In the heart of the Alps, this huge, mirror-like lake near the town of Altaussee and the extraordinary Jausenstation Seewiese log cabin is surrounded by the vast, snowy mountains of Austria. When the weather is good, it is a truly idyllic resort in the countryside, but if the weather turns bad it becomes a dramatic and harsh location, with one tiny shelter surrounded by nature. It is quite an unusual Austrian location, because instead of being perfectly manicured, the fields are quite marshy and the houses are rather rundown. The salt mines near Altaussee have played an interesting role in history. During World War II the Nazis hid the artworks they had stolen from Europe’s museums and studios, such as the Ghent Altarpiece, works by Bruegel and Manet. By the end of the war there were more than 6,500 artworks stored there, with an estimated value of 3.5 billion US dollars, collected by Adolf Hitler to exhibit in the Führermuseum in the future. Another fun fact is that Klaus Maria Brandauer lives in this town, an actor and director who starred in the Oscar-winning film Mephisto.

Photo gallery

Snow-covered lakeshore with rocks and mountains at Lake Altaussee.
Some parts of Lake Altaussee’s shores are home to exceptionally dramatic nature
Calm winter lake surrounded by snowy mountains at Lake Altaussee.
The winter months in Alpine regions guarantee snow and low temperatures
Wooden boathouse by the snowy shore of Lake Altaussee.
Snowy conditions are not a challenge for the Austrian film industry
Small wooden bridge and green meadow near Lake Altaussee.
In spring, the lake and surrounding marshes are fed by meltwater from the mountains
Rustic mountain hut surrounded by forest near Lake Altaussee.
The log cabin was one of the memorable locations in the international blockbuster Spectre
Tree and bench overlooking the water and mountains at Lake Altaussee.
Austria’s immaculate infrastructure ensures easy access to these rural spots
Steep rocky mountain rising above the forest near Lake Altaussee.
Many filmmakers have been inspired by the wild natural scenery

Filmed at this location

This was one of the locations of the latest James Bond film called Spectre. In 2015 Daniel Craig and the crew shot here quite a few scenes, for example the stunning one in which agent 007 rows into the middle of the lake.