The Knappenwelt (Pitmen’s World) in Angertal is an open-air museum about the late medieval gold and silver smelting in the Pongau area. It is a station of the Via Aurea, which focuses on gold mining in the Austrian Tauern mountain ranges. [German]
Tag: Pongau
Technology collection Breyer
For many years, the Gastein collector Hans Breyer (1927-1997) collected gramophones, radios and cameras. The Schinderhaus houses this collection (Technische Sammlung Hans Breyer), making it accessible to visitors to Bad Hofgastein. [German]
Mineral museum in Bad Hofgastein
A modern-looking building houses the Mineral Museum in a quiet district of Bad Hofgastein. Generally, the collector of the minerals is present and then likes to tell the story of the collected pieces. [German]
Gold panning in Angertal
Children can try their luck at panning for gold at this remarkable place on a creek in Angertal. Display boards explain how the young diggers will find gold in water courses. In a hut, rubber boots and pans are available for the gold panning adventure. [German]
Mural by Ferdinand Kubitschek in Bischofshofen
This mural in Bischofshofen was created by Ferdinand Kubitschek in 1967. Besides the big scale of the mural I was also impressed by the beautiful decorated soffit you can see in the upper right corner of this picture.
Höch Castle in Flachau
Höch Castle (Schloss Höch), first mentioned in the 11th century, offers a nice view over the Flachau area. Inside there is a big salon with a splendid decoration made of wood. Today it serves as a venue for cultural events.
Creative Sculpture in Altenmarkt/Pongau
While walking along the venues of the festival Natura.Kreativ in Altenmarkt I came across a class in creative sculpture ran by artist Walter Puchmayr. Participants were told how to create artworks by combining driftwood, stones and metal in a creative way.
Sundial in Altenmarkt/Pongau
Sundial at the Dechantskirche in Altenmarkt. The figure represents a Madonna for which the church is famous for. One can see a copy of this statue at one of the side altars in the church.
Voice training at the Reitlehenalm
My first visit to the Natura.Kreativ led me to the Reitlehenalm, an alpine pasture near Altenmarkt im Pongau. Right in the middle of the hills, a class in voice training took place. The teacher was Annelie Leuthäuser, an experienced theatre and concert singer.
Sigmund Freud and room N°18
Before I arrived at Villa Excelsior in Bad Gastein I had already read about one of its most famous guests: Sigmund Freud. He spent several summer holidays here. The audio guide talking about sights in Bad Gastein also told me it was here where Mr. Freud was putting down his thoughts about Eros and Thanatos.
Villa Excelsior in Bad Gastein
The Villa Excelsior opened as a hotel in 1897. Later, the building served as a spa for priests. The chapel of the hotel dates back to this time and is still available to guests today. On bright days, the stained glass windows immerse the room in a special light.
Villa Excelsior in Bad Gastein
Villa Excelsior has already hosted famous guests. For example, Sigmund Freud spent several summer holidays here. My tour guide told me it was here where the Austrian neurologist was thinking about the concept of Eros and Thanatos.