Gschwandt between Forest, Culture and the Traunseetram

Gschwandt combines a hilly, forest-rich landscape with an unusually diverse range of discoveries: A Roman-era settlement lies along the Wasserloser Bach, a Late Gothic rural church preserves remarkable architectural elements, and the Traunseetram offers onward travel options in several directions. Anyone looking for a holiday apartment in the Salzkammergut can combine culture, activity and special experiences here for a varied stay.

Hilly Landscape and Paths along the Wasserloser Bach

Gschwandt has a hilly, forest-rich landscape. A prominent landmark is the Flachberg, a 781 m-high foothill of the Alps in the immediate vicinity of the village. On foot, the Flachberg is about an hour from Gschwandt. This makes it possible to get to know the surrounding area at different paces: The mountain is a concrete point of orientation for planning a hike, while the village itself provides the setting for more leisurely discoveries.

Hiking Trail 2 runs along the Wasserloser Bach and connects with Hiking Trail 1 towards the Flachberg. A Roman-era settlement existed along the Wasserloser Bach from approximately 80 to 250 AD. Anyone interested in both history and landscape will find a connection here between a path through the surrounding area and a historical reference dating back to Roman times. The route can therefore be planned as a separate activity alongside the cultural attractions in Gschwandt.

Special Experiences and Local Sports Facilities

At Gmunden-Laakirchen Airfield in Gschwandt, you can plan a flight experience as a special holiday activity. During such a flight, you pilot a Katana or a Falke, a motor glider, for around 20 minutes and make two landings. The airfield is located east of Gmunden and Lake Traunsee. Thus, alongside hiking and local history, you can also choose an experience offering a distinctly different perspective.

The Funsporthalle in Gschwandt measures 28 m × 15 m. It has two football goals and two handball goals, basketball hoops, as well as volleyball posts with a net. The hall is available to the residents of Gschwandt and the neighbouring municipalities in the Gmunden city region: these include Altmünster, Gmunden, Kirchham, Laakirchen, Ohlsdorf, Pinsdorf, Traunkirchen and Vorchdorf. For travel planning, this facility is particularly interesting as part of the local sports landscape and complements the paths and outdoor excursion destinations with an indoor option.

Late Gothic Church and Historical Details

Gschwandt Parish Church is a single-nave Late Gothic rural church built in the second half of the 15th century. Elements from the construction period that have been preserved include a west gallery with a net-rib vault, a Gothic south portal with a porch and a north portal. Visitors who pay attention to architecture during a visit to the village can use these elements to gain a particularly vivid understanding of the forms characteristic of Late Gothic construction.

Other Late Gothic elements include a sculpture of Saint Sebastian and several panel paintings depicting various saints, each dating from around 1500. The history of the village also includes a religious tradition: A traditional May devotion with Marian hymns took place at the former Baumgartenwirt. This event should be understood as something that took place in the past and complements the architectural evidence with a historical insight into local religious life.

Travelling by Traunseetram

Gschwandt is located directly on the Traunseetram operated by Stern & Hafferl between Gmunden and Vorchdorf. Stops in the municipal area include Neuhub, Gschwandt Schule, Gschwandt-Rabesberg, Unterm Wald and Baumgarten-Waldbach. The route from Gmunden to Gschwandt offers onward travel options towards Laakirchen as well as towards Kirchham, Vorchdorf and Eisengattern. When searching for a holiday apartment, you can therefore consider whether your trip should be shaped primarily by hiking, culture, sport or excursions by tram.

You can discover further travel destinations via the following places: Ebensee, Pinsdorf, Vorchdorf, Bad Ischl, Traunkirchen, Sankt Wolfgang in the Salzkammergut, Grünau in the Almtal and Sankt Konrad.

To the higher-level travel overview: Gmunden.