Culture & Traditions in Salzkammergut
What is it that makes the Salzkammergut so attractive? Here in the Salzkammergut, the culture is so alive and the customs so authentic - experience for yourself.
Salzkammergut 2024
"Culture is the new salt" - this is the motto of the 2024 Capital of Culture. With 23 municipalities, the European Capital of Culture is located in the inner Alpine region for the first time and will offer a diverse program in 2024 with Bad Ischl as the banner city in the Salzkammergut.
The different Salzkammergut regions with their specific customs, dialects, crafts and peculiarities offer a diversity in a very small area that is unparalleled anywhere in the world. It will be exciting, because you can look forward to a colorful round dance, which seeks the connection of historically rooted traditions with contemporary art and culture and thus presents the Salzkammergut to an international audience.
Culture almost a gift!
The KulturCard is available for just € 49 from the Salzkammergut tourist boards and online. The KulturCard entitles you to discounts at museums, concerts and exhibitions in the region as well as the Capital of Culture programme throughout 2024.
The KulturCard also includes the SalzkammergutCard with numerous discounts at popular attractions, sights and leisure activities in the Salzkammergut.
By bus and train to a cultural experience
In the Capital of Culture year 2024, you can travel to the Salzkammergut in comfort with the Freizeit-Ticket OÖ. The ticket is valid throughout Upper Austria and in the Salzkammergut region, which spans several federal states. 19.90 per day, valid until 3 am the following day, you can use this ticket alone, as a couple or with your whole family (two adults and four children under the age of 15).
Valid on city transport, regional buses, Stern & Hafferl local trains, ÖBB local and regional trains. Not valid on long-distance trains.
WHERE TRADITION MEETS THE MODERN
The Salzkammergut culture is characterized by the connection between past and present, which flow harmoniously into each other. Experience a journey through world history, immerse yourself in traditional customs and be inspired by the vibrant contemporary culture.
Festivals
Festivals
Festival culture in the Salzkammergut has a long tradition - from the Lehár Festival to the Gmunden Festival Weeks, from operetta to spa music and jazz concerts to electronic sounds and cabaret, there is plenty of variety on offer.
SALZKAMMERGUT FOLK MUSIC
SALZKAMMERGUT FOLK MUSIC
Folk music is an integral part of cultural customs in the Salzkammergut. From Stubenmusi to Tanzlmusik, yodels and zither sounds, the music reflects the beauty of nature and the life of the people and brings to life the bond to the homeland.
THE DIRNDL
THE DIRNDL
In the Salzkammergut, the dirndl dress has a timeless tradition. With colorful patterns and fine fabrics, it embodies the beauty of the region and is proudly worn at festivals and celebrations. A symbol of the connection with nature and the rich history of the area.
LEATHER PANTS
LEATHER PANTS
The Lederhosen - an iconic Austrian garment that combines tradition and style. The handmade pants embody authenticity and are worn to festive occasions and traditional celebrations in the Salzkammergut. With their rustic charm and the durability of the material, Lederhosen are not just a piece of clothing, but a symbol of culture and lifestyle.
SALZKAMMERGUT CLOTHING
Whether it's the famous Goiserer shoes, hand-printed traditional costume fabrics from Ausseerland, custom-made dirndls or hand-sewn lederhosen, or the famous Ischl or Ausseer hats -
In the Salzkammergut, every piece of clothing is a work of art.
What makes the Salzkammergut so attractive?
Welcome to the Salzkammergut. Rich in tradition, history, culture and customs, the perfect blend of tradition and modernity has always attracted artists from all over the world. Since time immemorial, the Salzkammergut has inspired writers, poets, musicians and painters, providing them with the necessary peace and serenity to create their works. No wonder, then, that many famous artists have found their home here and created some of their most significant works. From Franz Lehár to Gustav Mahler and Gustav Klimt to Klaus Maria Brandauer - they all found impulses for their artistic creations in the stimulating landscape of the Salzkammergut, and also left a trace or two behind.
The charm of the summer resort has tradition in the Salzkammergut
Emperors and aristocrats have already chosen the Salzkammergut as their favorite place for summer retreats. And even today, the charm that enchanted Emperor Franz Josef and his beloved Sisi can still be felt throughout the Salzkammergut. Everywhere in the Salzkammergut you can feel the presence of the imperial and royal monarchy. Monarchy and experience lived tradition up close. Every step leads you to places full of history and stories waiting to be discovered by you.
UNESCO world cultural heritage and ancient salt
In the midst of the Salzkammergut shines a special jewel: the UNESCO Cultural & Natural Heritage Sites of the Hallstatt-Dachstein region. Salt has been mined in the Salzkammergut for thousands of years. Hallstatt can look back on a fascinating history. The theme of salt has great significance in the Salzkammergut to this day and shapes the region in a unique way. Discover the traces of salt extraction and immerse yourself in the fascinating history of the Salzkammergut.
Get to know real Salzkammergut craftsmanship
In the Salzkammergut, history and tradition have also left their mark on handicrafts. Handmade products have always had a high value here. Whether it's the famous Goiserer shoes, once worn by Emperor Franz Josef, hand-printed traditional costume fabrics from Ausseerland, tailor-made dirndls or hand-sewn lederhosen, or the famous Ischl or Aussee hats - in the Salzkammergut, the garment becomes a work of art. Discover the handicraft side of the Salzkammergut and experience first-hand how the art of craftsmanship has been cultivated for centuries.
Folk culture: where tradition and customs are lived out.
The Salzkammergut is not only known for its craftsmanship, but also for its importance in the field of instrument making, genuine folk music and folk culture. Numerous music bands, shooting clubs and traditional costume groups bear witness to this lively and authentic folk culture in the Salzkammergut. Here the cultural heritage is cultivated and passed on with much love. Immerse yourself in the fascinating world of folk culture and experience first-hand how the Salzkammergut is still an important place for art, culture and crafts today.
TRADITIONAL FESTIVALS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR
Throughout the year, traditional festivals take place in the Salzkammergut. From church holidays to traditional parades to hearty customs events - take up the offer and celebrate lively festivities together with the locals.
ALL EVENTS
