High mountains and around 70 lakes
Blue lakes in front of striking mountains, cosy villages and good food - this combination made the Salzkammergut attractive to summer visitors as early as the mid-19th century. Originally, the blue-blooded gentlemen came from Vienna, but today visitors travel here from all over the world - and countless cyclists. In addition to the charming Alpine landscape, the Salzkammergut is not short of cultural and historical highlights. These range from the oldest salt mine in the world in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hallstatt to the summer residence of the imperial couple Sisi and Franz Joseph I in Bad Ischl and the town of St. Wolfgang on Lake Wolfgangsee, which became world-famous thanks to the operetta "Im Weißen Rössl".
The Ischl railway from Salzburg via Mondsee and Wolfgangsee to Bad Ischl was even built in 1891 specifically for the increasing number of spa guests and visitors to the Salzkammergut. The fact that the almost 70-kilometre-long Ischlerbahn railway was shut down again in 1957 is at least of benefit to cyclists today: a paved cycle path was laid out on sections of the former railway line, which today also forms part of the Salzkammergut cycle path R2. In fact, the R2 is the region's main cycling artery. If you take around a week, you can cycle along the 350 kilometre route to virtually all of the region's scenic and cultural hotspots - including detours to the Styrian Salzkammergut around Bad Aussee and to Salzburger Land.
Our tip if you are not a fan of stage tours: simply book a cycle hotel, e.g. between Lake Wolfgangsee and Bad Ischl, and set off on day tours in a star shape from there.
Tour 12: Salzkammergut cycle path R2 (328 km)
THE TOUR
No fewer than 13 lakes await cyclists who tackle the entire route. This means that the tour can easily be turned into a swimming holiday in stages in summer. You can also look forward to picture-book Austrian landscapes that have been attracting thousands of holidaymakers for decades, and not just from neighbouring Germany. There are also interesting insights into the history of the region: e.g. in the oldest salt mine in the world in Hallstatt or in the Imperial Villa in Bad Ischl, the summer residence of Emperor Franz Joseph I and Empress Sisi.
VISUAL VALUE
St Wolfgang Tourist hotspot with the legendary Hotel Weißes Rössl.
Hallstatt The picturesque village and UNESCO World Heritage Site on Lake Hallstatt was faithfully recreated in China.
Seewalchen am Attersee Attractive location where wealthy families from Vienna and Linz had their villas built in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Grundlsee/Toplitzsee Beautiful alpine lake in the Styrian Salzkammergut with its small neighbour Toplitzsee, where Nazi counterfeit money was allegedly sunk during World War II.
DRIVING IN TIP
Schlossfischerei in Fuschl am See: In the small inn garden, picturesquely situated directly on the lake, there is excellent smoked fish warm from the oven.
TOUR INFO
Tour combinations Roman cycle path R6, Traun cycle path R4, Mattigtal cycle path R24, Tarock cycle path R101, cycle path R102
Bike-friendly accommodation Hotel Alte Post in Faistenau
Tour 13: 6-lake tour (170 km)
THE TOUR
If you allow yourself five to seven days for this long tour, you can not only take a leisurely dip in the clear waters of Wolfgangsee, Mondsee and Co. in between. There is also plenty of time to discover the land and people of the UNESCO World Heritage region "Hallstatt - Dachstein/Salzkammergut".
A passage on a boat, for example on Lake Wolfgangsee and Lake Mondsee, is also a great change of pace. And if you don't want to bother organising the tour, you can book an individual week package including hotel, road book and luggage transfer with Salzkammergut Touristik.
VISUAL VALUE
Imperial Park Bad Ischl The park around the Kaiservilla and the Marmorschlössl is one of the most important historical gardens in Austria.
Pilgrimage church Maria im Schatten Parish church in Lauffen an der Traun with a Gothic statue of the Virgin Mary, which is said to have performed many miracles.
Bad Goisern local history museum It not only shows everyday life in the village, but also the world of the Landler people, who had to emigrate for religious reasons in the 18th century.
Dachstein ice cave A worthwhile detour in Obertraun. Take the Krippenstein cable car up into the cave world with its fascinating formations of ice and stone.
DRIVING IN TIPS
Erlachmühle near Mondsee: historic grain mill, wood-fired oven bakery and snack station on the Zeller Ache.
Steegwirt in Steeg, where the Traun and Lake Hallstatt merge picturesquely. With a beautiful guest garden including a view of the Seeklause.
TOUR INFO
Tour combinations Salzkammergut cycle path R2, Roman cycle path R6, Tarock cycle path R101
Bike-friendly accommodation Gasthof-Hotel Weberhäusl in Strobl am Wolfgangsee
Tour 14: Rallies from Strobl (28 km/57 km/70 km)
THE TOURS
The ideal introduction to the classic Salzkammergut is the short loop around Lake Wolfgangsee, including a short boat passage. The next stage takes you over the Scharfling to Mondsee and Attersee, a distance of 57 kilometres and four lakes. The 70 kilometres via Bad Ischl and Bad Goisern to the foot of the Dachstein massif on Lake Hallstatt are then more challenging. If it gets too strenuous, you can take the bus back from Bad Ischl. A cycling week with five different day tours can also be booked with Salzkammergut Touristik.
VISUAL VALUE
Anzenaumühle open-air museum Lauffen near Bad Ischl is home to one of the oldest craftsmen's farms in Austria.
St Gilgen Hiking and bathing village on Lake Wolfgangsee and at the foot of the Zwölferhorn, with Mozarthaus and a lovely village centre.
Sheep Mountain A nostalgic cog railway takes you from St. Wolfgang to the local mountain (1,782 m) above Lake Wolfgangsee.
Mondsee Popular town on the lake of the same name with baroque basilica, farmer's museum, castle and alpine baths.
DRIVING IN TIP
Coffee and organic cake, traditional costume fashion and museum all in one: Tostmann's Bandlkramerey in Seewalchen am Attersee.
TOUR INFO
Tour combinations Salzkammergut cycle path R2, 6-lake tour, Weißenbachtal cycle path R15
Bike-friendly accommodation Hotel Zinkenbachmühle in Abersee
E-BIKE TIPS
All of the tours presented here can be easily travelled by e-bike/pedelec. In addition, the tourist boards have developed some special, easy e-bike tours, such as the culinary e-loop around Lake Fuschl, the Kaiserrunde in Bad Ischl or the two-lake tour around Mondsee and Irrsee.
A list of addresses for e-bike charging stations and e-bike hire in the Salzkammergut can be found online at www.salzkammergut.at
