--- title: Gritstone Quarries in Gosau url: "https://dachstein.salzkammergut.at/en/oesterreich-poi/detail/430009495/place-of-happiness-gritstone-quarries.html" description: The Gritstone Quarries have always been an importqant cultural asset, and can be reached either or on foot or via the Gosau Land Train. date: 2012-06-19 modified: 2026-03-06 --- # Gritstone Quarries in Gosau Place of Happiness Gritstone Quarries ======================================= Gosau, Oberösterreich, Österreich ![](https://assets.tourdata.at/260x195/212167/F9DCEC04321271881005A476CE141DD1FB59010580507543990DC4EE35C08DB5/schleifsteinbrueche.jpg) ![](https://assets.tourdata.at/260x195/212168/D17EC45EBDBDBCB8792D90D7E01AB93EBB3A97C79DD4347B246EEDDC0A24DB87/schleifsteine.jpg) ![](https://assets.tourdata.at/260x195/212169/BC4778ECFD697C29ADEFD2EC68216D716A1AABAD066EDE31B9FC000B90E90A2D/mann-mit-sense.jpg) © Open copyright © Grill Elisabeth Close copyright [ ![Two men work in the grindstones during the filming.](https://assets.tourdata.at/x550/212167/F9DCEC04321271881005A476CE141DD1FB59010580507543990DC4EE35C08DB5/schleifsteinbrueche.jpg "© Grill Elisabeth") ](https://assets.tourdata.at/1920x/212167/F9DCEC04321271881005A476CE141DD1FB59010580507543990DC4EE35C08DB5/schleifsteinbrueche.jpg) © Open copyright © Grill Elisabeth Close copyright [ ![Finished grindstones from the grindstone quarry stones](https://assets.tourdata.at/x550/212168/D17EC45EBDBDBCB8792D90D7E01AB93EBB3A97C79DD4347B246EEDDC0A24DB87/schleifsteine.jpg "© Grill Elisabeth") ](https://assets.tourdata.at/1920x/212168/D17EC45EBDBDBCB8792D90D7E01AB93EBB3A97C79DD4347B246EEDDC0A24DB87/schleifsteine.jpg) © Open copyright © Christopher Unterberger Close copyright [ ![The scythe is sanded with the whetstone](https://assets.tourdata.at/x550/212169/BC4778ECFD697C29ADEFD2EC68216D716A1AABAD066EDE31B9FC000B90E90A2D/mann-mit-sense.jpg "© Christopher Unterberger") ](https://assets.tourdata.at/1920x/212169/BC4778ECFD697C29ADEFD2EC68216D716A1AABAD066EDE31B9FC000B90E90A2D/mann-mit-sense.jpg) 1. 2. 3. pets allowed Gosauseestraße 5 4824 Gosau [ open in Google Maps ](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Gosauseestra%C3%9Fe%205%2C%204824%20Gosau "Link will open in a new window") [ Open in Apple Maps ](https://maps.apple.com/place?address=Gosauseestra%C3%9Fe%205%2C%204824%20Gosau "Link will open in a new window") ![](https://static.ecmaps.de/staticmap.jpg?experience=webarchitektur-meta&lat=47.561700754519734&lon=13.544855117797846&width=991&height=450&project=ttg-basemap&zoom=2000&server=meta.tourdata.at) **Valuable grindstone has been mined in Gosau for the past four centuries. Grindstone quarrying was an important source of income for the people of Gosau for around 400 years. Operations ceased in 1969. In 1989, however, ambitious local people who had inherited the right to mine in Gosau established a new company and began mining once again.** **The million-year-old grinding stones** ---------------------------------------- Around **80 million years** ago, fine-grained, **fossil-free sandstone** was deposited in a hollow of the **Cretaceous sea** that **covered[Gosau am Dachstein](https://dachstein.salzkammergut.at/gosau-am-dachstein.html)** at that time. This created an excellent **whetstone** that was **mined** for **four centuries**. It was particularly important for sharpening scythes and wooden tools. In spring, a layer of marl was first cleared away to protect the stone from snow and weather. Then, with the help of a wooden compass, the shape of the later **whetstone** was marked out and finally chiseled out with a pointed hammer. In winter, the **grindstone carvers** brought the stones down to the valley on transport sledges, where they were given their final shape on a lathe. Today, a few **part-time cutters** still work, producing **top-quality whetstones**, mainly for small machines. For information on the sale of grinding stones, please contact **Siglinde Fasl (Badstumer) +43 664 354 77 22** Today, **four Gosau** idealists still look after the **historic grinding stone quarry** on the **Ressenberg** in their free time, which is an important **cultural asset in Gosau**. [**Experience a 360° panoramic tour through the Gosau valley...