© Lake Hallstatt in winter (photo: Sven Posch / www.viewnect.com)
© Obertraun in winter (photo: Sven Posch / www.viewnect.com)
Obertraun is located at the foot of the Dachstein Krippenstein on the shore of Lake Hallstatt. (photo: Sven Posch / www.viewnect.com)

World Heritage Hallstatt-
Dachstein/Salzkammergut

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The history of Obertraun

The smallest of the four World Heritage sites in the Inner Salzkammergut is located at the south-east end of Lake Hallstatt.

In the Middle Ages, mainly woodworkers lived here, who felled wood for the brew house in Hallstatt. The Traun and the Lake Hallstatt were the drift water on which the wood was transported. Various names such as "Holzhackerwand" and "Holzknechtloch" indicate this.

Obertraun was founded as a scattered settlement and the main occupation of the inhabitants was salt mining and small-scale agriculture. The village lies in a lovely valley created by the Traun river, framed by high mountains on the shores of Lake Hallstatt at the foot of the Dachstein. The Dachstein Krippenstein is the most striking feature with its 2 100 m overlooking the valley.

The discovery of the caves

In 1910 the Dachstein Giant Ice Cave, the Dachstein mammoth cave and the Koppenbrüller cave were discovered and the Dachstein Krippenstein cable car leads with its 1st section to these well-known natural monuments. With the caves, tourism in Obertraun also took off. The Dachstein Krippenstein with its 11 km long descent became a well-known and popular skiing area. The Krippenstein also became more and more popular as a hiking area. Unfortunately, the Heilbronn Dachstein accident in 1954, in which 10 Heilbronn pupils and their 3 teachers lost their lives, is also due to this fact. Today, the Heilbronn circular hiking trail and the Heilbronn chapel commemorate this tragic event, which led to a deep connection between the towns of Obertraun and Heilbronn.

The latest achievements on the Dachstein Krippenstein are the World Heritage Spiral and the 5fingers, a viewing platform offering a wonderful view over the southern Salzkammergut.

 

Small village at the Lake Hallstatt

With 760 inhabitants, the community is small, but still very lively! Customs and music are lovingly cared for and so concerts, echo bubbles, a mountain pasture festival and much more take place. A beautiful hiking trail leads in the valley from the lake along the slopes of the Sarstein to the nature reserve Koppenwinkel, with the Place of Happiness at the lovely Lake Koppenwinkl and the Koppenwinklalm. Along the Traun it leads back to the Lake Hallstatt, where there is a beautiful natural beach bath. Along the eastern shore of the lake, there is a hiking trail on which you can hike to Steeg in a comfortable 3 hours.

 

The Salzkammergut cycle path leads cyclists from Bad Goisern along the lake to Obertraun and further over the Koppenwinkel through the Koppental to Bad Aussee. Whether summer or winter, Obertraun offers a wonderful place both for active sports visitors and for nature lovers and connoisseurs and radiates harmony and security for residents and guests alike. The first inhabitants might have already felt this, because they lovingly called Obertraun Traundörfl (“small Traun village”).

Contact & Service

Tourist information Obertraun
Nr. 180
4831 Obertraun

Phone +43 5 95095-40
Fax machine +43 5 95095-74
E-Mail obertraun@dachstein-salzkammergut.at

 

Don’t hesitate to contact the team of local guides at the tourist board Obertraun - Andrea Schwarzlmüller – for any questions about Obertraun and the holiday area Dachstein Salzkammergut.

Opening times tourist board Obertraun …