The Tauern Cycle Path (named after the Tauern mountain range in the upper area) is a cycle path in the Austrian federal states Salzburg and Upper Austria. He leads from Krimml in Oberpinzgau along the Salzach above Bischofshofen and Salzburg until after Braunau am Inn, from where he is up Passau parallel to the one on the German bank Inn cycle path leads.
From Kaprun/Zell am See follows a variant of the route Maishofen and further along the Saalach above Saalfelden and Lofer as well as on German territory (Berchtesgadener Land) above Bad Reichenhall and Freilassing to Salzburg.
Route profile
- Length: 325 km
- Signposting:
- Slopes:
- Path condition:
- Traffic load:
- Suitable bike:
- Family suitability:
- Inline suitability:
background
The word Tauern originally meant "high transitions" (passes) in the Austrian Central Alps and characterized the many mule tracks and passes that cut the parallel side valleys of the Salzach into the mountains. Named since the Middle Ages when mining was at its peak Tauern also the corresponding mountain ranges. The name was retained in many local names.[1] It will be the High and the Lower Tauern differentiated.
Route description with sights
Golling on the Salzach – Hallein (13 km / 17 km)
Left bank:
In Golling, after crossing the Salzach, the Tauern Cycle Path leads to the western side of the valley and then to Hallein on small, little-traveled roads at the foot of the easternmost one Berchtesgaden Alps. The route is partly slightly elevated above the valley floor and in places offers views over the entire width of the Salzach Valley. As far as Kuchl, the route basically runs parallel to the Tauern Autobahn, so a certain amount of car noise must be expected.
Right bank:
As an alternative, there is the slightly longer variant (17 km) on the eastern side of the Salzach over the villages Kuchl (Market town, approx. 7100 inhabitants) and Bad Vigaun (Municipality, approx. 2100 inhabitants). There are two variants on the last kilometers before Hallein.[2]
In Kuchl it is possible to switch to the other side of the Salzach.
Sights and activities on the right bank stretch (from Kuchl):
- Several church buildings are more or less on the way to visit:
- * Parish church of Kuchl
- * Branch church St. Georg on the historically significant Georgenberg (municipality of Kuchl), which is a designated natural monument
- * Parish church Bad Vigaun
- * Margaret Church in St. Margarethen (Bad Vigaun municipality)
- At the municipal boundary of Kuchl and Bad Vigaun, you cross the Taugl on an old Roman bridge, a stream whose lower course is called from here on Tauglgries is designated as a nature reserve. Bathing in this area.
Detour:
- St. Koloman and Seewaldsee
- If you are not afraid of mountain biking, there is a variant on the right bank 1.3 km after Golling station instead of straight ahead to Kuchl, keep right to the main road and from there take the St. Koloman state road uphill to St. Koloman (difference in altitude a good 350 m). From there it goes down again, and you meet the bike path again at the Roman bridge.
- Shortly before the town of St. Koloman (a good 5 km from the start of St. Koloman Landesstraße), a road branches off to the right to the picturesque Seewaldsee lake at 1072 m (6 km uphill). Refreshment possibility. Return to St. Koloman on the same route.
Hallein
(For accommodation and meals → see article Hallein.)
For Hallein (municipality, approx. 21,000 inhabitants; pronunciation: emphasis on the first syllable) you can easily plan at least a full day for sightseeing, visiting several museums or hiking to the nearest mountains.
Sights and activities in Hallein:
- Historic old town with beautiful squares and alleys
- Hallein Celtic Museum (topics: finds from the Celtic era, history of salt production, Hallein city museum)
- Silent Night Museum Hallein (with grave of Franz Xaver Gruber, the composer of the Christmas carol Silent Night Holy Night)
Surrounding mountains:
- Bad Durrnberg: (Place on a mountain, the Dürrnberg, above Hallein, today part of the municipality; earlier salt production; important Celtic site)
- * Show mine Salt worlds (former salt mine)
- * Celtic village (reconstruction of a Celtic settlement)
- * Hiking trail from Hallein to the Dürrnberg with information boards on the history of salt production and a modern way of the cross
- * From the Dürrnberg parish church there is a wonderful view over the Salzach valley
- * Summer toboggan run
- After Bad Dürrnberg or on the Dürrnberg (difference in altitude to the church of Bad Dürrnberg around 330 m), the only roadway is a well-traveled state road with no bicycle lane. Alternative to walking: hourly bus connection (Postbus, line 41 from Hallein train station).
- several castle ruins
- several hiking trails, some across the German border
- Barmsteine, two rocky mountain formations near the city, Hallein's local mountains (in the upper area only for experienced climbers!)
