Nature/Mountains Bad Gastein

Hotels
Stays
Introduction
History
Location and climate
Tourist attractions
Surroundings
Natural healing resources

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Hotels

Hotel Alpenblick***	from 43 €/night
Hotel Grüner Baum****	from 98 €/night

Hotel Europäischer Hof**** from 106 €/night

Stays

Active relaxation from 43 €/night

Introduction

Bad Gastein is a spa town in the Austrian state of Salzburg, situated at the northern rim of the Hohe Tauern national park. It has 5,838 inhabitants.

History

The Gastein valley had been a part of the Archbishopric of Salzburg in the Middle Ages. It was originally a gold mining area and the site of an ancient trade route crossing the Central Eastern Alps. In the 19th century the hot springs of Bad Gastein became a fashionable resort, visited by monarchs as well as the rich and famous.

Location and climate

It is located at the head of the Gastein valley, about 1,000 meters above sea level. This is a spa town of world renown with a very special flair: relaxation and recreation in pure mountain air, combined with an ideal high-altitude climate and Gastein’s thermal waters, guarantee you a vacation that is certain to exceed your highest expectations.

Tourist attractions

Nikolauskirche (1380)
Gletschermühlen
Felsentherme
Gasteiner Heilstollen
Gasteiner Heimatmuseum im Haus Austria
Silverbullet (Bar)

Surroundings

Beside its water treatments, the town is popular for winter sports. Most of the Gastein Valley contains moderate to good skiing/snowboarding, with plenty of chairlifts and gondolas. Many establishments on the slopes offer warmth, food and strong drinks. And when the Gastein Valley is transformed into a summertime paradise, you will discover glorious hiking paths, attractive running and Nordic Walking trails, cycling and mountain-bike tours and more, both in and around the Hohe Tauern National Park.

Natural healing resources

The local Heilstollen (literally 'healing tunnel') thermal spring water earned the town its early fame. Theophrastus Parcelsus (1493–1541) had studied the spring water to discover its secrets. Marie Curie (1867–1934) and Heinrich Mache (1876–1954) helped to discover that it contained radon and as a result radon therapy began in the town.