Traditional headdress for festive and holidays - the golden bonnet in Hallstatt. - © Kraft

Bad Goisern on Lake Hallstatt history

 

Bad Goisern lies embedded in the beautiful Traun Valley which borders Lake Hallstatt to the south side. The UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site has a long history.The first documented reference to the settlement dates back to 1325 and the name “Gebisharn”. In 1278 the valley was under Habsburg rule, and salt and brine were discovered in the Goisern area around 1290. Three hundred years later, in the year 1595, work began on the brine pipeline via Goisern to the “Pfannhaus” in Ebensee. Consequently, the “Obersalzamt” regional authorities office was established in Gmunden and housed from 1770 to 1850 in what today is the forestry commission office. After 1850, the Saline Authorities and Director of Forestry in Gmunden took over the administration of the Salzkammergut area.

The iodine sulphur spring

A history of salt mining was, and still is today, pivotal to the growth and development of Bad Goisern. In the process of drilling holes in the year 1874, the iodine sulphur spring was coincidentally discovered. This spring water has excellent medicinal qualities, and is valuable in the treatment of skin and joint disorders. This was a further milestone in the history of the settlement, and there has been a health spa here since 1931. Hence Goisern became known as a health resort . By 1952, Goisern already had more than 6000 inhabitants and became a market town. In 1955, “Goisern” became “Bad Goisern” -“Bad” for its status as a health spa. In June 2008, local authorities decided to extend the name to “Bad Goisern on Lake Hallstatt”.

The famous "Goisern Shoe"

Bad Goisern is no longer just the original market town, but consists of 30 additional, smaller neighbourhoods. These lie scattered along lush green valleys and babbling streams. Some neighbourhoods have an elevated location and from here there are stunning panoramic views of King Dachstein, the Ramsau mountain range, the Sarstein and numerous other mountain summits within the Salzkammergut. The area is a paradise for walkers and nature lovers. Goisern has also been made famous for a special shoe. The “Goisern Shoe” is affectionately known as the “grobgnater Schua” by the locals, and is a high quality walking boot. These boots are still lovingly made to order, by hand, today. They are individually made to measure, and Arnold Schwarzenegger, no less, has placed an order in the past.

Traditional handicraft

Time-honoured handicrafts and traditions play a large part in daily life in Bad Goisern. Bread is still baked today in the old brick oven in the “Schwarzes Kuchl” (“black kitchen”) at the Anzenau Mill Interactive Museum. The Salzkammergut Hand.Werk.Haus in Bad Goisern houses traditional handcrafts in an old building which has been recently modernized. Bad Goisern has a lively culture with lots of fascinating aspects to explore.

Information at a glance

  • Contact
    Municipal office
    Bad Goisern on Lake Hallstatt

    Marktgemeinde
    Bad Goisern am Hallstättersee

    Untere Marktstraße 1
    4822 Bad Goisern on Lake Hallstatt
    Austria
    Phone: +43 (0) 6135 8301
    E-Mail: gemeinde@bad-goisern-ooe.gv.at
    Homepage: www.goisern.eu
    Opening hours
    Municipal office
    Bad Goisern on Lake Hallstatt
    Marktgemeinde
    Bad Goisern am Hallstättersee
    Mon - Fri
    07.30 - 12.00
    Tue - Thu
    14.00 - 17.00
    Please note
    Subject to change
  • Contact
    Tourist Office Bad Goisern on Lake Hallstatt

    Ferienregion Dachstein Salzkammergut
    Tourismusverband Inneres Salzkammergut
    Kirchengasse 4
    4822 Bad Goisern, Österreich
    Austria
    Phone: +43 (0) 5 95095 10
    E-Mail: info@dachstein-salzkammergut.at
    Fax: +43 (0) 5 95095 74
    Bus stop: Bad Goisern Mitte/B145
    Opening times
    Tourist Office Bad Goisern
    Monday - Friday
    08:00 - 12:30
    13:00 - 16:30
    Closed on the following days:
    Saturday
    Sunday
    Please note
    Subject to change

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