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.
Around 80 million years ago, fine-grained, fossil-free sandstone was deposited in a hollow of the Cretaceous sea that coveredGosau am Dachstein 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...
The Gritstone Quarries are accessible from May to October.
1300 m
Accessibility / arrivalYou 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 https://www.oebb.at/en/ (train) and https://www.postbus.at/en(bus).
Badstuben hut
Guided hike through the grindstone quarries by appointment only.
Please get in touch for more information.
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Gemeinde Gosau