How can you take your children on a holiday that is both fun and healthy? A trip to the Alps is a great idea! There are many remarkable peaks in these mountains, all of which are unique, but we would like to draw your attention to one of the most interesting.
Mount Schaffberg is located near the town of St. Wolfgang in the eastern part of the Alps — the Salzkammergut. Its height is 1,763 metres and all its slopes are very steep. The top of the mountain is shrouded in cloud, but it is hard to call it uninhabited. There are always lots of tourists and even restaurants where you can warm up with the famous Austrian goulash.
Interestingly, one of the lodges at the top has a wooden signpost telling people how many kilometres it is to Tokyo, Rio de Janeiro and other major tourist destinations. Why? — It's not clear, but there seems to be some humour in it, saying "if you don't like it, you can rest elsewhere if you make it".
The Schaffberg above the Wolfgangsee makes it clear to any traveller that the alpine air is neither a myth nor a marketing gimmick. It is there — clear, cool and slightly sweet, you can breathe it in endlessly and it stays on your clothes long after you have left the mountain.
If you look at photos of the Schaffberg, you can see that it is surrounded by three lakes — Wolfgangsee, Mondsee and Attersee. A distinctive feature of the mountain is that it has a relatively gentle (but still quite steep) slope on one side and a steep, precipitous slope on the other.
Although seemingly inaccessible, there are hiking trails that are popular with active and even extreme holidaymakers.
For those who prefer comfort, there is the 19th century rack-railway. Make sure you buy a return ticket when you buy your ticket, otherwise you won't be allowed on the train.
Although the length of the railway line is 5.83 km, the journey takes about 40 minutes. This is a good thing, as it gives you plenty of time to take in the scenery around you and to take some unique photos of the 'lean-to' to show you the peculiarities of the climb.
The track ends in a dead end. There is a fork in the road at one point, as there is a repair train running along the line.
If you don't want to go all the way up, don't worry. Halfway up the climb there is a halfway station, the Schaffbergalm, from where you can walk up the Schaffberg. This is not a wilderness trail, but a specially adapted route for hikers. Nevertheless, it is a good idea to bring special shoes and trekking poles.
There are several mountain hotels and a tourist resorts at the top where you can rest, eat and even stay the night. Several restaurants offer a variety of local dishes, as well as hot coffee and other drinks.
Another local attraction is the Schaffbergspitze Hotel. It is the first hotel in Austria to be built on a mountain.
Before you get to the Schaffberg, you have to sail to the town of St. Wolfgang. Yes, the boat ride is worth it, even if you don't think about the summit itself. Awaiting you is the luxurious vintage steamer 'Kaiser Franz Josef I', which has been taking people to all the towns on the three lakes since 1873.
It can also be hired for private events. The steamer is a paddle steamer and is therefore ecologically clean. A further 6 steamers ply the lakes, carrying up to 365 passengers.
There are several viewing platforms at the top of the mountain, offering panoramic views from all sides. Lakes, coniferous forests, villages, the slopes of neighbouring mountains — it's all in the palm of your hand and it feels like you have the whole world in your pocket.
It is not only Mount Schaffberg that is popular with tourists, but Austria also has a lot to offer in the surrounding area. The town of St. Wolfgang, for example, has many sights to see, including St. Wolfgang's Church with its ancient Gothic altar, Falkenstein Church and Fürberg Bay.
The glacial Wolfgangsee is also remarkable — it's home to many different species of fish, swans and unique turquoise water. In the middle of the lake is a stone niche on a miniature island with a statue of the Virgin Mary.
In general, make sure you have plenty of time if you come here. There's plenty of time for sightseeing, a stroll around the lake and a climb to the top of the breathtakingly beautiful Schaffberg for a coffee in the clouds.
