Archaeology on the Mountain 2026: Experience 7,300 Years of Salt Transport in Hallstatt

On September 12 and 13, 2026, the Hallstatt High Valley will once again be transformed into a vibrant open-air archaeological laboratory. This weekend, the Natural History Museum Vienna, Salzwelten GmbH, and Salinen Austria AG invite you to discover the history of salt and its transportation over a period of more than 7,300 years. In keeping with the opening of the new funicular, the event will focus on the evolution of salt transport from prehistory to the present day.

From dugout canoes to modern logistics: Experience 7,300 years of salt transport

How was the “white gold” transported thousands of years ago from the Hallstatt salt mine down into the valley and on to the rest of the world? At “Archeology on the Mountain 2026” on September 12 and 13, 2026, the fascinating history of salt transport—from prehistory to the present—will come to life.

In the Hallstatt High Valley, visitors can expect a diverse open-air laboratory that combines archaeology, the history of technology, and modern logistics. The timeline spans from transport via dugout canoes and pack animals to carts, historic brine pipelines, and the railroad, all the way to the modern funicular and the current logistics systems of Salinen Austria.

Historical demonstrations, scientific presentations, and numerous hands-on stations invite visitors not only to observe history but to experience it firsthand. Visitors can try out prehistoric tools, boil brine, watch the construction of wooden brine conduits, or slip into the clothing of Hallstatt miners.

Experts in archaeology, mining history, forestry, and historic preservation provide insights into current research and highlight the technical and organizational innovations that salt mining has produced over millennia. The exceptionally well-preserved artifacts from the Hallstatt salt mine offer a glimpse into the economy, work, and daily life of past societies.

In conjunction with the opening of the new funicular, this year’s focus is particularly on the development of transportation routes. This highlights how the challenges surrounding the extraction, transport, and distribution of salt have changed over the course of more than 7,300 years—and the connection that still exists today between the archaeological past and modern salt production.

“Archaeology on the Mountain 2026” is part of the Hallstatt-Dachstein/Salzkammergut UNESCO World Heritage region and offers an exciting experience for the whole family—right at the very place where the history of Hallstatt salt began.

Experience a 360° panoramic tour of Lake Hallstatt…