Hallein between Celtic Culture, Salt History and the Barmsteine

Hallein combines impressive Celtic culture, a medieval-style Old Town and striking rocky landscapes. The city’s salt history, a distinctive musical heritage and several ways to make your stay active or culturally enriching add to this. If you are looking for a holiday apartment or holiday home, it is therefore worth deciding first which experiences you would like: Should the trip focus mainly on museums, historic alleyways, the Barmsteine or a cycling tour?

Discover Celtic Culture and Salt History

The Hallein Celtic Museum is one of the largest museums of Celtic history and art in Europe. It presents both Salzburg’s prehistory and the history of the city of Hallein. Particularly exceptional is the connection between Iron Age burial grounds, settlement areas and salt mining on the Dürrnberg: it is unique in Europe. One of the highlights is a 2,500-year-old Celtic beaked jug from the Dürrnberg, decorated with mythical-creature-like predators and demons.

The Salzburg Salt Mines in Hallein also take visitors into the long history of salt mining. The Salzburg mine is considered the oldest show mine in the world; the first visitors entered the tunnels as early as 1607. Those who want their trip to focus on archaeology, mining and regional history will therefore find several distinct themes in Hallein to include in their holiday planning.

Old Town, Musical Heritage and Regional Specialities

The historic Old Town preserves a medieval centre. Small, winding alleyways and Mediterranean-style squares invite visitors to stroll and give the city experience its own character. The parish church was first mentioned in documents in 1193 and is now a listed monument. The church is also home to the Gruber organ, named after its namesake; it was renovated in 2018.

Another cultural facet is presented by the Silent Night Museum Hallein. The exhibition covers the origins and dissemination of “Silent Night! Holy Night!” as well as the circumstances of the Gruber family’s life. The museum is located in the composer’s former home. For a trip with varied interests, this visit can be easily combined with a walk through the Old Town or a museum day without reducing the city to a single theme.

The Hofbräu Kaltenhausen is also part of the local history. Beer has been brewed there since 1475; brewery tours and beer tastings are offered. The brewing tradition thus complements the historical and cultural impressions with a culinary theme.

Hiking, Cycling and Special Excursion Destinations

The Barmsteine are two rugged rock towers and are considered a landmark of the city of Hallein. They are a popular destination for hikes. One route leads via Hühnerleiten from Bad Dürrnberg to the Barmsteine and down to Hallein. The Arnoweg trail leads directly past the listed Thürndl ruins to the Barmsteine. The ruins themselves are one of Hallein’s landmarks; their walls are around 800 years old.

Hallein also offers clear orientation for cycling tours: the city lies both on the Tauern Cycle Path and on the Alpe Adria Cycle Route. In addition, city tours on the themes of “Hops and Malt” and “Silent Night” are offered. The Kelten.Erlebnis.Berg has a themed playground and includes the SALINA Celtic Village. This allows you to alternate between active days, guided themed activities and cultural visits.

Hallein as a Starting Point for Planning Your Trip

When choosing your accommodation, you can be guided by your personal priorities: a holiday apartment in Hallein is suitable for a trip where the Old Town, museums, musical heritage and regional cuisine shape the rhythm of the day. If you mainly want to plan visits to the Barmsteine, routes around Bad Dürrnberg or one of the two cycle routes, you should take the respective starting points and your preferred daily itinerary into account when searching. Families can combine different interests, such as a themed playground with Celtic culture or a visit to the Old Town with a hike.

For more travel ideas in the surrounding area, you can also explore Sankt Margarethen, Rußbach Am Paß Gschütt, Abtenau, Sankt Koloman, Scheffau am Tennengebirge, Annaberg-Lungötz, Gaißau and Adnet.

For the higher-level travel overview: Hallein.