Hallstatt

When we first arrived in Hallstatt, we knew we had found one of the more beautiful places in the world. We’ve been here several times, but each time we’ve seen it mostly under clouds, and usually in the rain. Of course if it weren’t for all the rain, it wouldn’t look nearly as nice as it will if we ever get here when it isn’t raining. Pictures of Hallstatt — a picturesque, beautiful lake-side village — are often used for calendars, jigsaw puzzles, greeting cards, and the like.

The lake is surrounded by mountains, and just behind the town, a funicular railway goes to the entrance of a salt mine half way up the mountain. As we walked the mile from the campground to downtown, there must have been 6 or 8 waterfalls and streams coming down the mountain, through the town. Along the lake shore, we could see they had built garages on stilts, out over the water, to keep the boats protected from the weather.