Gmunden is a city in Austria, in the federal state of Upper Austria. Located on Lake Traunsee.
The Austrian resort town of Gmunden, located on the shores of the country’s deepest lake Traun See, is famous not only for its picturesque location. Next to it is the Orth Castle – the oldest castle on the water in Austria
The Grünberg is also a popular destination. It can be reached on foot via marked hiking trails and, since summer 2014, again via the Grünberg cable car.Gmunden offers many options for summer holidays on the Traun See. Tourists have the opportunity to rent surfing and diving equipment, go fishing, spend time on one of the local beaches, rent a yacht or boat. There are several piers with rental boats on the Gmunden promenade.
Access : Coordinates: 47.918056, 13.799444
/ getting there : By car: Via the A1 to the Regau junction and on the B 145 to Gmunden. By train: From Attnang-Puchheim (junction on the Salzburg – Vienna route) with the Salzkammergutbahn.
Highlights :
- The most famous sights of the city of Gmunden are the Landschloss and Seeschloss Ort. The latter was also the location of the television series Schlosshotel Orth. The Seeschloss is one of the oldest buildings in the Salzkammergut (built in the 10th century) and was first mentioned in documents in 909 and later in 1053.
- The lake castle Ort, built on an islet connected to the land by a boom, is mentioned for the first time in 909. Some parts, so the tower or the windows were built under Frederick III (1440-1493). It was rebuilt in 1634 after a fire. In the small Gothic chapel, there are still Renaissance frescoes.
- The city is known as the place of origin of Gmundner ceramics with its characteristic white and green flamed decor.
- The museums of Gmunden are also of interest: the Museum of History and Local Lore and the Museum of Ceramic Manufactory. You can also see Gmunden ceramics in numerous specialized stores.
- Villa Toscana is not far from the Seeschloss. The castle Villa Toscana, residence of exile of the Grand Dukes of Tuscany, was built for Marie-Antoinette of Bourbon-Siciles in 1869. It is today a convention center.This building was built between 1870 and 1877 in the middle of an 88,000 m² park as the domicile of the Grand Duchess of Tuscany, Maria Antonie of Naples-Sicily
- On the Rinnholzplatz is the salt carrier fountain, the only ceramic fountain in Austria, from which drinking water flows from the “Holy Bründl”.
- The Gmundner Marktplatz is located near the parish church. In addition to old houses, such as the first Gmundner Rathaus, which existed until 1301, there is also the city fountain with the city coat of arms
- Next to the Kammerhof, the famous paddle steamer Gisela (built in 1871) is parked at a landing stage for the Traunseeschifffahrt. The ship was named after the daughter of Emperor Franz Joseph, Gisela Louise Marie of Austria.
- The Kammerhof Kammerhofgebäude, Gothic building now housing a museum and exhibition gallery as well as a ballroom, built in 1450, once the seat of the Habsburg salt chamber and representative of the emperor, offers both historical and modern architectural elements.
- Attraction is the Gmundner tram, built by Stern & Hafferl. It connects the city center with the main train station and is the oldest, shortest and – with a gradient of 10% – the steepest tram in Austria. In Gmunden, the world’s smallest tram company provides the connection from the high-altitude train station to the city center. The 2.3 km long route is operated with only 5 men.
- Regular events : Mountain marathon around the Traunsee: since 1989 the mountain marathon “Around the Traunsee” has been taking place in Gmunden over 70 km and 4500 meters in altitude / The annual Gmunden pottery market took place for the first time in 1989. The program for August 2020 was reduced due to the Covid-19 pandemic. / Liebstatt Sunday: An old custom in Gmunden is the annual “Liebstatt Sunday”. This festival has its origins in the 17th century
- The Traunsee is a lake in the Upper Austrian Salzkammergut on the northern edge of the northern Limestone Alps at an altitude of 423 m above sea level.Many water sports can be practiced: sailing, surfing, kite surfing, diving and water skiing.
Go next : The Oberweis Castle in Laakirchen (district of Gmunden, Upper Austria) was one of the Lebensborn centers / The Traunsee lake where Many water sports can be practiced: sailing, surfing, kite surfing, diving and water skiing.
