JOIN USSalt mines in the heart of the mountains is the claim to fame of Hallstatt in Austria and this is what enticed us to include it in our whirlwind visit of four countries in Europe.
Set on the banks of Lake Hallstatt, this town is declared as a UNESCO world heritage site due to the early human settlements from which there is evidence of salt mining in these parts as well as its natural beauty — clear lake waters, the towering Alps and high pastures.
This picture perfect town is two hours from Salzburg and we took the early bus to Bad Ischl and from there, the train to Hallstatt station. Getting off the train, we got on a ferry to reach the actual town.
The road snakes through mustard fields, little towns with wooden cottages and farms which add a storybook element to the beautiful countryside. The Wolfgang Lake is a blue jewel nestling in the midst of verdant meadows and little villages.
From the ferry landing, it’s a small walk along a street bordering the lake, dotted with souvenir stores, to the Salzwelten office. A quick salt mine tour ticket check and we took the funicular ride upto the mines in the mountain.
It was a sunny day and the water sparkled in the lake; the air was crisp sweet as we stopped on the large viewing bridge to take in our pristine surroundings. From the funicular, we trudged a few kilometres to the tourist centre of the Salzwelten office that organises the tour into the mine. Here, we donned the miner’s uniform and our tour guide ushered us in, asking us to meet her at the mine entrance.
After a long climb, we entered the mine and walked through a well-ventilated tunnel to stop at a wide enclosure where our guide introduced herself and narrated the history of the mine.
Salt mining in Hallstatt dates back to the Prehistoric period. The dating of these settlements was possible due to the discovery of a burial site in 1846 by Johann Ramsauer which gave evidence of salt mining and the lives and times of the early miners.
The archeology department of Vienna has summer excavations here that brings up more information each year. With our newfound knowledge of the mine’s history, it was time to try the famous miner’s wooden slide.
Each of us excitedly got on the slides to reach the bottom where our guide brought us to a fenced area for a film projection on the roof, walls and the water below about the history of the mine. We were then shown the modern technology of extracting salt. This is still an active mine and tons of salt is extracted and marketed from this location. Next, we took the 40 metre miner’s slide to a small auditorium that, through a multimedia show, depicts mining in prehistoric times and how entire families were involved in the mining process. This includes parts of the wooden staircase that were discovered here in 2002 and are now preserved and used as the background for the show.
From here, we took the miner’s railway that rattles through the tunnels into broad daylight in minutes, bringing us out of the pre-historic beginnings of the mine to modern times!
A remarkable journey through time and civilisation is put together in a span of two hours by the Salzwelten guide, making for a fantastic trove of memories of the mines, their history and the unspoiled landscape.
How to get there
We flew Etihad Airways from Bengaluru to Munich and the round trip for one cost Rs 55,000. From Munich, we took the train to Salzburg. Hallstatt is about 75 kilometres from Salzburg and can be reached by train or road in two hours. The transport per person cost Rs 3,375 to and from Salzburg.
Where to stay
We stayed at Yoho International Hostel in Salzburg. The dormitory cost was around Rs 2,600 per person per night. The salt mine tickets cost around Rs 2,100 per person.
(The author can be contacted on carolinewesley@hotmail.com)