you hunt Hallstatt connected Google, it is decidedly going to travel up successful the results. (Don?t worry, I person clicked the nonstop aforesaid picture, carnivore with me!)

Reaching Hallstatt from Vienna
I checked retired of the edifice successful Vienna astatine 5.30 AM and started walking towards the Wien Hauptbahnhof station. It was a acold and windy morning, and the lukewarm layers were failing to support the upwind disconnected me. I genuinely underestimated the somesthesia extracurricular but the joyousness of taking the bid to Hallstatt and yet experiencing the spot with my ain eyes was intelligibly winning! Another 10 minutes of locomotion later, I grabbed immoderate croissant and java from Anker and boarded the OBB bid for 6 AM. Typically you won?t find a nonstop bid from Vienna to Hallstatt. There are 1 interchange trains via Attnang-Puchheim which takes astir 3.5 hours to scope Hallstatt. The precocious velocity OBB trains would driblet you astatine Attnang-Puchheim from wherever you volition request to committee a determination OBB bid (less fancy, sans the WiFi and gizmos) to Hallstatt.

The bid to Hallstatt

At 9.30 AM sharp, I got down astatine the cute small bid presumption of Hallstatt. As I exited the station, I could already spot the Hallstatt Lake, and a ferry waiting to instrumentality the passengers to the different broadside of the lake. However, telephone it my stupidity, I had to scope Obertraun first!

Hallstatt Train Station

Obertraun is similar the duplicate municipality of Hallstatt. Little did I cognize that a bid presumption exists astatine Obertraun arsenic well. When I recovered out, it was excessively precocious to cancel the bid tickets. I figured; I volition instrumentality immoderate nationalist transport aft getting down astatine Hallstatt to scope Obertraun. Since the Hallstatt municipality is rather small, the railway tracks were laid connected the different broadside of the municipality and 1 has to instrumentality a ferry to scope the main town. And thus, nary nationalist transport exists astatine the bid presumption isolated from the ferry. With nary enactment left, I started walking the 2 km stretch. I won?t deny, the views were highly appealing, but the locomotion felt similar forever, fixed I had to propulsion my trolley.

The mode to Obertraun

Pro-tip: If you are going connected a time travel oregon chose your enactment successful the main municipality (which is ace costly btw), you tin publication your bid tickets till Hallstatt. If you are staying the night(s) and booked your enactment astatine Obertraun, bash publication your tickets till Obertraun!

Staying and Getting Around
40 minutes into the walk, I yet reached Hotel Haus Am See. In spite of putting successful an aboriginal check-in petition (which they agreed during booking), the idiosyncratic astatine the reception denied saying the rooms are not acceptable and recommended I should spell sojourn the town.

Hotel Haus Am See

I freshened up, walked circular the property, got a presumption of the water (yes! The water is immense and is accessible from Obertraun too), I went up to drawback a autobus to Hallstatt. I paid 2.5 Euros and 30 minutes later, I was dropped astatine the Hallstatt autobus stop. The quiescent vistas of Obertraun were rapidly replaced by chatters of hundreds of tourists from each corners of the globe. After a speedy stroll aimlessly and catching connected immoderate lunch, I headed to the Salzwelten Funicular, which would aboriginal instrumentality maine to the Hallstatt Skywalk and the brackish mine. One tin get a 40 Euros summons to sojourn some these places on with the round-trip funicular ride.

Hallstatt Funicular

There?s a hiking way excessively I heard, which 1 could instrumentality to scope the apical of the hill. While the hike would surely connection much breathtaking views and satisfaction, it would besides beryllium prudent to prevention immoderate clip and vigor to research the brackish excavation later. Nevertheless, I was rather excited to thrust the funicular similar a kid.

Hallstatt Skywalk
As I got disconnected the funicular, I climbed fewer much stairs and aft different 200 steps oregon so, I was yet astatine the Hallstatt Skywalk.

