Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Jiuguang Wang

And how did the period get its name? Just after Hallstatt village, which was at that time an important trading center. There was the salt mined in its vicinity, which was also exported to far away places. The history of the local salt mining extends at least from 2nd millennium BC up to the present and gave the region not only wealth and prosperity, but also created a specific cultural landscape, where nature blends with human activity in unusual harmony. It also led the Commission of UNESCO to add this area “Hallstatt-Dachstein Salzkammergut Cultural Landscape” on the list of World Heritage in 1997.

Very interesting on Hallstatt is that it has long been accessible only by boat across the lake, or along narrow mountain trails. The first road was built along the shore in 1890, but only thanks to the power of explosives. Despite of this apparent inaccessibility the people settled here anyway seven thousand years ago. The rich history recalls not only architecture of Hallstatt, but also the local museum, which collects extensive archaeological excavations. Many of them come from the necropolis on the plateau above the town, where were discovered the remains of 4,000 people. And those remains were the main reason to name the period as “Hallstatt period”.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Party Lin

It is understandable that many places in Hallstatt are related to salt. The local salt mines are reportedly the oldest in the world and you can see them in an unusual museum. Why unusual? Well, how many museums have you visited which had 64 metres long wooden roller coaster…? But the underground salt mines offer much more than this unusual attraction. You can learn about the life of people who mined salt here for thousands of years. The body of one of them was found here in 1734, perfectly preserved by salt. Notable is also an underground salt lake with an area of ​​1400 m2.

If you already have enough salt, you can target the other wonders of the underground world – Dachstein ice caves. And because we are in the Alps, it is not necessary to say that you can see lots of interesting also on the surface. Whether it’s a remarkable historical buildings, or simply “just” beautiful countryside with fresh air and a nice panorama of mountain giants.

There are lots of Austria hotels in the town as well as camp sites at the shores of the lake. Hallstatt is also a great starting point for your hiking tours around the mountains.

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The miraculous effects of water were already known in the distant past. According to archaeological excavations, this place was inhabited since the Stone Age. And the mineral water has been used since the Middle Ages, first in the tannery, and later to medicinal baths. Lake Gyógy-tó has been adjusted as a private resort for the first time in 1795 by Count György Festetics from Keszthely.

Thermal lake is surrounded by park and is fed with the spring that rises from the crater about 40 meters below the surface. Thermal spring produce about 80 million liters of hot water daily. Thermal lake has a funnel-shaped ground with a depth of 36.5 meters. Almost throughout the whole year, the lake surface is covered with white and pink Indian lilies and with Egyptian lotus, which give the lake a special charm of romance.

Due to the favorable water temperature in the lake, it is possible to bathe here all year round. Fine cloud of steam over the lake creates a special look and high evaporation makes bathing more comfortable also in the coldest winter days. Various flows and pressures, including a pleasant water temperature allow visitors to stay longer in the lake.

In the spa area there is also a swimming pool for kids, as well as for children under 3 years.

Slightly radioactive lake water contains sulfur, alkali, bicarbonate salts and especially calcium salts. Medicinal baths are suitable for articulated diseases, rheumatism and even gynecological problems. As a drinking cure, it is recommended for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders. If you need further treatments, for example mud, local spa offers almost all types of thermal treatments that you can imagine. Mud from the bottom of the lake is made ​​up of 50% of organic materials rich in iodine and estrogen.

Hévíz is internationally recognized as one of the world-class spa resorts and is also a home to frequent professional medical conferences. It is well known spa center with everything that implies, including housing services, and cultural and entertainment options at a high level. Hotels in Hévíz represent the highest quality and offer various options of sauna, relaxing massages, baths and beauty treatments.

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However the first written document of the Telč dates back to the 1315. In 1334 Karel IV. (at this time as Margrave of Moravia) paid the mortgage of this municipality, and a few years later (1339) he replaced it by the Castle of Bánov, that belonged to Jindřich of Hradec.

The family of the new owner then established a new Telč. Unfortunately, the Memorandum has not preserved, but the first written report of Telč Burgess comes from 1353. It is assumed that it was Menhart of Hradec, who in 1354 built a castle, church, water fortification and Gothic houses (originally wooden) around the perimeter of a large marketplace. Other buildings and lake were built progressively.

Telč is a fascinating blend of architectural styles, and on many houses you can see a gradual evolution from Gothic style through Renaissance to Baroque style, in some cases also the later styles. The best example are the Gothic houses on the square, some with well-preserved typical pointed arches. They have Renaissance facades with beautiful gables, decorated with frescoes and paintings on the walls, or a baroque and rococo sculptures. The square is also decorated with two fountains and the Marian column.

Until now, well-preserved are also the medieval walls and city gates, the castle and other monuments, such as the former Jesuit college from 1655 (now high school).

The town of Telč is listed on UNESCO World Heritage List since 1992.

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