Attractions & Landmarks In Bad Vigaun
Beautiful Bad Vigaun is a municipality in Salzburg, Austria’s Hallein district. Situated roughly 15 kilometres south of Salzburg, in the Tennengau region. Rich cultural legacy, picturesque surroundings, and a thermal spa are the main attractions of Bad Vigaun.
Bad Vigaun Thermal Spa
A treasure in Salzburg’s spa region are the therapeutic pools in Bad Vigaun. Medicinal 34°C water has been bubbling to the surface for thousands of years. With a contemporary design fusing classic, natural materials with plenty of space for relaxing and feeling amazing, the spa tubs have been around in their current form since 2009. Choose the world of saunas or spas you would like to explore, or let our beauty experts handle it and unwind.
The thermal spa baths are supplied with water from the St. Barbara spring, which has been bringing 34°C water to the surface for thousands of years. The therapeutic benefits are appreciated by those with degenerative or chronic inflammatory joint diseases. Moreover, the “place to be” is the spa baths if you need immediate regeneration following surgery or if you have problems with your muscles, ligaments, or tissues.
At the surface, the thermal spring scenery of St. Barbara spring is created by thermal spa water that rises from a depth of 1354 meters. A large rest room and a swimming area flooded with natural light provide for a serene environment. The sauna landscape allows you to choose the temperature and humidity to precisely suit your needs.
An experienced staff at the Bad Vigaun appearance Centre can take care of your health and beauty.
- Roman pool, 36 °C healing water
- Indoor pool, 32 °C healing water
- Outdoor pool, 28 °C healing water
- Aromatic steam room, brine steam room & sanarium
- Finnish sauna, rock sauna, infrared sauna
- Panorama rest room, sun terrace & dark room
- Beauty centre for revitalising body and facial treatments
- Range of massages
- Hairdressing salon, themed boutique and cafe
Mountain Schlenken
The Schlenken mountain will practically always be visible no matter what you do in and about Bad Vigaun. There is no risk of an eruption even though it looks to be a volcanic summit. It looks distinctively different and is a great place for outdoor lovers. Its abundance of possibilities attracts tourists and creates a magnificent silhouette with the Schmittenstein that is recognisable from a great distance away.
Within the Osterhorn range in Salzburgerland’s northern limestone Alps sits the 1648-meter-tall Schlenken. Even from Salzburg, the neighboring city, one can see the Schlenken’s peak. The top offers amazing views as well. The impressive Dachstein mountains to the south and the odd Untersberg peak perched atop Salzburg are among these views. Days with clear skies allow one to view the distant Chiemsee lake in Bavaria.
Many stunning hiking routes and excursions go to the Schlenken top; one of them starts at the Wurzerweg parking lot in Bad Vigaun, about 1000 meters above sea level. Around 600 vertical meters later, one reaches the Schlenken top. Families and novices may enjoy the about two-hour hike. The local flora and fauna, together with views of the valley and the mountains, are all available throughout the route. A mountain hut with lodging and refreshments is the Schlenkenalm.
Catholic parish church Bad Vigaun hl. Dionysius
The Catholic parish church honoring Saint Dionysius, the first bishop of Paris, is among the most recognizable structures in Bad Vigaun. Construction of the late Gothic three-aisled hall church with a west tower and gable roof took place between 1488 and 1516. The church is enhanced in ancient ambiance by the high graveyard wall that encircles it. Within the church are a Baroque high altar, a Gothic ribbed vault, and a number of paintings and sculptures from all eras. Regular services and concerts are held at the publically accessible church.
Obersamhof chapel
Built in 1970 by the local farmer Josef Schwaiger, the Obersamhof chapel is another holy place in Bad Vigaun. The chapel is modest wooden in appearance with a hipped roof. Within stands a sculpture by Salzburg-based artist Bernhard Prähauser depicting Saint Anthony, the patron saint of animals. Perched on a hill with a view of the valley, the chapel provides a tranquil haven for contemplation.
War monument
A military memorial to the war dead from the two world wars is located in the heart of Bad Vigaun. The monument is composed of a number of sculptures sculpted by renowned Bad Vigaun-born Austrian sculptor Jakob Adlhart. Three figurines stand for a farmer, a soldier, and a mother with her kids. The memorial conveys the anguish and the hope of those who were harmed by war.
Kirchweiler St. Margarethen branch church
Kirchweiler is a little municipality-owned hamlet located a short drive from Bad Vigaun. There is the 15th-century late Gothic single-nave St. Margarethen branch church. One outstanding element of the church is an 18th-century baroque external pulpit with canopy. Preaching to the pilgrims visiting the neighboring shrine of St. Margarethen, which is reputed to have therapeutic properties, took place from the pulpit. A Rococo altar and a Gothic painting of the Last Judgment are further features of the chapel.
Bruderloch
Not to be missed while touring Bad Vigaun’s natural beauties is the Bruderloch, a semi-cave regarded as the state of Salzburg’s second-oldest Christian place of worship. One can hike to the cave, which is situated on the Schlenken mountain’s side. Within the cave lies a little shrine and an aperture fashioned like a cross. The Christian populace, so the story goes, sought safety in the cave during the third-century assault by the Germanic tribe Heruli. But early modern usage of the cave has been demonstrated by archaeology, most likely for stone extraction. Probably later, to increase the cave’s spiritual value, the function as a place of worship was added.
Community Gallery Bad Vigaun
A must-see for those who value culture and art is the Community Gallery Bad Vigaun. Showcasing the creations of regional and local artists, the gallery is housed in the former school building. The gallery presents events, talks, workshops, and exhibitions spanning a range of media and genres all year long. A cup of coffee and a book can be had in the gallery’s cafe and library.
Local history museum in the Mesnerhäusl
Situated in the Mesnerhäusl, a historic 1790 mansion that was the sexton’s residence, is the local history museum, another cultural attraction in Bad Vigaun. Different artifacts and records that highlight the customs and history of Bad Vigaun and the neighboring region are on show at the museum. You may study about the past inhabitants’ daily lives, crafts, agriculture, and customs. May through October see Sundays and holidays as open hours for the museum.
Taugl natural pool
For some leisure and fun, head to the Taugl natural pool, a swimming area fed by the Taugl stream, a branch of the Salzach river. An exquisite and natural environment is created around the pool by trees and verdant meadows. There is a beach volleyball court, a slide, a diving platform and a kid-friendly shallow section of the pool. Furthermore close by are a playground and a snack bar. Dependent on the weather, the pool is open from June to September.
Teufelsbrücke/Römerbrücke
The Teufelsbrücke, sometimes called the Römerbrücke, or the Roman Bridge, is another fascinating feature of Bad Vigaun. Nagelfluh ashlars are a kind of conglomerate rock used to build the round arch bridge that spans the Taugl stream in 1613. The 12 meter span and 8 meter height of the bridge. A mythology that claims the devil assisted in building the bridge in return for the soul of the first person to cross it gives rise to the bridge’s name. But by tricking the devil with a dog across the bridge, the people infuriated him and forced him to go. Being a portion of an old road that linked Salzburg with the south, the bridge is also thought to have Roman roots.
Schlenken passage cave
Schlenken channel cave is a karst cave situated on Schlenken mountain and one of the most daring sights in Bad Vigaun. About 300 metres long, the cave features a number of chambers and passageways. The cave needs some climbing and crawling, hence entrance is only possible with a guide and a helmet. For those who dare to explore it, the cave provides an exciting experience; it is not appropriate for claustrophobic or inexperienced persons.
