The Saltmines near Salzburg – Hallein

About 20 minutes away from the city of Salzburg you’ll find something very special in this area. Near Hallein, an old celtic city, you can visit the saltmine of Bad Dürrnberg. Right beside a small old celtic village (no we are not with asterix and obelix – that was in another part of Europe). Here on the mountain besides a sleepy church you can change your feeling and go back in time. Down under in the land of the minerals.

Salzwelten – salt mine Bad Duerrnberg

The Salinen Austria AG may be the oldest company in the world. Already 7000 years before the saltmines in Hallstatt were in use. As the Salinen Austria AG are still the only one allowed to take the salt out of the mountains, you can call them the oldest company.

Here on the Dürrnberg the actual entry ‘Obersteinbergstollen’ was opened in 1543. At the beginning you drive in with a train and the first meeting point with the prince archbishop Wolf Dietrich von Raitenau is 600 meters (ca. 1.800 ft.) in the mountain and 120m (360 ft.) under the earth. The mine has become Austria’s largest and the world’s oldest exhibition mine. Already in the 17th century visitors were authorized to see the salt mines.

The funniest thing for the kids will be the slide. Here you have the opportunity to use the same ways as the old miners centuries ago and have fun where they in former times had to do hard work.

The most impressive station will be for sure the salt lake which you’ll cross within the mine on a boat. Enjoy the feeling to ride a boat on 27% salt brine – more than the death sea – and enjoy the experience to be under day light. Go away from rain or fog outside and relax in a very well (natural) air conditioned area.

Of course, they have some surprises for you, which I will not mention here. Be sure, the guides are personal and individual and in english language you can enjoy the tour with funny correspondence without an audio guide. Best regards and a nice trip with Bespecialtours! See you in the mine!