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Dr. Friedrich Morton

Botanist and explorer

Leave the Catholic Church and cemetery now via the Romanesque entrance on the mountain side. From here you can take Kirchenweg to Oberer Markt. Here is the start of Dr.-Friedrich-Morton-Weg, Highlight 6 of our Hallstatt walk.

Friedrich Morton is one of the most famous citizens of Hallstatt, despite his not being born here. In 1921 he takes over the post of state administrator of the Dachstein caves at the age of 31.

Morton is a botanist with a thirst for exploring. He travels to many parts of Europe and Africa and publishes over 600 essays and reports in the course of his long life. And these are no dry, scientific treatises, rather lively accounts that add to the fame the Hallstatt region enjoys.

In 1925 he takes over the direction of Hallstatt museum. And the botanist becomes a passionate palaeontologist. He soon realises that there must be more prehistoric material in the burial ground on the salt mountain than previous excavations reveal. He is right, his excavations not only proving that the burial ground is much larger than suspected, but bringing a nearly 2,000-year old mining tunnel to light.

Friedrich Morton lives in and for Hallstatt. At the same time he considers any change to its traditional appearance an abomination. When the potential widening of Seestraße (or lake road) is being discussed in the 1950s it is Morton in particular who takes a stand - successfully - against the project. Today’s solution, a bypass, means Hallstatt has kept its historic form. Dr. Friedrich Morton dies in Hallstatt in 1969.

Enjoy now the 4 points of interest from Highlight 6. We recommend the bench in front of the house at Dr.-Friedrich-Morton-Weg 162. This is one of our relaxation spots listed in Highlight 10. From this bench you will have a good view of the points of interest from Highlight 6.

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