Famous for its architecture, Hallstatt is noted for its striking wooden and stone houses with tiled roofs. Many of these houses date back to the 16th century and have been carefully preserved over the years. The village also boasts a rich collection of churches and communal buildings, as well as a variety of stores, restaurants, cafés and hotels in its small but impressive old town.

With less than 1,000 inhabitants, the village of Hallstatt retains, as if frozen in time, a romantic air in its narrow streets. It is also considered one of the most beautiful towns in Austria. Its old houses, built next to each other at the foot of the mountain massif and on the shore of Lake Hallstatt, offer a picture-postcard landscape.

Among the most outstanding and beautiful places of the town is the Marktplatz; the market square. The small square is surrounded by its fabulous and characteristic buildings, which also house small cafes, restaurants, hotels and typical stores. In the center of the square is a sculpture of the Holy Trinity.

Another iconic image of Hallstatt is its evangelical parish church, Evangelische Pfarrkirche, located next to the square and notable for its spire steeple. The present building dates from the second half of the 19th century, as an extension of an existing former house of worship. Not far from it stands the parish church of the Assumption of Mary, Maria am Berg, a 16th century Catholic church built in late Gothic with Baroque additions. In the Catholic church there is a belvedere with magnificent views of the village.

A funicular railway runs through part of the town, built at the foot of the mountain, to discover its most emblematic corners. From its highest point it is possible to appreciate, from a bird's eye view, the beautiful ensemble that forms the town in its wonderful natural environment. From this funicular you can reach the Rudolfsturm, the Rudolf Tower, located on a platform and has a spectacular viewpoint.

It is a medieval defense tower from the late 13th century, and served as the residence of the manager of mining operations until the 1950s. Subsequently, it was converted into a restaurant, which to this day still offers its magnificent menu of typical dishes of the region, with spectacular views of Hallstatt and its beautiful surroundings from its privileged position.

Since the town is located in the foothills of a mountain range, there are, in addition to the Rudolf Tower, several viewpoints from which you can appreciate the characteristic scenic beauty of the town. The so-called Hallstatt Postal Viewpoint stands out, from which you can appreciate the beautiful set that forms the town next to the lake with the imposing mountains in the background.

Hallstatt is also known for its long history, dating back to the Bronze Age through the so-called Hallstatt Culture, of Celtic origin. The region is rich in salt, and this culture developed an important center of salt extraction and production, which continued during the Middle Ages. The Hallstatt Museum collects all the elements, artifacts and evidence discovered in the various archaeological excavations carried out there.

Salt mining in Hallstatt has always been part of the area's economy and was the basis of the region's prosperity until the 20th century. The very name Hallstatt means place of salt, and the partially abandoned salt mine galleries have now become an open-air museum and can be visited, making them an important tourist attraction.

The beautiful village of Hallstatt and its surroundings were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997, due to its stunning natural beauty, unique architecture and prosperity based on salt mining since the Bronze Age. It is, therefore, an impressive tourist destination for all the senses.

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