Gastein Valley - Gasteinertal

View from the Stubnerkogel in north direction to the Gastein Valley with the market town of Bad Hofgastein in the foreground

The Gastein Valley or Gastein valley With its length of 40 kilometers, it is the longest, but also the widest of all Tauern valleys and is located in the Pongau in the Austrian federal state Salzburg.

Municipalities

  • Bad Gastein (1002 m): health resort and winter sports near the southern end of the valley. Then comes Sportgastein. Unfortunately, Bad Gastein is a bit worn out, some of the hotels that have fallen into disrepair bear testimony to this.
  • Bad Hofgastein (859 m) capital in the valley, health resort, market town and winter sports; the modern indoor pool deserves a particularly positive mention.
  • Dorfgastein (812 m): smallest place in the valley; over 100 km of hiking trails; Dorfgastein-Grossarl ski area; Solar bath

Other goals

background

Gastein means "gray rock". The term has been used since 963.

For a long time the area was characterized by alpine agriculture, mining and spa operations. The Gastein mineral springs are first mentioned in the poem "The grazer in the Gastein" mentioned and used for medicinal purposes since the middle of the 14th century. The Gastein thermal water contains radon gas.

The valley is one of the most important winter sports areas in Austria. However, this only became possible with the completion of the Tauern Railway in 1909.

getting there

In the street

Of Salzburg the path leads through the Salzach Valley via the Tauern Autobahn A10 or the parallel one B159 to Bischofshofen, then continue on Pinzgauer Straße B311 until shortly before Lendl, Gasteiner Straße branches off here B167 from the south and through the Klammstein tunnel into the Gastein valley. There is no direct road connection into the valley from the south.

By train

The Tauern Railway leads from Schwarzach im Pongau through the Gastein Valley and through the Tauern tunnel continue after Spittal.

mobility

A number of pensions are not located in or on the town center, but in the surrounding mountains. In winter it is advisable to have snow chains or, better, tires with spikes (this is allowed in AU, only in winter).

Tourist Attractions

  • Krampus run. Every year on December 5th and 6th the Krampus run instead of. A Krampus is a being with the most gruesome appearance possible. Several Krampuses form one passport, this includes a Santa Claus accompanied by a basket carrier (Guazl bearer) and an angel. Such passes go from house to house with demonic screams and loud bells to punish bad children and reward good ones. Video example.

activities

In the winter

  • To ski. Around 220 kilometers of ski slopes and 90 kilometers of cross-country trails have been prepared for this purpose. Is part of the sports area Ski amadé.
  • Snowshoeing
  • Ice stock sport
  • Ice skating

In summer

  • hike
  • To go biking
  • horse riding
  • golf
  • tennis
  • Paragliding
  • Bathing in spa and thermal baths

Culture

  • Jazz festival Snow Jazz Gastein

kitchen

nightlife

security

climate

Cool and damp.

Sportgastein is at the upper end of the valley. Actually just a landscape, not a place. The local climate can be called high alpine.

literature

  • Gruber, Fritz: The old Gastein. St. Johann / Pg: Rauter by HLP, 1993, Our country in the picture; 1.
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