Attractions & Landmarks In Gosau
Open-air museum in Gosau
A fascinating look into the agricultural past of the Gosau Valley, a vital component of the Hallstatt Dachstein Salzkammergut UNESCO World Heritage site, may be had at the open-air museum in Gosau. Condensed portrayal of the historical cultural environment of the area, the large grounds include a little pond. The Paarhof, which stands in for the traditional farmhouse framework of the cultural environment, is at the center of this museum. It includes a large barn, a house built in the sixteenth and seventeenth century, and other outbuildings.
Tucked down at the foot of the imposing Gosaukamm, the open-air museum is situated in one of the most magnificent locations in the Salzkammergut. Although the Gosauer Bergweihnacht (Gosau Christmas market) attracts tourists from all over the world during Advent, the museum is always a hive of cultural activity with its many evocative events and exhibitions.
An enriching experience is promised for families visiting the outdoor museum next to the Gosau reservoir. Out beyond the old farmhouses, the “Urzeitwald” (primary woodland) is one of the most charming adventure playgrounds in the Salzkammergut, located close to the museum. Playing imaginatively, kids may ride dinosaurs and other water activities with huge snails. Offering chances for leisure and education, it’s a family-friendly sanctuary.
For anyone looking for a mix of exhilarating sports and peaceful moments, the outdoor museum and the nearby “Urzeitwald,” provide the perfect combination. Discovering the painstakingly maintained antique buildings or losing yourself in the carefree atmosphere of the primitive woodland, guests are given a complete experience. With its outdoor museum, the Gosau Valley welcomes everyone to enjoy the stunning natural surrounds and cultural past.
Gosau Parish Church
Situated in the Gmunden area of Upper Austria, in the municipality of Gosau, the Gosau Roman Catholic parish church is a monument to centuries of religious history. Under the supervision of the Bad Goisern pastoral care room in the Bad Ischl Deanery, this church, dedicated to Saint Sebastian, is an essential component of the religious landscape.
Gosau’s religious history began in 1231 when the mother parish of Abtenau connected with a wooden chapel in the Kirchschlag district. About the beginning of the 16th century, the Gosau parish was formally established, therefore initiating a long-standing ecclesiastical presence in the area. Venerable in design, the current church was painstakingly built between 1500 and 1507. Remarkably significant historically, this church and the Sebastian altar in the Hallstatt parish church together constitute one of the first St. Sebastian cult expressions in Austria.
The church is designed with a nave and choir arrangement, the nave having four bays. The choir concludes in a unique 5/8 time pattern that adds to the structure’s own appeal. Beautifully extending over the nave and chancel is a Gothic ribbed ceiling that exemplifies the architectural beauty of the time. The entry is given an artistic dimension by the Gothic western gate, which is adorned with crude plastic heads and is topped by a pointed spire.
Later on, the church had to be changed to suit changing requirements and architectural styles. Expanding the nave and choir in 1874 improved the church’s spatial proportions. Concurrently, the tower was finished between 1864 and 1865, cemented its position in the architectural group.
Historical eras and artistic influences coexist inside the cathedral. Predominantly Neo-Gothic furniture gives the architectural components a visual consistency. An important work of art in the church is the second quarter of the 18th-century baroque figure of Saint Sebastian. The artwork, which is resting on the baroque high altar, adds to the religious and cultural legacy of the cathedral.
Dachstein
The Hoher Dachstein at 2995 meters above sea level and the Niedere Dachstein at 2934 meters, 400 meters northward, make up the unique double-peak formation that is the Dachstein, a notable mountain within the Dachstein Mountains. The Hoher Dachstein is the highest peak not only in the Dachstein Mountains but also in the federal states of Upper Austria and Styria in Austria.
Ever since the Grimming, once thought to be the highest peak in Styria, lost its title, the Dachstein has enthralled mountaineers. The about one kilometer high reddish south walls of the mountain, made of Dachstein limestone, have become iconic elements.
The Dachstein, which is located in the Northern Alps, is second highest mountain in the Lechtal Alps, after the Parseierspitze alone. Geographically speaking, the Hoher Dachstein crosses the boundary between Upper Austria and Styria, whereas the Niedere Dachstein is totally inside Upper Austria. The peak lies close to Lammertal to the west, Ramsau to the south-east, and Hallstatt to the north-northeast.
Among the glaciers on the Dachstein are the Schladming Glacier, the Great and Small Gosaugletscher, the Schneeloch Glacier, and the Hallstatt Glacier, also referred to as “Karlseisfeld” historically. These glaciers are now, however, going through a process of deterioration and breakdown. Famous glaciers such as the Edelgrießgletscher, the fields on the south face of the Dachstein, and the Torsteingletscher have all drastically shrunk in recent years, leaving behind dead ice coated with debris. With reference to the Dachstein glacier ski resort in particular, conservation measures are in place to mitigate the effects of human activity.
