Location
St Wolfgang is a picturesque Austrian village, perfect to visit at any time of the year. It is situated on the banks of the beautiful lake Wolfgangsee in the heart of breath-taking mountains. There is plenty to see in the surrounding area and we have highlighted a few places below.
Places to visit in the surrounding area
Take the cog railway from St Wolfgang up to the top of the Schafberg mountain for a fantastic panoramic view of the lakes of the Salzkammergut. Take a look at the Schafberg webcam.
Another pretty lakeside village and the birthplace of Mozart’s mother. The Mozarthaus museum next to the lake is small, but very well done.
Home to a large and beautiful cathedral where the Sound of Music wedding takes place. During Advent there is a Christmas market in the church cloisters and in the square in front of the church stalls sell festive food and drink, including gluhwein and fresh fruit dipped in chocolate.
A pretty spa town, originally the capital of the Salzkammergut region. Home to the Kaiservilla, the summer residence of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy. Many famous composers would also spend the summer in Bad Ischl and there are still music festivals and concerts throughout July and August.
There is also an open-air pool (‘Parkbad’) in Bad Ischl offering various attractions including 3m and 1m diving boards, mother and child area, underwater massage bench, white-water channel, a grotto with waterfall and a giant water slide. In addition there is a therapeutic thermal spa (Eurothermen).
Take the scenic route to Bad Ischl (left as you leave St Wolfgang) – a very pretty drive any time of the year, with classic Austrian farmhouses and rolling countryside.
Salzburg – Baroque Altstadt (Old Town)
Perfectly preserved old town (a UNESCO world heritage site). It is also the birthplace of Mozart, and you can visit the house today at No. 9 Getreidegasse.
Salzburg – Hohensalzburg Castle
One of the largest medieval castles in Europe – high above Salzburg, reached by a precipitous cable car ride from the old town.
Beautiful baroque formal gardens with large, symmetrical flower beds and statues from Greek mythology. It is here in the Sound of Music film that Maria and the von Trapp children sing “Do-Re- Mi” and run through the hedge tunnel.
The villages around Wolfgangsee hold beautiful Advent markets at Christmas time. They take place through the duration of Advent into the New Year.
These villages and towns have something to offer all year round from the summer festivals to the Advent markets at Christmas. They are all worth seeing for different reasons. Please note that opening times vary from season to season and from day to day so please check with the Tourist Information Office in St Wolfgang or check on the internet.