Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
the portraits: Martin Luther (left of altar), the town in about 1865 with its new church (left
wall), and a century of pastors.
• Continue past the church to the...
Market Square (Marktplatz):
In 1750, a fire leveled this part of town. The buildings
you see now are all late 18th-century structures built of stone rather than flammable wood.
The three big buildings on the left are government-subsidized housing (mostly for seniors
and people with health problems). Take a close look at the two-dimensional, up-against-the-
wall pear tree (it likes the sun-warmed wall). The statue features the Holy Trinity.
• Continue a block past Gasthof Simony. At the first corner, just before the
Gemeindeamt
(City Hall), jog left across the little square and then right down the tiny lane marked
Am
Hof,
which leads through an intimate bit of domestic town architecture, boat houses, lots of
firewood, and maybe a couple of swans hanging out. The lane circles back to the main drag
and the...
Museum Square:
Because 20th-century Hallstatt was of no industrial importance, it
was untouched by World War II. But once upon a time, its salt was worth defending. High
above, peeking out of the trees, is Rudolfsturm (Rudolf's Tower). Originally a 13th-century
watchtower protecting the salt mines, and later the mansion of a salt-mine boss, it's now
a restaurant with a great view. A zigzag trail connects the town with Rudolfsturm and the
salt mines just beyond. The big, white houses by the waterfall were water-powered mills
that once ground Hallstatt's grain. (If you hike up a few blocks, you'll see the river raging
through town.)
Aroundyouarethetown'sTI,postoffice,museum,CityHall,andDachsteinSportShop
(described later). A statue recalls the mine manager who excavated prehistoric graves in
about 1850. Much of the
Schmuck
sold locally is inspired by the jewelry found in the area's
Bronze Age tombs.
The memorial wooden stairs in front of the museum are a copy of those found in Hall-
statt's prehistoric mine—the original stairs are more than 2,500 years old. For thousands
of years, people have been leaching salt out of this mountain. A brine spring sprung here,
attracting Bronze Age people in about 1600
B.C.
Later, they dug tunnels to mine the rock
(which was 70 percent salt), dissolved it into a brine, and distilled out the salt—precious for
preserving meat. For a look at early salt-mining implements and the town's story, visit the
museum (described later).
AcrossfromtheTI,PensionHallberghasaquirkyhallwayfullofNaziparaphernaliaand
other stuff found on the lake bed (€1). Only recently did local divers realize that, for centur-
ies,thelakehadbeenHallstatt'sgarbagecan.Ifsomethingwas
kaputt,
localswouldjusttoss
it into the lake. In 1945, Nazi medals decorating German and Austrian war heroes suddenly
became dangerous to own. Throughout the former Third Reich, hard-earned medals floated
down to lonely lake beds, including Hallstatt's.
