Hallo, Hallstatt!

Imagine strolling along a strip of quaint little houses along the lake with breathtaking Alpine views, paying your respects on prehistoric burial grounds and visiting the oldest salt mine in the world. Those were some of the things we did during a beautiful winter weekend in Austria.

Another weekend meant another family quick getaway. This time we visited the 7000 year old city of Hallstatt, a UNESCO Natural & Cultural Heritage Site. Known for its picturesque views and abundance of “white gold”, Hallstatt is famous for having the oldest salt mine in the world, dating back to the Neolithic period.

Beautifully snuggled in between the mountains and the clear waters of Lake Hallstatt, this old “miners village” has captivated millions of tourists worldwide. (Fun Fact: Its beauty is so famous that China made a replica in its southern province).

We chose a 500 year old brewery as our home base for 3 days. The Bräuggasthof is a charming lodge with quirky gothic décor and architecture. It was like stepping back in time. The homey ambiance paired with their restaurant’s delicious Kaiserschmarrn dessert were the perfect combination to give you that warm and fuzzy winter feel.

We wandered around town and enjoyed its numerous shops filled with handcrafts, wooden toys, porcelain, schnapps and ceramics. We also visited the 12th century St. Michael’s chapel, the world famous charnel house with the largest collection of painted skulls. We were not able to enter the mines since we traveled with our baby (the attraction had a minimum age of 4 years old) but we were able to enjoy the view-point and the 40 minute hike in the snow.

I’ve read that this stunning village of about 800 people draws a whopping 10,000 visitors a day pre-pandemic. I am thankful that we were able to enjoy Hallstatt sans the bumping, shoving and chaos. I am thankful to have experienced Hallstatt’s unruffled beauty and sweet serenity.

Photos and text courtesy of Gelyn So Seng – Welle