TRAVEL magazine Fairy tale villages that you can actually visit
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CONTENT STORY
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f your childhood has been fascinated with fairy tales with beautiful villages,if you have a chance to travel, you should never miss the villages below. It will surely attract you by its romantic, mysterious and magnificent beauty not only by nature but also by people and a longstanding culture.
HALLSTATT
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A picturesque lakeside alpine village
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Best things to do in Hallstatt
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There’s something to do
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Its winding streets and colorful houses are the definition of charming
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GIETHOORN
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If possible, try to visit during the off-season
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Rent bikes
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HALLSTATT
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A P ICTURESQUE LAKESIDE A LPINE VILLAGE
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allstatt is more than just a pretty town. It’s actually considered the oldest still-inhabited village in Europe, dating back to the Iron Age. In fact, the early Iron Age culture from 800 to 400 BC is known as the Hallstatt culture, an era marked by farming and metal-working, long-range trade with Mediterranean cultures, and the rise of elite classes and social distinction.
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allstatt – which means “place of salt” – is home to the world’s first salt mine. Thanks to the salt industry, the town quickly progressed and became wealthy. Salt has always been a valuable commodity, more so in the pre-historic times when it was primarily used to preserve meat.
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n recent decades, though, Hallstatt’s fame derives mostly from its natural beauty. Sandwiched between a lake and mountains (you could even say that it cuddles the lake), this perfect little town easily became a favorite tourist destination as well as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
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allstatt, one of the most beautiful places in Austria, is growing in popularity for its fairy-tale-like village, dramatic landscapes, and numerous attractions.
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he quaint village, situated on Lake Hallstatt’s western shore in the mountainous region of Salzkammergut, is home to fewer than 1,000 inhabitants, an ancient salt mine, and unparalleled views of the Austrian Alps.
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allstatt invites visitors to get lost in its colorful streets, offering seclusion and serenity that you won’t find in overcrowded hot spots in Europe.
FOLLOW ALEXANDRA MAHONEY
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BEST THINGS TO DO IN HALLSTAT T 1. Take a postcard perfect photo of Hallstatt Walk to the north, past the ferry station. When the road bends, look back and you’ll see this breathtaking view of Hallstatt. A postcard perfect photo of Hallstatt, Austria’s most beautiful town. 2. Walk around the cemetery grounds Most city tours all around the world include a visit to the cemetery something I’ve never really appreciated as I’m not a big fan of graves. But the cemetery in Hallstatt is different! It’s actually uplifting (in a weird way) to walk through the cemetery grounds as each grave has its own small flower garden and a view of the lake a fitting tribute to loved ones. These graves in the Hallstatt cemetery grounds come with their own flower gardens and a view of the lake. 3. Walk around the market square and visit the little shops along the lake By now, you’ll see that you don’t actually have to do anything in Hallstatt. Just walking along the boardwalk, looking up at the pastel houses with their charming flowerboxes, and peeking into the souvenir shops is a great way to spend the day. It’s even better if you do this while the rest of the town is still asleep so aim to be up and about by 7 AM, at least. Make your way to the market square and weave in and out of the streets. Remember that Hallstatt is really small (just under 1 KM from end to end), so there’s no need to rush through. Take your time and enjoy! Hallstatt travel guide Hallstatt’s market square with its pretty pastel buildings brings the town’s locals and visitors together. 4. Take photos of the lake’s ducks and swans As if the calm blue lake and mountain ranges reflecting on it are not enough, Lake Hallstatt has to be inhabited by these gorgeous, photogenic creatures. I think they’re all vying for Instagram-fame, as
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they’ll pretty much pose for you. This swan walking along Lake Hallstatt’s boardwalk knows how to make a good shot perfect. 5. Stop for an early lunch at one of the lakeside restaurants Along Hallstatt’s boardwalk, you’ll find several restaurants serving delicious meals that come with an amazing view. During peak season, though, it may be challenging to get a nice table (or any table), so try to nab a seat before the lunchtime rush hour or make a reservation. Some restaurants to try: Im Kainz, Seewirt Zauner, and Couisine. 6. Continue your stroll along Lake Hallstatt Almost every flower-decked house along the lake is photogenic. Just remember that these are residences and private properties, so don’t go climbing up someone’s balcony! Always be respectful and keep your voices down, especially if you’re traveling with a lively group. You can visit the Tourist Information Center further down the road to learn about upcoming events or get brochures of the different establishments around town. Hallstatt travel guide Beautiful houses decked with flower boxes line the boardwalk along Lake Hallstatt, Austria.
7. Take another postcardperfect photo from the south end Just a few steps past the Tourist Information Center, another bend on the road leads to another gorgeous view of the town. You’ll once again see the beautiful pastel houses you just passed by, and if you’re lucky, a swan or two will join your shot. Hallstatt travel guide The view of Hallstatt from the south end of the town. 8. Ride the funicular for amazing views of the lake and surrounding countryside From the south viewpoint, walk down a road to the left to get to the funicular. You can take a ride up and down the funicular to get to the top of the 1,030 meter tall Salzberg (Salt Mountain). Even if you don’t plan to visit the salt mine, the views from the funicular are well worth the trip. The breathtaking view of Hallstatt and surroundings from the Salzberg mountain.
