Now, pre-Covid-19, reports more than 1 million overnight stays per year.
In the summer months, many travel from across Asia, the US and UK; while in autumn and winter, tourists from nearby countries like Poland, Hungary, Germany and Czech Republic are enticed by the many mountain biking, climbing and hiking trails open at points throughout the year.
Why is Hallstatt so popular? Some reasons are easily explained. Hallstatt and the surrounding region was awarded in 1997 for its magnificent Alpine landscape and ancient salt mining tradition. Its salt mine – one of the world’s oldest – welcomed 19,700 visitors from January until 15 March this year, all keen to learn the history of these 7,000-year-old tunnels or stare out at the mesmerising views of the salt lake.
“Hallstatt has always been a tourist hot spot, so a lot of people have lost their work or have reduced working hours,” said Kurt Reiger, CEO of the Hallstatt salt mine. “It doesn’t feel like having an old town back because our old town was always filled with tourists, a situation we love.”
“When it comes to Frozen, that’s just rumours,” said Gregor Gritzky, CEO of the local tourist board Dachstein Salzkammergut. “We’ve had international press ask about it, but it’s all rumour.” In reality, the true inspiration behind Frozen is found in several locations across Norway, from Oslo’s Akershus Fortress to the old merchant quarter of Bryggen, Bergen.