Hallein – Salzburg (15 km)
From Hallein the Tauern Cycle Path leads directly along the right or left bank of the Salzach[3] on easily navigable, partly asphalted paths. All variants, including those via Hellbrunn, are about the same length.
There are the following options for crossing the Salzach between Hallein and Salzburg.
- around 1.6 km to Hallein (measured from the central Salzach bridge) at the Sohlstufe Hallein power plant
- around 5.5 km to Hallein on a pedestrian and cycle path near Urstein (on the right bank, municipality of Puch near Hallein; parish church worth seeing there; Urstein Castle and the campus of the Salzburg University of Applied Sciences are located in Urstein)
- around 6.5 km to Hallein at the Urstein power plant
- around 10.5 km to Hallein on the city limits of Salzburg on the Hellbrunn Bridge (heavy car traffic); here connection to urban trolleybus routes and to the S-Bahn station Salzburg South (Bike can be taken along)
Right bank:
On the right bank, the Tauern Cycle Path leads continuously along the Salzach to the old town of Salzburg.
Left bank:
On the left bank, after around 6.2 km after Hallein, on the city limits of Hallein, the municipality of Anif flows out of the area Berchtesgaden coming Königsseache (in Germany Berchtesgadener Ache called) into the Salzach. The lowest area of the inflow is a popular bathing place (free of charge; disadvantage: noise from the one crossing here Tauern Autobahn). (Here there is also the possibility of heading along the stream Grödig and Untersberg to drive.)
Immediately after the estuary and the motorway bridge, an access road to the Anifer Waldbad branches off to the left, an outdoor swimming pool that is also popular locally. The left bank alternative of the Tauern Cycle Path also runs here; Nevertheless, following the left bank you can also glean car-free into Salzburg's old town. The branching path leads to the heavily trafficked one Salzachtal Streetthat one a piece to the center of Anif follows. The path then continues through the village and leads across the extensive castle park of Hellbrunn to the Hellbrunn Palace with the well-known water features. There is also a folklore museum in the park area. From there it goes over the worth seeing and only allowed for pedestrian and bicycle traffic Hellbrunner Allee with old trees in a few kilometers to the old town of Salzburg.
If you drive on the right bank first, you can change banks for this variant on the Ursteinsteg not far from the junction.
If you want to avoid the path over the main road and the village of Anif, continue along the Salzach up to around 300 m before the Hellbrunn Bridge (around the point where the Klausbach flows into the Salzach on the right bank) and turn into a small driveway; then left the Fürstenweg consequences. This leads straight to Hellbrunn (around 1.2 km).
Worthwhile detour:
- Glasenbachklamm: On the southern outskirts of Salzburg at the Hellbrunn Bridge (around 10.5 km to Hallein) on the Hellbrunn state road drive up (cycle lane in the bridge area) and continue for around 1000 m towards the mountain side to the Glasenbach roundabout, take the right exit towards Hallein; after 200 m on the left the little-used driveway to the gorge (signposted), which begins after a few hundred meters.
Salzburg
The entire urban area of Salzburg (statutory city, around 150,000 inhabitants, with surrounding communities around 180,000 inhabitants) can be passed on both sides of the Salzach without having to cross a road with motorized traffic. In the city you have to change to the right bank of the river to continue on the Tauern cycle path in the direction of the Inn.
(For accommodation, food and sights → see article Salzburg.)
In the city there are ten ways to cross the Salzach on a bicycle and pedestrian path. The last to be found in the far north of the city is the motorway bridge with a pedestrian and cycle path below the car lane. After that there are only bridges over the Salzach in Oberndorf, Tittmoning and Burghausen and bridges over the Inn in the cities on the entire Tauern Cycle Path.
In Salzburg, the cycle path on the left bank of the Salzach leads to the north of the city Landscape protection area Salzachsee-Saalachspitz to the confluence of the Saalach in the Salzach. This is where the route variant of the ends (or, if you drive in the opposite direction, begins) Tauern cycle path from Kaprun / Zell am See to Salzburg via Lofer and Bad Reichenhall.
Salzburg – Oberndorf and To run (19 km)
From Salzburg, the cycle path leads along the right bank on the eastern side of the Salzach on a well-paved stretch. From the city limits of Salzburg, the Salzach forms the state border with Germany. About 7 km before Oberndorf, the route ends on the Salzach and you are first directed to a relatively little-traveled road to Oberndorf. A last short stretch before Oberndorf leads along a well-traveled access road to the center (separate footpath and bike path). There are no places to stop for refreshments or shops directly along the entire route (apart from a sausage stall in the north of Salzburg that is open from time to time).
The path leads through the municipal areas of Bergheim, Anthering and Nussdorf am Haunsberg.
