The Mattsee Collegiate Museum presents the history of the region and the collegiate church across 600 m² and twelve rooms. This combination of regional and institutional history gives Mattsee a distinctive cultural character. The castle complex, exhibitions on technology, walking trails and activities on the lake provide further highlights. When planning your trip, it is worth choosing according to the topics that interest you most.
The collegiate church and castle: history in several stages
Duke Tassilo III founded a monastery in Mattsee around 760. The collegiate community still exists today and is Austria’s oldest community of diocesan priests. Mattsee Castle adds a medieval castle complex to this historical focus: it stands on a peninsula that extends into Mattsee, east of the collegiate church. The castle hill was fortified around 1100. Today, the market town uses the grounds of Mattsee Castle for cultural activities.
Another distinct historical site is the Bajuwarengehöft, an open-air museum built in 1988 as part of the regional Celtic exhibition. The historic Mattsee lido offers a different perspective on architectural history: it opened in the 1920s, has largely retained its original structure and is a listed monument.
Technology, vehicles and papermaking
The fahr(T)raum experience worlds offer insights into the beginnings of automobile manufacturing from 1899 onwards and into historic aircraft; the collection also features historic vehicles and aircraft. Two large Carrera racetracks each have a two-lane track where up to four people can race against one another. Children can take part in a knowledge rally every day, followed by a winner’s photo and a medal ceremony.
Papermaking is also part of what Mattsee has to offer: PAPIER-art ART-papier runs workshops throughout the year. These include an introduction to the history of paper, a guided tour of the paper workshop, making handmade paper from natural materials and a visit to the paper exhibition. This means that, alongside historical exhibitions, visitors can also choose hands-on insights into a craft.
Walking trails and scenery
The Milleniumsweg is a local walking trail around Wartstein and along the promenade around the castle hill, continuing to the Bajuwarengehöft. Its two circular routes feature a total of 38 information panels on natural and cultural history. The trail combines walking with information on topics that also feature at other historical sites in Mattsee.
Buchberg Nature Park has six themed trails, each with a stated walking time of 30 to 60 minutes. Buchberg is 801 m high. From its plateau, you can see 120 mountain peaks, from Traunstein to the Wilder Kaiser. The information about Buchberg gives a specific time frame for the trails there, while the Milleniumsweg’s information panels and stops are its main described features.
Mattsee and activities on the water
Mattsee is one of the three Trumer Lakes and covers 3.6 km². It is one of the warmest bathing lakes in the Salzburg region and is known for its particularly good water quality. You can rent pedal boats, rowing boats and electric boats on the lake; you can also explore the lake and its shores by surfboard or stand-up paddleboard.
The “Seenland” boat connects two lakes and three towns. With its raised roof retracted, it passes beneath the Johannisbrücke between Mattsee and Lake Obertrum. If you are planning a trip, check the timetable for your chosen date in advance.
Discover more destinations: Wals-Siezenheim, Helming, Henndorf Am Wallersee, Koppl, Niederalm, GroĂźgmain, Hallwang, NuĂźdorf Am Haunsberg
For the broader travel overview: Salzburg-Flachgau.
