Hallstatt is a town overlooking Hallstätter See (Lake Hallstatt), located in the Upper Austria. It is believed to be one of the oldest, still inhabited village of Europe. A UNESCO world heritage site. It has salt mines that are 7000 years old.
It is located around an hour away from Salzburg. Though a road trip is preferred to this place, one can also reach by a bus, followed by a train. The journey was immensely scenic and charming. Austria is really gifted for it’s landscapes.
We reached Hallstatt around 10:30 in the morning. The first impression of the lake and the town itself was very charming.
We walked along the lake towards the town. Walking along it’s narrow streets is an attraction by itself. Their half timbered architectures on either side of the street looked very delightful.
The elegant swans in the lake, added to the beauty of it.
There is a funicular service from the town to the Skywalk of Hallstatt. This is also a UNESCO world heritage view.
We then started with a small hike towards the salt mine. See Exploring the Salt Mines in Hallstatt. It took around 2.5 hours roughly for the tour of salt mine including the funicular rides.
If you visit, do not forget to go see the Ossuary, where they keep the skulls painted. Skull painting is an art in the Eastern Alps, where there are limited grave sites because of the mountains. So, the bones has to be reused and with skull painting, the individual’s identity is preserved.
If you are a fan of small towns, you will be mesmerized by the beauty of Hallstatt. It’s architecture and the geographical location together makes this a wonderful place to get lost in the nature!
Veena Dinesh
The Humble Enthusiast 
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