In Oberndorf (municipality, approx. 5500 inhabitants) and in Laufen (municipality, approx. 6800 inhabitants) there are numerous bars and restaurants as well as overnight accommodations. Several supermarkets in the center of Oberndorf are best for purchasing provisions.
In Oberndorf there are the next bridges after Salzburg, on which you can change to the other side of the river to Laufen if you wish: the listed bridge for car traffic (narrow lane) and the one intended for pedestrians and cyclists Europasteg after the Salzach loop. Bicycle paths along the Salzach also on the Bavarian side.
Sights in Oberndorf:
- Oberndorf applies as Silent Night Church. The famous Christmas carol was first performed in the village in 1818.
- View of the Salzach and the Bavarian town of Laufen opposite along the right bank of the river promenade with a series of display boards on the history of the river
- Silent Night District (accessible from the Salzach promenade) with the Silent Night memorial chapel and a small museum (with Christmas market during the Adevent period)
- At the level of the Europasteg the Nepomuk statue and the Calvary
Sights in Laufen:amongst other things
- Collegiate Church of the Assumption from the 14th century
- Old houses in Rottmayrstrasse
- Central Marienplatz
- Upper and lower city gates
(Including the two Salzach bridges, the major sights of both places can be viewed on foot in a circular route.)
Worthwhile detours:
- Pilgrimage site Maria Plain: Still in the city of Salzburg (around 3 km after the central state bridge), a cycle path branches off to the right along the Alterbach (signposted to Eugendorf; after about 400 m the small plain bridge with a statue of Nepomuk from 1733). About 50 m after the bridge to Plainbergweg up and follow it uphill for around 1.5 km (difference in altitude: around 120 m).
- Worth seeing: pilgrimage basilica, chapel of origin, Holy Sepulcher chapel, Calvary. Wonderful view of the city of Salzburg and the surrounding mountains. There are eight Marterl along the Plainbergweg, which form part of an old pilgrimage route that begins in Salzburg.
- Refreshments: restaurant Plain linden tree, about halfway to the pilgrimage site; Gasthof Maria Plain (slightly raised, operated since the 17th century), Plainer raised hide (Snacks); the latter in the area of the pilgrimage site
- Return journey: As an alternative to the ascent, there is the path westwards, the one down to the village Bergheim leads, from where you can get back to the Tauern Cycle Path at the train station.
- Imperial beech on the Haunsberg: Around 9.7 km after Salzburg (from the central state bridge) a path branches off at a rest area Anthering which leads across the alluvial forest belt that extends along the Salzach. If you are lucky, you will see wild boars here, which are housed in a spacious outdoor enclosure. After 2.1 km in Anthering north to Acharting towards the mountain. After a good 1 km there the Haunsbergstrasse always follow uphill (6 km, difference in altitude approx. 330 m). On the mountain at the apex, turn left to the Kaiserbuche (500 m away).
- The Kaiserbuche commemorates the visit of Emperor Joseph II in 1779 and is the symbol of the Flachgaus. (The original tree fell victim to a storm in 2004. An offshoot is being rearing.) With the Kaiserbuche and the surrounding area, wide views of Salzburg, the Flachgau and the Bavarian region Rupertigau as well as direction Upper Austria; Hiking trails. Refreshments right next to the Kaiserbuche.
- Return journey: The road taken to get here continues down the north side of the mountain to the village of Schlößl (3.4 km), from where you turn left on a state road after 1.6 km in Weitwörth and come back to the Tauern Cycle Path.
Oberndorf – Ettenau and Tittmoning (22 km)
A well-paved stretch of road was built from Oberndorf. However, the Salzach also changes its course from time to time, so that some areas of the bank are largely broken off and paths no longer exist. Here one is diverted over wide but bumpy forest paths. When you get back on the cycle path on the Salzach, it is straight up to Ettenau, that is the settlement area opposite the Bavarian town of Tittmoning, over long stretches of straight lines and the landscape is not very varied.
In Ettenau (the area belongs to the Upper Austrian municipality Easter rental) there is a small restaurant right on the bike path. Here is the next bridge from Oberndorf, on which you can switch to the cycle path on the other side of the river and to Tittmoning, where there are also restaurants, shops and accommodation.
Sights in Tittmoning:amongst other things
- Town square
- Tittmoning Castle
- Walk along the Pontachbach
The cycle path passes through the Salzburg community St. Georgen near Salzburg as well as the Upper Austrian municipalities St. Pantaleon and Easter rental.