Numerous glacial lakes dotting the Dachstein landscape are classified as Dachstein glacial lakes because they are many of them ice period remains. Of these glacial lakes, the ice lakes of the Hallstatt glacier are unique and give the area a unique geological character.
Being one of the largest glacier fields in the Eastern Alps, the Dachstein Glacier was crucial throughout the ice ages. Ennstal and the whole Salzkammergut were molded by it. Generally speaking, Salzkammergut lakes are survivors of the Dachstein glacial heritage and can be found as dead ice holes, post-glacial moor lakes, or lakes on the tongues of glaciers.
Gosau Evangelical Parish Church
Situated in the Gmunden district of the municipality of Gosau, the Gosau Evangelical Parish Church is a monument of the area’s changing architectural legacy and theological environment. The previous Tolerance Church, built in 1784, was replaced by this one between 1864 and 1869. An important site of worship, it is managed by the Evangelical Superintendency of Upper Austria and is the parish church of the Austrian Evangelical Church AB.
When Tolerance Church was first constructed in 1784, it represented the religious climate of the day. It was forbidden to have a tower, bells, or religious decorations per current building regulations. Notwithstanding these drawbacks, it became a center of attention for the evangelical community and, with its dedication on the Sunday following Trinity, represented tolerance.
Requiring a larger church building, the Tolerance Church was demolished in 1864, and its stones were used to build the new Protestant elementary school. The old Gosau Evangelical Parish Church was replaced with the neo-Gothic Gosau Evangelical Parish Church, designed by Hermann Wehrenfennig. Renowned for his work on other evangelical churches, notably those in Gmunden and Vöcklabruck, Wehrenfennig helped to define the local architectural style.
Once government limitations were lifted, the rebuilt church was finished in 1869 and included a pointed helmet-topped tower at the southern choir corner. The re-dedication in September 1869 was a pivotal point in the Gosau evangelical community’s history.
The church’s carvings and architectural features are a reflection of regional skill. A well-known Gosau resident, senior instructor Hager, was instrumental in producing the church’s distinctive appearance via his meticulous carvings. Especially, the altar crucifix by Erler is a unique creative addition to the cathedral.
The Trinity altar demonstrates the thematic richness included into the church’s design with images of the apostles Peter and Paul and the phrase “I am the vine, you are the branches.” The fact that Hager taught at the Holzfachschule Hallstatt emphasizes even more the local connections and cooperative efforts that helped to create the church’s personality.
Sourced materials show a dedication to regional resources; all stones are from Gosau quarries. From the neighboring Dachstein area comes the marble used for the baptismal font and altar stairs. This well considered decision enhances the church’s ties to the neighborhood and confirms the availability of high-quality materials nearby.
The church gains a musical dimension with the Steinmayer organ maker’s 1902-built organ, which improves its function as a place of worship. Three bells within the church also add to its aural character by echoing with the long history of bell-ringing in religious ceremonies.
Hinterer Gosausee
Situated 1154 meters above sea level in the Upper Austrian Salzkammergut municipality of Gosau, is the Hinterer Gosausee. At the northernmost point of the Dachstein range, this lake is a prominent part of the Dachstein natural reserve, which also includes Obertraun, Hallstatt, and Gosau. The Hinterer Gosausee is a peaceful alpine lake owned by the Austrian Federal Forests, situated close to the Gosau valley entrance, about 8 kilometers south of Gosau. A tranquil natural setting, the lake is only reachable via a limited wooded path.
The fairly circular lake spans an area of about 31 hectares and has a maximum length of 800 meters and a maximum width of 600 meters. Near the middle is where it reaches its deepest point, 36 meters, and its morphology resembles a basin sculpted by glaciers. The Gosaukamm, with its high ice-period slopes, adds enormous debris cones on the southwest side, resulting in a naturally occurring and mostly underdeveloped beach.
Maintained by subterranean rivers fed, among other sources, by the Hallstätter Glacier and the Great Gosaugletscher, the lake has a unique hydrological feature called estavelle. The hydrological conditions determine the several flow orientations produced by this karst structure. During high water levels, the Gosausee’s rear gap works as a source; at low water levels, it shrinks. Through a network of caves, the water finally reaches Lake Hallstatt via the Mühlbach. Far below the Vorderer Gosausee, in the Gosau valley, the lake also empties into the headwaters of Gosaubach. An alluvial fan is formed by the occasionally active Kreidebach from the south replenishing the Hinterer Gosausee’s surface. Because of the estavelle, which gives the lake reservoir-like qualities, the water levels vary by up to 15 meters according on input and outflow regimes.