**](https://dachstein-panorama.at/?startscene=27&startactions=lookat(19.49,5.61,100.3,0,0);) [ Contact ](#ttgCollapseKontakt) ---------------------------------- **Place of Happiness Gritstone Quarries** Gosauseestraße 5 4824 Gosau Phone +43 6132 26909 - 400Show no. E-Mail [gosau@salzkammergut.at](#mailto) Web [www.dachstein-salzkammergut.at](http://www.dachstein-salzkammergut.at "New window") http://www.dachstein-salzkammergut.at --- **You can also visit us on** [ Facebook ](https://www.facebook.com/dachsteinsalzkammergut) [ Instagram ](https://www.instagram.com/visitdachsteinsalzkammergut) [ TikTok ](https://www.tiktok.com/@visitdachstein) [ Pinterest ](https://www.pinterest.at/dachsteinsalzkammergut) [ YouTube ](https://www.youtube.com/user/dachsteinskg) [ Wikipedia ](https://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gosau)--- **Contact person** Tourismusverband Dachstein Salzkammergut Gosauseestraße 5 4824 Gosau Phone +43 6132 26909 - 400Show no. E-Mail [gosau@salzkammergut.at](#mailto) Web [www.dachstein-salzkammergut.at](http://www.dachstein-salzkammergut.at "New window") --- **Legal contact information** Gemeinde Gosau Markus Schmaranzer Vordertalstraße 30 AT-4824 Gosau gemeinde@gosau.ooe.gv.at https://www.gosau.ooe.gv.at/ UID: ATU23414204 --- **We speak the following languages** German [ Opening hours ](#ttgCollapseOeffnungszeiten) ------------------------------------------------ The Gritstone Quarries are accessible from May to October. - open to the public - Can only be viewed from outside [ Arrival ](#ttgCollapseAnreise) ---------------------------------- **Elevation**1300 m **Accessibility / arrival****You can reach the Gritstone Quarries with the Gosauer land train or by feet at the way nr. 644 which starts near the inn Gosauschmied. by car** **from Salzburg:** Motorway exit Golling via B162 Abtenau and B166 to Gosau **from Linz:** Motorway exit Regau on Salzkammergut street B145 towards Gmunden and Bad Ischl to Bad Goisern, in Bad Goisern turn right onto B166, at the Gosaumühle junction turn right towards Gosau **from Vienna/Graz:** Motorway exit Liezen on the B320, in Trautenfels turn on Salzkammergut street B145 to Bad Aussee, turn on Koppen street through Obertraun and Hallstatt, at the Gosaumühle junction turn left towards Gosau **from Villach:** Tauern motorway to exit “Eben im Pongau”, via the B166 Pass Gschütt federal road to Gosau **by train** Attnang-Puchheim - Steinach-Irdning lines Arrival by train in "Steeg / Gosau" then continue with bus 542 in the direction Gosausee **By bus** Bus 470 (Abtenau - Gosau) direction Gosau, stop Gosau Abzw. Pass Gschütt Bus 542 (Bad Ischl - Gosausee) direction Gosausee, stops Haltestelle: Gosau Klaushof, Gosau Bärnausiedlung, Gosau Ressenbachweg, Gosau Vordertal B166, Gosau Ramsau B166, Gosau, Gemeindeamt, Abzw. Pass Gschütt, Hauptstraße, Gosau Wirtsweg, Gosau Leitenweg, Gosau Schüttmannweg, Mittertal b. Gosau Ort, Mittertal, Hornspitzlift, Hintertal b. Gosau Falmbach, Hintertal b. Gosau Mühlradl, Hintertal b. Gosau Ort, Hintertal b. Gosau Madlgasse, Hintertal b. Gosau Schmiedweg, Hintertal b. Gosau Freilichtmuseum,Hintertal b. Gosau Zwieselalmbahn (Panoramajet), Hintertal b. Gosau Gosaukammbahn Detailed information on the respective train and bus times can be found at (train) and (bus). **Parking**- Parking space: 10 [ Equipment ](#ttgCollapseAusstattung) ---------------------------------------- **Food and drink available**Badstuben hut **Service** **Guided tour**Guided hike through the grindstone quarries by appointment only. [ Suitability ](#ttgCollapseEignung) -------------------------------------- - Suitable for groups - Suitable for schools - Suitable for kids (6 - 14 Year) - Pets allowed - Suitable for seniors - Suitable for single travelers - Suitable for families - Suitable for friends - Suitable for couples - Suitable for children **Season**- Spring - Summer - Autumn [ Accessibility ](#ttgCollapseBarrierefreiheit) ------------------------------------------------- Please get in touch for more information. [ Discover more ](#ttgCollapseMeineEmpfehlungen) -------------------------------------------------- [ © Open copyright © Copyright: Leutgebhof Gosau Close copyright ![](https://assets.tourdata.at/660x495/202250/4E7CAF3C34E7C2308451A67245CE1DE4CAE8400096AE36461A594958FEC3C143/gosauer-bummelzug.jpg "Gosau land train (© Copyright: Leutgebhof Gosau)") Gosau Land Train / Alpine taxi ](https://dachstein.salzkammergut.at/en/oesterreich-poi/detail/202700/gosau-land-train-alpine-taxi.html) [To the website](http://www.dachstein-salzkammergut.at "New window") powered by [TOURDATA](https://www.tourdata.at "New window") [ ![TOURDATA Logo](https://dachstein.salzkammergut.at/fileadmin/templates/global/images/Logo-Tourdata.png "TOURDATA Logo") ](https://www.tourdata.at "New window")