Detour:
- Riedersbach steel park
- Anyone interested in modern art should visit the Riedersbach steel park in Riedersbach (St. Pantaleon parish), an area with around 200 steel sculptures from around 2000 and after. The objects come from international artists and were made when they took part in the annual steel symposium. The facility is freely accessible around the clock and is located on the site of a power plant.
- Directions: Exactly 1 km after the confluence of the Moosach with the Salzach, around 15 km after Oberndorf, a small road branches off, which leads directly to the site after a few hundred meters.
Ettenau – Oh on the Salzach and Burghausen (16 km)
Left bank:
If you want to continue driving alongside the river on this route, you should switch to the west side of the river in Ettenau. However, this section is not part of the official Tauern Cycle Path and is less good, sometimes not paved at all, but can also be used with touring bikes.
Right bank:
Basically, there is a path on the right bank to Ach an der Salzach, but some of it is either not accessible at all or only accessible with mountain bikes. Because after a few kilometers the fortification ends on the bank and you come to a wide path with continuously soft sand. After a while this path becomes an almost 2 km long path over dead trees, steep steps and high thickets, which can only be mastered by hikers and possibly mountain bikers. If you are not afraid to push your bike and lift it over obstacles, you should consider whether you can afford this exertion, especially since this part is one of the more varied on the lower reaches of the Salzach. In this section, a spot on the bank is also popular as a campground. Then a 5 km long paved road leads to Ach.
The actual Tauern Cycle Path branches off in Ettenau at the level of the bridge to Tittmoning right onto the state road and after about 600 meters from this turn left onto the relatively little-traveled road that leads over the settlement area of Ettenau St. Radegund leads (up to there around 5 km, before St. Radegund ascent, difference in altitude around 100 m).
Sights in St. Radegund (Municipality, around 600 inhabitants):
- Parish church from the 14th century
- Franz-Jägerstätter-Museum (Hadermarkt 7; not far to the left of the Tauern Cycle Path), about the life of the well-known and beatified Nazi resister Franz Jägerstätter
The Tauern Cycle Path then runs straight through the Upper Weilhartforst and then reaches the village of Wanghausen. There the path leads back down to the Salzach. From there it is about 2 km to Ach an der Salzach. The village of Duttendorf is located directly above Ach.
Both in Wanghausen and in Ach (both to the community Stronghold-oh there is a bridge over the Salzach to Burghausen, both of which are suitable for visiting the old town, which is well worth seeing. There you can also swim in the Wöhrsee (a few hundred meters after the border).
(For accommodation, food and sights → see article Burghausen.)
There are also limited shopping and accommodation options in the small town of Ach.
Sights in Wanghausen and Ach:
- Wanghausen Castle
- Church Maria Ach
- Salzach dog
- The so-called Salzachhund is a blocking or steering device made of stones for the watercourse of the Salzach on the Austrian side below Duttendorf. There is also a worth seeing geological outcrop on the edge of the edge that borders the Salzach.
- You can get to this point by following the Salzach from the bridge from Ach to Burghausen for around 1 km on a footpath that also ends at the Salzachhund. For the way back there are alternative routes via Duttendorf, from where you have a beautiful view of the old town of Burghausen.
Route description with sights - variant Zell am See – Salzburg
In the area of the triangle of the municipal boundaries of Kaprun, Bruck an der Glocknerstrasse and Zell am See Immediately before Zell am See, the Tauern Cycle Path divides into two branches in Kaprun's municipality: One leads further east along the Salzach Valley, the other turns north and leads through Zell am See Maishofenwhere he is coming from the west Saalach meets. As a result, the route variant leads through the Saalachtal via the so-called Small German corner to Freilassing and Salzburg. There you can connect to the other variant, so that you have the option of either continuing on the Salzach towards Upper Austria from Salzburg or only driving in a circle in the state of Salzburg by driving on one of the two branches in the opposite direction.
trips
- Cross-border Danube cycle path
- Via Danubia - alternative Danube route
- Inn cycle path - on the German side on the lower Inn back to Braunau and from there further upstream over Rosenheim to Tyrol and up to that Engadine
References to literature and maps
Web links
- The official website for the Tauern Cycle Path
- Multimedia storytelling about the Tauern Cycle Path
- tauernradweg.at
- The Tauern Cycle Path on outdooractive.com with detailed tour description
- Video of the WDR from the series "Beautiful" (1:30 hours)
Individual evidence
- ↑Wikipedia article Tauern.
- ↑Right bank routes marked in the geographical information system of the State of Salzburg (SAGIS).
- ↑As marked on the official geographical information system of the State of Salzburg (SAGIS) and some other descriptions of the Tauern Cycle Path it leads on the left bank; according to the color legend in SAGIS on the right. Since there are several ways to cross the river, the question ultimately doesn't matter.
