The Kammerhof Gmunden

The princely salt office

The Kammerhof in Gmunden is one of the most important and dominant buildings in the Salzkammergut and is a complex of buildings from the 14th century. The initially Gothic complex, which was built in 1450 from two existing Hofstätten, was enlarged and altered over the years.

From 1453, the provincial salt office was located there, which was used as the administrative centre. The salt office was responsible for monitoring the state salt monopoly of the entire Imperial Chamber Estate. The so called Salzamtmann, or later Salzoberamtmann, administered the salt trade and salt production in this building and thus controlled the entire Salzkammergut on behalf of the Vienna Court Chamber.

The Salzamtmann's living quarters became the social centre of Gmunden, where plays were also performed. Members of the House of Habsburg frequently visited the Salzkammergut, as the salt trade was their most important source of private income, which today would be worth around 60 million euros per year.

Emperor Friedrich III and his son Emperor Maximilian I were among those who visited the Salzkammergut most frequently to find out about the situation and the profits of the salt industry. As a result, the salt industry was organised and structured more efficiently under Emperor Maximilian I.