Saalfelden am Steinernen Meer lies at an altitude of 744 m in the Austrian state of Salzburg, in a broad valley basin at the foot of the Steinernes Meer. This combination of valley and mountains gives the area a distinctive landscape. You can plan your stay around different interests: a loop trail and other activities at Ritzensee, the Hermitage with its views across the Saalfelden basin, and culture at Museum Schloss Ritzen and Kunsthaus NEXUS. If you’d like to combine nature, activity and culture, you can weigh up these options rather than planning your stay around just one type of experience.
Ritzensee: Loop Trail, Cross-Country Skiing and Summer Swimming
The Ritzensee, which covers around six hectares, reflects the mountain range of the Steinernes Meer. The S1 Ritzensee loop trail runs around the lake: it is 1.4 km long, easy to moderately challenging, and an excellent training circuit. The route is lit daily until 9 p.m.; lighting may vary by season. So if you plan to walk the loop in the evening, check the current lighting conditions in advance. The center of the Nordic Park is also located at Ritzensee, in the Fun & Snow Park. There, children and teenagers in particular can learn to cross-country ski in a fun way. The Ritzensee natural swimming area offers a different way to enjoy the lake: during the summer months, it’s a place to swim and relax, including in a nudist area. You can tailor your stay to your interests and the time of year: the swimming area is for the summer months, the loop trail suits other fitness plans, and the Fun & Snow Park focuses on teaching children and teenagers to cross-country ski.
The Hermitage and Views Across the Basin
The Hermitage is one of Europe’s last inhabited hermitages and offers views across the Saalfelden basin. Today, it can be reached from both the Saalfelden district of Bachwinkl and Bürgerau. The trail to Peter Wiechenthaler Hut also starts in Bachwinkl; access from Bürgerau is via the Fuchssteig, where sure-footedness is required. The site combines views across the Saalfelden basin with the distinctive experience of visiting an inhabited hermitage.
Nativity Scene Collection and Cultural Program
The nativity scene collection is the main attraction at Museum Schloss Ritzen, which houses one of Austria’s largest and most significant collections of nativity scenes from a cultural and folkloric perspective. The history of the castle also includes the earliest known mention of “Grub bei Saalfelden,” now Schloss Ritzen, dating from 1339. Culture enthusiasts can therefore explore two points of interest here: the collection and the area’s early history of names. Kunsthaus NEXUS broadens the cultural offering in a different direction, with cinema, theater, concerts, exhibitions, literature, talks and cabaret. Its program changes over time, so check the latest program information when planning a specific visit.
Climbing and Summer Tobogganing
For a different kind of active pastime, there’s the Felsenfest climbing gym in Saalfelden and the summer toboggan run on Saalfelden’s Biberg. Felsenfest has 1,700 m² of climbing area. At Biberg, a 1.6 km summer toboggan run winds its way downhill, complete with curves and jumps. These offer a choice of different activities: climbing indoors or taking a ride on the summer toboggan run.
Discover more destinations: Dorfheim, Gries im Pinzgau, Hasenbach, Vorstanddorf, Vorderglemm, Almdorf Königsleiten, Almdorf, Grubing.
Back to the overview of the region: Zell Am See.
