Discover Anif: Forest Pool, Castle and Salzburg by Bike

Anif combines experiences in nature, local history and its proximity to Salzburg to create a diverse holiday destination. Anif Forest Pool is located on the outskirts of Salzburg and offers clear, fresh mountain water surrounded by nature. At the same time, the parish church, moated castle and historic memorial sites tell the story of the area. If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Anif, you can therefore choose between active days outdoors, cultural discoveries and trips to the city.

Forest Pool, climbing park and exercise

Anif Forest Pool offers numerous leisure activities, including volleyball and table tennis. A particular attraction is the Anif Forest Pool Climbing Park, which is also suitable for completely inexperienced climbers. This allows you to vary your time outdoors: while some travellers try out the climbing elements, the other activities offer a different form of exercise.

The Speed-Flying-Fox zip line provides a special thrill. It is approximately 300 metres long, reaches speeds of up to 60 km/h and runs across the entire length of Anif Forest Pool. Knowing its approximate dimensions is helpful for planning your day if you want to include this attraction specifically. Those who prefer to travel by bicycle can explore the surrounding area and Salzburg from Anif via the Mozart Cycle Path. Salzburg can be reached along the Salzach River in fifteen minutes.

Salzburg and the zoo by bus and bicycle

There is also a direct connection for a trip to Salzburg Zoo: Bus route 25 runs regularly from Salzburg Central Station via Salzburg city centre and Hellbrunn to the “Anif Zoo Salzburg” stop. From there, it is about a three-minute walk to the zoo entrance. This gives you various options for your days of holiday: you can head to Salzburg by bicycle or use the bus route from the central station or along its route for your visit to the zoo.

Church, castle and historic traces

The appearance of Anif is defined by the Catholic parish church of St Oswald. It was first mentioned in 790, has a Gothic choir and a late Romanesque tower, and stands on a rise in the centre of the village. Surrounded by the cemetery and featuring its distinctive tower, the church is still regarded as a landmark of the village. For visitors interested in culture, it combines a long history with a clearly recognisable architectural ensemble.

Anif Moated Castle has been documented since the 16th century. It lies in the middle of an extensive park on an artificially created lake. As a result, it offers a completely different impression from the parish church, which is situated at a higher elevation. The historic Thingstätte, later called Landschranne, is also part of the area’s history. In the Middle Ages, the Taiding was held there on the Monday after St George’s Day; the territorial law was proclaimed and justice was administered. The stone Taiding table on site is a replica erected in 1937.

On the way to the Anif exit of Hellbrunn Zoo, at the end of Theodor-Gugl-Weg, stands the expiatory cross, also known as the “Murder Cross”, which was erected in 1953. Individual sites like these give a walk through Anif a historical focus without requiring you to get to know the area through just one attraction.

The right starting point for your trip

When looking for accommodation in Anif, it is worth organising your planned days of holiday according to your interests. Those who want to combine nature and exercise can consider the forest pool, climbing park and Mozart Cycle Path. For cultural discoveries, the parish church, moated castle, Thingstätte and expiatory cross offer different points of interest. If Salzburg or the zoo is the main focus, the bus connection described above and the cycle route are important reference points for your planning. This allows you to choose a holiday apartment or holiday house according to your desired itinerary without attributing any unsubstantiated features to the accommodation itself.

You can find further local pages for orientation here: Köstendorf near Salzburg, Henndorf on Lake Wallersee, Elixhausen, Koppl, Plainfeld, Gschwand, Thalgau and Ebenau.

For the overarching travel overview: Salzburg-Flachgau.