Saalfelden lies north of Maishofen. With a population of over 17,000, it is the third largest town in the province of Salzburg. The most important river is the Saalach, which flows northerly between the Steinernes Meer and Leoganger Steinberge mountain ranges. The Urslau flows in from the east and joins the Saalach.
We follow the Urslau stream’s course to Hintertal. First, we visit the center of Maria Alm with its impressive church. This listed pilgrimage church has the tallest tower in the Archdiocese of Salzburg, reaching 83 meters.
The entire Pinzgau region has rarely been free from conflict. The borders between Bavaria and Austria shifted repeatedly, and the balance of power between Catholics and Protestants also changed. The Napoleonic Wars, too, caused numerous conflicts. Today, the region is connected by ski resorts.
However, opportunities for summer sports and hiking are also becoming increasingly important. In Hinterthal, there is a mark indicating the snow depth on May 1st, 1817. It is located just below the church’s roof edge.
We reach Dienten via the Hochkönigstraße. Like Leogang and Maria Alm, Dienten was once a mining town. The view of the Catholic parish church on a hill with the Hochkönig in the background is stunning.
(See video from 2006 From Hochkönig to Steinernes Meer ) Dienten has just over 700 inhabitants and over 1,700 guest beds.
We reach Taxenbach through the narrow valley of the Dientenbach stream, which flows into the Salzach. From there, the Rauristal valley branches off to the south. People have crossed the Alps through this valley since ancient times. The first artifacts date back to around 1300 BC. The route led up to the Hochtor and then on to Heiligenblut.
The Alpine crossing was important for trade because it was accessible year-round. Gold mining was carried out successively in the valley for a long time, probably beginning in the Celtic and Roman periods. At its peak in the 15th and 16th centuries, around 450 mines produced approximately 10% of the world’s gold. Approximately 120 tons of gold are still believed to remain in the mountain, but today only marble and quartzite are quarried.
In the summer, Rauris is the starting point for beautiful hiking trails, and in the winter, it is home to ski resorts. We take the Hochalmbahn cable car to the mountain station, near which an idyllic mountain lake invites visitors to relax. There is a gold panning site at the middle station of the Hochalmbahn where anyone can try their luck.
Then, we return to Maishofen and enjoy an entertaining and interesting evening with the artist Hubert von “G” (Hubert Wörister), also known as Hubert von Glemmtal.
Unfortunately, he was battling a bout of the flu during our visit, which affected his voice. However, this did not detract from his talent.
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