The historical Soleweg

time to walk: 1 hours (approx. 6 km)
altitute: 508m
start: Hallstatt / Kirchenweg

 

The Soleleitungsweg from Hallstatt to Gosaumühle, No. 601, is one of the most romantic walks in the Salzkammergut. It is cut into rock and leads at about 200 metres above and along the Hallstatt lake, generally offering a glorious view.

One begins best in the town, proceed along the Gaiswanderweg past the graveyard and up to the Marienruhe (2), so that after 200 metres from the Rudolfsturm via the "Hölle", one reaches the descending Soleleitungsweg. Beneath the path are two pipes of cast-iron or plastic - in earlier times they were of wood - which carries the brine from the Hallstatt saltmine to the Sudhütte in Ebensee. With a length of 40 kilometres the Hallstatt pipeline (construction began in 1595) is the oldest in the world. One can see, here and there, old remains of wooden pipes along the path.

The Soleleitungsweg is practically a promenade which older people can also master.The rockface traverse at the Steingrabenschneid precipice is interesting, and one has a constant view to the east bank of the hallstatt lake and the Sarstein. An exhilarating hiking experience is the crossing of the 43-metre-high bridge over the Gosauzwang; far beneath rushes the water in the Gosaubach. Those of a mind can hike further to Steeg, Bad Goisern and Bad Ischl. A descent before or after the bridge and a five-minute march to the Gosaumühle peninsula gains us our stamp and four points.

From Gosaumühle, one can return with the bus to Hallstatt. But go two kilometres further, to Steeg, and there is the possibility to return by boat. But note that this is only a summer service.