With the Alpen Restaurant Valeriehaus in Sportgastein, the southernmost point of the Salzburg Alpine Trail is reached. Today, as a reward for yesterday's effort, a relaxing hike is on the program. It goes from the end of the valley of Nassfeld (Sportgastein) through the former mining settlement and "planned town" Böckstein to the famous Bad Gastein. Here, with its thousand-year history the town itself is a great storyteller. The magnificent Belle Époque buildings tell of the radiant past of the town just as the Spring Park and the Rock Spa do. Bad Gastein can be reached in just 2 3/4 hours on foot, so you can spend a lot of time in the former "Monte Carlo" of the Alps today. The waterfall in the town centre is considered one of the most photographed motifs in SalzburgerLand. For those who want to stay longer and can't say goodbye to the Gastein Valley yet, take a rest day, hike along the Graukogel via the "Zirbenweg", drive to the Stubnerkogel with the spectacular suspension bridge or enjoy a whole day in the Rock Spa before continuing onto the Grossarl Valley.
To make sure your day in the mountains is an unforgettable experience, here you can find some tips to keep you safe in the mountains.
For further information about the Salzburger Almenweg click here.
Stage Course
After waking up in the Hohe Tauern National Park, surrounded by imposing mountains and a tranquillity that can only be found up high, we set off from Nassfeld to the tenth stage. This easy hike leads along the old Nassfeldstraße and the Nassfelder Ache to the former mining village of Böckstein. Thundering waterfalls such as the Kesselfall line the path towards the north heading out of the valley. This route resembles a journey back in time, where countless relics are reminiscent of the mining era, but also of the First World War. Over the Russian Bridge, named after the Russian prisoners of war who built it, we head to the two managed Astenalmen, which, as certified alpine summer huts, serve delicious alpine delicacies. A stop-off here is well worth it.
From here on, the Alpine Trail continues to Altböckstein and past the junction to the unique Gastein Healing Caves. In addition to the highly effective thermal waters, the radon-containing air of the Gastein Mountains is also considered particularly healing for rheumatic diseases. In a healing tunnel therapy, patients are taken inside the mountain with the help of a small electric train, where they breathe in the radon-containing air for about an hour in the soothing warmth.
Altböckstein also has an exciting history - it should have become a real city once as Altböckstein was the centre of gold mining in the Hohe Tauern. Already in the 14th century, the Gastein Mining Regulation for jurisdiction and tax regulation was issued here by the Archbishops of Salzburg. In the mid 18th century, a mining settlement should have been built, but an enormous avalanche of snow completely destroyed all the work.
Today, Altböckstein is an architectural jewel with the Montan Museum, the World Exhibition Fountain and the Czernin Hunting Lodge. The pilgrimage church of Maria zum Guten Rat, which is located on a hill, offers a wonderful view of the small village. Then, you walk along the Empress Elisabeth Promenade to the valley station of the Stubnerkogelbahn, where the centre of Bad Gastein is not far away. Around the valley station of the Stubnerkogelbahn, as well as in the town centre, there are numerous accommodations for overnight stays.
Alpine Trail History
The old Nassfeldstraße, which the Salzburg Alpine Trail follows today, was once an important North-South connection across the Alps. Merchants, so-called mules, and certainly also smugglers used the Mallnitzer Tauern at the end of the Nassfeld valley floor to cross the Alps in the direction of Carinthia and continue onto Venice. In the Hohe Tauern there are still many of these ancient mule tracks.
Alpine Trail Contemporary Witnesses
Paracelsus, Empress Sissi and Emperor Franz Josef I, Kaiser Wilhelm I, Prince Bismarck, Gustav Klimt, Franz Schubert, Billy Wilder, Luis Trenker, Erich Kästner and Liza Minelli. It seems almost pointless to want to go through the big name guest list, all of whom were in Bad Gastein for a cure or spent the summer holidays here. Bad Gastein owes its reputation to the healing thermal waters, but also to its magnificent location in the mountains. Walk in the footsteps of the rich and beautiful, and immerse yourself in the unique "Bad Gastein" feeling.
Alpine Trail Tip
Bad Gastein was once called the Monte Carlo of the Alps, so you should definitely enjoy the special atmosphere of this town. For example, with coffee and cake in one of the coffee houses, in the Rock Spa or action-packed with a flight on the "Flying Waters" over the spectacular waterfall.
Alpine Trail Delicacies
Every Sunday at 12 o'clock, the innkeeper of Upper Astenalm introduces his guests to the art of doughnut baking. Tasting included! On the Lower Astenalm, you can also pre-order the famous Pongauer Fleischkrapfen.
