Pretty little town frozen in time that’s one of Europe’s most beautiful | Travel News | Travel

Hallstatt, a tiny town in Austria, has a fairytale feel and is one of Europe’s most unique locations. With a tiny population of just 779, the town is rarely visited by tourists.

Arriving by ferry, you’ll travel across the glistening lake where you’ll see the Dachstein mountains surrounding the area.

The town has been named a UNESCO World Heritage site – it contains churches that date back to the 12th century. 

You’ll also find a busy market square with a selection of ambient restaurants to choose from.

Located just an hour away from Salzburg and three hours away from the capital of Vienna, you can visit the town for a day trip if you would rather stay in a bigger city.

While you’re there, you can make the most of being in the Salzkammergut region, including seeing Wolfgang Lake and St. Gilgen.

The town is the type of scene you would expect to see pictured in a snow globe, with traditional European architecture surrounded by greenery.

Hallstatt is also home to one of the world’s oldest salt mines, Salzwelten. These mines date back to 4000 B.C. Visitors can take a guided tour of the mines which is a unique experience.

If you’re looking to get out onto the water, Lake Hallstatt can be seen by boat. You can rent a boat including a pedal boat, row boat, or an electronic boat. There are also swan-shaped boats which you can rent to see the views from.

One notable place to visit is Hallstatt Charnel House. This gothic house contains over 600 painted skulls. It was originally created due to an overfilled graveyard which left people unable to pay respects to their loved ones.

People who live in the town today can still choose to send their remains there when they die, the most recent person was added in 1995.

For somewhere to stay in the area, Seehotel Gruener Baum, is an ideal and authentic Austrian-style place to stay.

One guest said: “This boutique hotel in the heart of Hallstatt is a gem. The hotel itself is gorgeous and the receptionists made our check-in process a breeze. Our room offered a stunning view of the lake.””