9. See the view from the Skywalk Once you’re up on Salzberg, check out the “World heritage” views from the Skywalk. It extends over a sheer drop with the Hallstatt old town directly below. If you fancy a cup of tea with a view, stop by the Rudolfsturm restaurant. 10. Learn about Hallstatt’s “salty” past Now we come to Hallstatt’s star attraction, which I saved for the last. This 7,000 year old salt mine tells the story of Hallstatt, with fascinating audio-visual presentations that will take you through the pre historic era to the present. You’ll also get to wear overalls and slide down wooden slides like a legit miner, so it’s a pretty exciting experience.
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THERE’S SOMETHING TO DO THERE IN EVERY SEASON
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ach season brings something different to Hallstatt, making the town a magical place to visit at any time of year.
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inter brings stunning views of snow capped mountains, while fall offers changing colors and crisp yet comfortable temperatures.
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n the spring, the town comes to life and the region’s local flora is in full bloom, and summer offers warm temperatures ideal for swimming and boating.
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ITS WINDING STREETS AND COLORFUL HOUSES ARE THE DEFINITION OF CHARMING
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azing upon Hallstatt is like looking at a work of art. It’s hard to turn away from the breathtaking views of the Austrian Alps, but if you take the time to wander through the town’s winding cobblestone streets, you’ll see that each little nook and cranny holds more charm and beauty than the last.
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allstatt is full of pastel-colored houses and picturesque streets ideal for getting lost in. You can wander through the small village for hours on end, taking in the sounds and smells of the shops and bakeries and watching life unfold in this tiny Austrian village. FOLLOW ALEXANDRA MAHONEY
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GIETHOORN 12
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iethoorn is located about 55 miles and an hour and 20 minutes by car from Amsterdam in the of Overijssel province. This historic village has been around since the 13th century.
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ts name originated when the first settlers of farmers and refugees discovered hundreds of wild goat horns, that died from a flood, in the marshland. The settlement was called Geytenhoren. Somewhere along the way, the name was shortened to Giethoorn.
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he village is surrounded by a natural reservation called De Wieden and was near the National Park Weerribben-Wieden. Giethoorn is part of the area’s vast canal system, waterways and miles of trails.
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any of the houses in the village is only accessible by boat, bike or on foot. There are no roads to get around, only canals. So, how was this historic town built?
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n addition to discovering the wild goat horns, the first settlers also found an area with large amounts of peat moss. Peat is decomposed plant material mixture that has built up in waterlogged areas. It became a valuable energy source when dried before coal usage. Thus, Giethoorn became a settlement of peat harvesters.
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onds, canals and lakes formed when the settlers extracted, cut and transported peat. The settlers built farmhouses on these small peat islands using the reeds found around the area for the roofs. The wooden bridges were built to connect the islands. The flat-bottomed punter boats along with the pole to help move it along were used to cruise the shallow canals. FOLLOW BRIANNE
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iethoorn takes curb appeal or, in this case, canal appeal, to a whole new level. Many of the houses boast brightly colored wood shutters, while perfectly trimmed hedges augment gardens full of bright flowers. Each corner reminiscent of Hansel & Gretel meets Ferngully. FOLLOW BRIANNE
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IF POSSIBLE, TRY TO VISIT DURING THE OFF-SEASON
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ince Giethoorn is so picturesque, it has developed a reputation and is getting increasingly more popular. This means more tourists and crowded canals/walkways. If you don’t want hundreds of people photo bombing your pictures, it’s best to visit on the off-season.
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visited in early October and it was perfect. I may be biased, but I think autumn is the best time to visit. Not only did I avoid the crowds that swarm Giethoorn during the summer months, I also couldn’t have asked for better weather, it was sunny and 70+ degrees fahrenheit. Additionally, the leaves were just beginning to change, but the last of the summer flowers were still in tact, making for gorgeous photos. Not to mention accommodations are heavily discounted during the off-season and don’t need to be booked nearly as far in advance. FOLLOW BRIANNE
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RENT BIKES! Pro tip: the bridges and paths are very narrow, don’t try to bike across the bridges
y second favorite experience in Giethoorn was his is also a benefit of visiting during the off season, M renting bikes and exploring the paths and roads T since the paths during the summer would be way that surround the village. There are numerous cute little too busy to bike down. However, in the off-season bars, pubs and restaurants tucked into various areas, so exploring the village by bike was a great way to get the “lay of the land.” Most of the restaurants in Giethoorn were a bit of a walk from our hotel, so biking was a perfect way to gain access to all the different areas.
there’s less people so you don’t need to get off and walk your bike through the village.
FOLLOW BRIANNE
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