{"id":15258,"date":"2016-12-14T21:37:42","date_gmt":"2016-12-14T21:37:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thesojournseries.com\/bavaria\/?p=15258"},"modified":"2016-12-15T08:19:17","modified_gmt":"2016-12-15T08:19:17","slug":"hallstatt-austria","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thesojournseries.com\/bavaria\/hallstatt-austria\/","title":{"rendered":"Hallstatt – Austria"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Swan Whisperer has moved on from cats <\/a>it seems…<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Once upon a time, many many moons ago, the ancient town of Hallstatt was only reachable by boat… \u00a0 \u00a0I bet those Hallstatt folk used to laugh at how peaceful their lives were in their picturesque hillside town, and at how few visitors were able to spoil the tranquillity of their streets, and destroy the quietness of the amazing views across the lake…<\/p>\n

And then they built a road…<\/p>\n

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Recognisable from the front cover of many a guide-book and postcard, nowadays Hallstatt is one of the most visited Austrian towns on the tourist trail, and is now so utterly popular that there is even (apparently) a complete Hallstatt replica somewhere in China.<\/p>\n

It’s not like Hallstatt hasn’t always been well-known in this part of the world, it was famous for its salt mining wealth (which helped fund many of its ornate buildings) hundreds of years ago, and it’s pretty unique in as far as locations go with its colourful streets, and houses that look like they are almost piled up upon one another as they graduate up into the mountainside…<\/p>\n

But even though it can at times get busier than Waterloo Station at rush hour on a Friday night, is it worth visiting? \u00a0 I will let the following pictures speak for themselves…<\/p>\n

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Touching the water…<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Lanterns<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Star of wonder?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Suffice to say – \u00a0yes, you absolutely must visit if you get the chance. \u00a0 Make a day trip from Salzburg if you are staying, or of course you could stay in Hallstatt itself (it is worth a weekend’s exploration at the least)… We chose to stay in nearby Obertraun<\/a>, which IS still tranquil and calm, and also very pretty…<\/p>\n

Do visit as early as you possibly can in the day to deal with as few coach excursions as possible. \u00a0It really is selfie stick city when they all pile off into Hallstatt’s medieval streets (which is amusing, if not slightly irritating at times). \u00a0 \u00a0The main car park is a 600 metre (or so) \u00a0walk from the centre, but there is a little drop off spot much further in if you need it.<\/p>\n

Do not come here for a wonderful gastronomic experience – many restaurants tend to only host the coach parties, feeding them the usual schnitzel and pommes combo. \u00a0 A couple of exceptions would be Gasthof Zauner (who were holding a Krampus convention when we popped in for breakfast) and the restaurant in Seehotel Gruner Baum.<\/p>\n

Do climb the steps to the church at the top of the hill. \u00a0 \u00a0 Have a look for the carving on the door frame, which considering how old it is, is\u00a0very impressive (they do like a bit of wood carving in these parts!), and have a peep inside the sweet church itself.<\/p>\n

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Try not to be too weirded out by the fact they used to have to dig up the residents in the cemetery every ten years to make room for new ones, and if you don’t feel too strange about it (and it’s not the winter as it’s closed then!) you could always pop next door to the Ossuary(\/bienene) to say hello personally and admire their beautifully decorated bones.<\/p>\n

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Ossuary door Hallstatt<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Then head back outside and spend some time taking in the spectacular views out across the lake, and back towards the medieval higgledy piggledy houses.<\/p>\n

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It might be busy, but there’s a very good reason why this place is as popular as it is you know…<\/p>\n

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