The beginnings of tourism

The advantages of untouched nature

Towards the end of the 18th century the nobility and wealthy citizens from the towns suddenly discover the appeal of the alpine landscape. People start to travel and the writers and artists from the Biedermeier era – such as Ferdinand Georg Waldmüller, whose painting can be seen above - arouse further interest through their work. Industrialisation, which is on the rise, leads people to recognise the advantages of untouched nature for the first time.

This early form of tourism becomes important for Hallstatt too, as salt production and trade start to considerably lose their significance at around the same time. The building of a road at the end of the 19th century and the introduction of regulated water transport to the railway station on the opposite bank make Hallstatt accessible to everyone.

For today’s Hallstatt, part of the Hallstatt-Dachstein / Salzkammergut UNESCO World Heritage Site, tourism is the most important source of income.