The ecology of the lake sustains a small number of fish, mostly arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus) and minnows (Phoxinus phoxinus). The Hinterer Gosausee, although being nutrient-depleted, is an important breeding ground for common frogs (Rana temporaria) and alpine newts (Ichthyosaura alpestris). These species’ existence emphasizes the lake’s importance ecologically in the alpine setting.
Beautiful views and possible recreational options may be found near the southern shore of the lake at the Hohe Holzmeisteralm (1164 meters above sea level) and a hunting lodge. Sometimes the summertime temperatures rise over 20 °C, which makes the Hinterer Gosausee a great place to swim and adds to its allure as a natural treasure in the alpine area.
Gosaulacke
Within the cultural environment of Hallstatt-Dachstein/Salzkammergut, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Gosaulacke is the smallest of the three Gosau lakes located in the municipality of Gosau in Upper Austria.
The Gosaulacke, which rises to 969 meters above sea level in the Dachstein Mountains, is tucked away between the Hinteren Gosausee (1,615 meters) to the southeast and the Vorderen Gosausee (895 meters). In line with a geological fissure in the Alps, this trio of lakes occupy a valley sculpted by the Ice Age Dachstein glacier. Different Dachstein limestone formations are seen on the valley’s flanks; near the Gosaulacke’s beaches, shell limestone and Reiflinger limestone may be seen.
Notably erratic, the Gosaulacke’s water level fluctuates greatly and may even dry out entirely. The lake is around 7 hectares in size and 630 meters long with a maximum width of 160 meters. The nineteenth-century historical documents show dimensions of 11 hectares and 900 meters in length. Usually, the water depth is between four and five meters.
With no steady inflow, the Gosaulacke is replenished by snowfall or heavy rains. In the spring, two mountain streams from the northeast feed the lake; the Hinterer Gosausee overflow mostly happens during high water and spring snowmelt. In a dry valley, there may occasionally be above-ground flow even though most discharge to the Vorderer Gosausee is underground through rubble soil.
The Gosaulacke is a component of the Dachstein natural reserve and is covered by the protected areas of Gosau, Hallstatt, and Obertraun. The Gosaulacke also includes a 53.0494 acre protected eco-area to the northwest. The lake’s importance in the conservation of the natural and cultural legacy of the area is further highlighted by its inclusion into the Hallstatt-Dachstein/Salzkammergut UNESCO World Heritage Site cultural landscape since 1997.
Vorderer Gosausee
At the northern foothills of the Dachstein range, in the Upper Austrian Salzkammergut municipality of Gosau, is the Vorderer Gosausee, an alpine lake at 933 meters. The Austrian Federal Forests own the lake, which is noted for its gorgeous setting and is fed by the Gosaubach, which finally empties into the Danube via the Traun.
Easily reached from Gosau via the state road, the Vorderer Gosausee is the starting point of the Gosaukammbahn to the Gablonzer Hütte, which makes access to the Dachstein-West ski area and other summer hiking paths possible. Mountaineers also start their climb of the Hoher Dachstein from the Vorderer Gosausee, going via the Adamekhütte at the foot of the vast Gosau glacier.
The lake is even more enticing because of its unmatched view, which is among the most famous mountain vistas in Austria. Especially in calm weather when the lake’s surface reflects the panorama or at sunset, the symmetrical image of the Dachstein glacier, framed by the Gosaukamm, enthralls spectators.
In the past, the Vorderer Gosausee kept a lower water level and had limited access on the left side while facing the Dachstein. On the right ran the Gosaukamm, which led to the alpine pastures on the Gosaulacke and the rear Gosausee. On the left side of the lake, a work road was cut through the Lärchkogel’s rock and led to the rear Gosausee in 1907 as part of the building of the Gosau power plant chain.
Maintained by subsurface springs close to its back, the lake’s natural discharge travels underground to the Brunn streams in the Gosau area. The clean waters of the lake attract divers, who make it more well-known throughout the summer.
Every May, the Vorderer Gosausee organizes a 2-person relay competition on its 4.5 km long, level circular hiking trail around the lake. On the eastern shore of the lake, on the high slopes of the Lärchkogel, adventure seekers can also tackle the difficult “Laserer-Alpin-Klettersteig”. The Vorderer Gosausee is a popular destination in the Salzkammergut area because of its mix of scenic beauty, leisure activities, and position as a gateway to the surrounding alpine environment.