World Heritage View

Perched precocious supra the charming colony of Hallstatt, the Hallstatt Skywalk offers an exhilarating acquisition that caught maine successful awe. This breathtaking viewing platform, aptly named the "World Heritage View," extends implicit a sheer cliff, providing a stunning panoramic presumption that stretches crossed the tranquil Hallstatt Lake and the quaint, picturesque houses nestled on the shore. As I stepped onto the platform, the sensation of floating supra the magnificent scenery was sinking in, and my DSLR went connected a blessed spree of capturing the breathtaking vistas around. The Skywalk is not conscionable a vantage constituent but a gateway to the bosom of Hallstatt's earthy beauty, offering visitors a position that genuinely captures the essence of this enchanting colony and its majestic alpine surroundings. Unfortunately, determination was a brainsick unreserved to click photos/selfies astatine the Skywalk, truthful aft waiting for immoderate much clip to get fortunate with an unobstructed view, I benignant of gave up.

There?s besides a edifice conscionable earlier the skywalk. This place, besides known arsenic Rudolph?s tower, holds important humanities and taste value successful Hallstatt. Originally built successful the precocious 13th century, it served arsenic a fortification to support the invaluable brackish mines from imaginable invaders. Named aft Duke Rudolf I of Austria, who commissioned its construction, the operation provided strategical defence for the region's brackish mining operations, which were important to Hallstatt's system and development.

Hallstatt Salt Mine
Next up was the Hallstatt brackish mine. I had heard large reappraisal astir the brackish excavation during my probe of Hallstatt and figured it?s a indispensable bash happening portion successful the town. I person ne'er visited a brackish excavation successful my beingness and was each successful for this adventure. The introduction to the brackish excavation is simply a 5 minute?s locomotion from the skywalk.

Entry to the Salt Mine

After getting my summons validated, I proceeded to conscionable the usher for the day, Joseph. I indispensable notation present that the brackish excavation circuit can?t beryllium done without a usher and are typically done successful batches. Joseph was an highly comic young man, with a thorough cognition of the brackish mine, and portion of my astonishing acquisition astatine the excavation was due to the fact that of him. We were fixed the miner?s uniform, which we had to deterioration to prevention our dresses from being damaged. Perfectly dressed arsenic miners, it was present clip to participate the excavation done the Christina passageway and spell backmost successful history.

Ready to excavation immoderate salt!

The Hallstatt Salt Mine, known arsenic Salzwelten, offers a captivating travel into the depths of past and geology. Dating backmost implicit 7,000 years, this past excavation is the oldest successful the world, providing a unsocial glimpse into the origins of brackish mining. As you task into the subterranean tunnels, it does consciousness similar being transported done time, enabled by engaging narratives and immersive exhibits. The brackish excavation is besides wherever a 3,000-year-old assemblage of a miner was discovered successful the salt, each perfectly preserved.

An underground theatre

As we proceeded done tunnels listening to the lucid narration of Joseph, it was clip to spell from 1 level to different ? successful a miner?s slide. Joseph instructed the radical astir however to descent perfectly. Though I felt a spot tense initially astatine the thought of sliding, I took the plunge anyhow and loved it. These slides were really utilized by miners to spell from 1 level to another. Talk astir ?make enactment fun?. However, if you are faint-hearted, you tin safely instrumentality the stairs to spell down a level. The 2nd slide, going down to level 2 from level 1, was adjacent much challenging and faster. The region was astir 64 metres and the slant felt astir similar 45 degrees. If you consciousness fidgety astir taking a photograph during the slide, this 1 has got you covered! There?s a camera which takes automatic pictures of your descent and you tin bargain the aforesaid astatine the reception for 8 Euros. Although I took videos portion sliding, I bought the representation anyhow arsenic a souvenir. The brackish excavation is besides location to the oldest woody staircase successful Europe, preserved by the brackish for millennia. Finally astatine the extremity of the tour, we were transported backmost to the daylight by a miner?s train. How chill is that! Given a choice, I would bash the brackish excavation circuit again, and I highly urge this circuit arsenic it is an unmissable acquisition for immoderate visitor.

The Miner's Slide

Hallstatt Town Square
A postcard cleanable municipality ? with a lakeside promenade, surrounded by the towering Alps mountains, cute woody houses with flowers hanging from the windows, and an adorable municipality square. That beauteous overmuch sums up Hallstatt! With the brackish excavation circuit done, I rapidly grabbed a scoop of Mozart (yes you volition virtually find his sanction everyplace successful Austria, adjacent successful ice-creams!) and started strolling towards the Hallstatt municipality square. I couldn?t get capable of the houses, however beauteous they were, with their colourful walls, the woody roofs and a affluent palette of flowers hanging from each balcony. Oh, and each of them person a water presumption too!

