Situated in the Austrian Salzkammergut and not far from Salzburg, this beautiful village is perched at the foot of the Alpine mountains on the shore of Hallstätter See. Its name means “the place of salt” in celtic, because it was an ancient celtic settlement thousands of years ago. It is home to one of the first salt mines in the world, which is why it is a Cultural World Heritage Site and has its own museum. The world-renowned village is so tiny that it has only around one thousand inhabitants and can be explored on foot in only ten minutes. It has charming tiny streets and gorgeous colourful traditional wooden houses, which preserve the atmosphere of the past thanks to the villagers' respect for their roots so much - they did not even allow a road to be built in the town until the end of the 19th century! It is also accessible by boat; travelling over the mirror-like lake to the wooden boat huts. This town is so internationally famous for its unparalleled charm that in 2012 a full-size replica of it was built in China as a housing development plan for wealthy Chinese.

Photo gallery

Colorful houses and central square with a fountain in Hallstatt.
The perfectly preserved traditional houses create a truly historic atmosphere
Lakeside street lined with traditional wooden houses in Hallstatt.
It is surrounded by a stunning lake and panoramic view of the Alps
Wooden houses built on a hillside above the lake in Hallstatt.
Part of the American fantasy miniseries The 10th Kingdom was filmed here
Boathouses along the calm lakeshore in Hallstatt surrounded by mountains.
It is a World Heritage Site, ensuring it will never be spoilt by modernisation
View over rooftops and church spire beside the lake in Hallstatt.
This historic village has a history going back thousands of years
Narrow cobblestone street with traditional buildings in Hallstatt.
The proud residents of Hallstatt support tradition over modernisation
Lakeside house with wooden balcony overlooking the mountains in Hallstatt.
An awe-inspiring Alpine panorama awaits the visitors of Hallstatt

Filmed at this location

This idyllic village was one of the locations for the South Korean television series Spring Waltz, filmed in 2006, highlighting the romantic aspect of Alpine Austria. This is a much-loved location among filmmakers and photographers. Another production shot partially there was The 10th Kingdom, an American fairytale fantasy miniseries.