Geography Of Bad Ischl
Bad Ischl is a town in the Salzkammergut district of Upper Austria, in the Traunviertel region. Approximately 19.6 kilometers run north to south and 17.8 kilometers run west to east, Bad Ischl is 468 meters above sea level and has a total area of 163.06 square kilometers. With 71.9% of its area utilized for forests and 7.9% for agriculture, the town is distinguished for its natural setting. Situated where the Ischl and Traun rivers converge, it is well-positioned; near Bad Ischl, the Rettenbach also empties into the Traun.
Administratively speaking, Bad Ischl consists of twenty districts and villages: Ahorn, Bad Ischl, Eck, Haiden, Hinterstein, Jainzen, Kaltenbach, Kößlbach, Kreutern, Lauffen, Lindau, Mitterweißenbach, Perneck, Ramsau, Reiterndorf, Rettenbach, Roith, Steinbruch, Steinfeld, and Sulzbach.
To the northeast lies Ebensee am Traunsee; to the southeast Altaussee (Styria); to the south Bad Goisern am Hallstättersee; to the southwest Strobl (Salzburg); to the west Sankt Wolfgang im Salzkammergut; and to the northwest Steinbach am Attersee.
Location and Surroundings
Perched in the Traun river valley, Bad Ischl is 468 meters above sea level. Within the 162.82 square kilometer town, 76.36% is wooded, 15.49% is agricultural land, and 8.15% is developed. Upper Austria’s region of Gmunden includes Bad Ischl.
The following municipalities border Bad Ischl: Bad Goisern, Gosau, Hallstatt, Obertraun, St. Wolfgang, Strobl, and St. Gilgen. Furthermore near to the town are the borders of Germany and the states of Salzburg and Styria.
There are three ways to get to Bad Ischl: via road, train and air. By way of the B145 and B158 highways, the town is linked to the A1, which connects Vienna to Salzburg. Additionally, the town boasts a railway station that is serviced by both the Salzkammergutbahn, a picturesque railway that connects Bad Ischl to Salzburg and Stainach-Irdning. About 60 kilometres separate Bad Ischl from Salzburg Airport, the closest airport.
Physical Geography
Situated in a steep and mountainous area, Bad Ischl is surrounded by a number of hills and ridges. With sweeping vistas of the Salzkammergut and the Alps, the 1,542-meter-tall Katrin is the highest point in Bad Ischl. The Traun, a 153-kilometer river that passes by the town and empties into the Traunsee, the second-largest lake in Austria, is the lowest point in Bad Ischl. In addition, the Traun creates the 14-kilometer-long Ischl tributary that is named for the town.
Being in the Traun’s and its tributaries’ catchment region, Bad Ischl is endowed with a plenty of water resources. Rivers and streams that pass through the town or close by include the Ischl, the Rettenbach, the Kaltenbach, the Weissenbach, and the Sulzbach. Additionally accessible from the town are a number of Salzkammergut lakes, including the Wolfgangsee, Mondsee, Attersee, Hallstätter See, and Nussensee. These lakes include outdoor pursuits like hiking, boating, fishing, and swimming.
Several mountain ranges that are a part of the Northern Limestone Alps, a significant geological feature in Central Europe, encircle Bad Ischl. The village is in the lower part of the 3,000-meter-tall Dachstein Mountains, which include the Hoher Dachstein, the highest mountain in Upper Austria. The village is also next to the Totes Gebirge, a 2,000-meter-high range well-known for its karst characteristics, which include springs, sinkholes, and caves. Further neighboring mountain ranges include the Salzburg Slate Alps, the Salzkammergut Mountains, and the Osterhorn Group.
Natural Attractions
Numerous parks and green areas in Bad Ischl improve the area’s natural attractiveness and provide both locals and tourists more leisure options. Among the town’s many public parks are the Kurpark, the largest and oldest park with a flower garden, a fountain, a pavilion, and a music bandstand; the Kaltenbachpark, which has a playground, a pond, and a mini-golf course; and the Katrinpark, which provides a cable car ride to the Katrin mountain. A chapel, exotic plants, statues, and a gazebo can be found at the Kaiserpark, the garden of the Kaiservilla, and the Lehar Garten, the garden of the Lehar Villa, two other private gardens in the town.
Numerous natural reserves in Bad Ischl safeguard the balance of the ecology and biodiversity. Among the town’s protected areas are the Ramsar site, a wetland of worldwide significance, the Natura 2000 site, a network of habitats of European significance, and the Biosphere Reserve, a model area of sustainable development. Along with local creatures like deer, lynx, and wild boar, the town also boasts a number of wildlife sanctuaries, including Vogelpark, which is home to exotic birds like parrots, toucans, and flamingos.
Many of Bad Ischl’s picturesque spots provide breathtaking vistas of the surrounding area and famous sites. Several lookout points in the town include the Siriuskogl, a 607-meter-tall hill with views of the town and the Traun valley, the Katrin, the town’s highest point with expansive views of the Salzkammergut and the Alps, and the Pfarrer Salettl, a lookout point with views of the Ischl valley and the Kaiservilla. Along with the Elisabethbrücke, which crosses the Traun and links the town center with the Kaiservilla, the Rudolfbrücke, which crosses the Ischl and links the town center with the Kurpark, and the Kaltenbachbrücke, which crosses the Kaltenbach and links the town center with the Kaltenbachpark, the town also has a number of bridges.
Administrative Divisions
Bad Ischl is divided into 11 districts, which are further subdivided into 25 localities. The districts are: Bad Ischl-Zentrum, Ahorn-Kaltenbach, Haiden-Steinbruch, Jainzen, Kaltenbach-Lindau, Lauffen, Perneck, Pfandl, Reiterndorf, Rettenbach, and Sulzbach. The localities are: Ahorn, Bad Ischl, Graben, Haiden, Jainzen, Kaltenbach, Lauffen, Lindau, Mitterweißenbach, Mitterlauffen, Niederlaimbach, Oberlaimbach, Perneck, Pfandl, Reiterndorf, Rettenbach, Roith, Schwaighof, Sirnitz, Steinbruch, Steinfeld, Sulzbach, Thalern, Weinetsberg, and Winkl. Each district and locality has its own history, culture, and identity.