Colourful houses everywhere!

In different 5 minutes, I reached a tiny and beauteous municipality square, which astir apt is 1 of the prettiest successful Europe (if not the prettiest). Also known arsenic the Marktplatz, the municipality quadrate is simply a vibrant testament to the village's affluent past and enchanting charm. This picturesque municipality square, adorned with colourful 16th-century houses, creates a captivating country that feels consecutive retired of a fairytale. Each gathering is simply a portion of history, present location to quaint cafes, charming shops, and inviting eateries wherever you tin savour section delights. The focal constituent of the Marktplatz is simply a beautifully ornate fountain, astir which locals and visitors stitchery to soak successful the lively atmosphere. Seasonal flowers, festive markets, and taste events adhd to the square's ever-changing tapestry. On the different broadside of the municipality quadrate is the Evangelique Church, which isolated from being an integral portion of Hallstatt?s history, is besides a portion of the acquainted Hallstatt picture, which I talked astir astatine the beginning.

Hallstatt Town Square

Gosaumuhlstrasse View Point
As I near down the municipality square, I started walking the incline connected the Gosaumuhlstrasse. It seemed arsenic if the thoroughfare is diverging from the lake, and fewer bends later, I recovered myself astatine an elevation from the town, and determination it was, the astir searched and sought aft presumption of Hallstatt. With the stunning views of Hallstatt Lake connected 1 broadside and the majestic Dachstein Alps connected the other, this presumption of Hallstatt is similar that cleanable postcard. The towering spire of the Evangelique church, the houses doting the shoreline, the cruises connected the lake, everything astir this presumption is magical and mesmerizing. I was gladsome that I could spot this spot for existent and could tick it disconnected my bucket list.

Parish Church of the Assumption of Mary & Charnel House
Every constrictive alley successful Hallstatt astir ever leads to a spectacular view. One specified alley took maine to the Parish Church of the Assumption of Mary. The past of the spot appeared absorbing to maine and I decided to sojourn the place. However, it was a hard clip uncovering the mode to the church. At the verge of giving up, I decided to effort for 1 past clip and started looking meticulously for immoderate thoroughfare motion starring to the church. Suddenly I stumbled upon a tiny thoroughfare sign, and a five-minute hike rewarded maine with 1 of the astir breathtaking views of Hallstatt Lake from the terrace of the church. This beauteous Gothic church, dating backmost to the 12th century, is rather captivating with its intricate woodwork, stunning frescoes, and serene ambiance and I conjecture this made maine autumn successful emotion with small, accepted churches blessed with aged satellite charm.

The religion is besides location to the Charnel House, wherever astir 1,200 skulls are painted with floral motifs arsenic a motion of love, and the sanction and day of decease of the deceased inscribed. This absorbing contented started successful 1720 erstwhile the tiny municipality of Hallstatt ran retired of cremation abstraction and it was decided that the existing graves beryllium opened 10-20 years aft the burial to marque abstraction for the new. The skulls were past cleaned and bleached, painted with the floral motifs and placed successful the Charnel House. The past skull placed successful the Charnel House successful 1995, connected the idiosyncratic privation of a woman who passed distant successful 1983. Her aureate bony is inactive disposable successful the skull. As connected date, a idiosyncratic testament needs to beryllium made if idiosyncratic wishes to beryllium placed successful the Charnel House.

As the evening dawned, it was astir clip to permission this charming municipality down and instrumentality the autobus to Obertraun. After the day?s unforgettable escapade and thousands of steps later, my backmost and legs needed immoderate deserving rest. The municipality of Obertraun sleeps precise aboriginal truthful I caught connected a speedy meal astatine 9 p.m. astatine the lone pizzeria adjacent to my hotel. The adjacent morning, arsenic I prepared to proceed my adjacent limb of the trip, I caught connected immoderate quiescent clip by the enactment earlier heading to the bid station. The excitement was adjacent higher arsenic Prague beckoned!