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If you thought Mother Nature pulled out all the stops in the Austrian Alps, think again: Hohe Tauern National Park was her magnum opus. Welcome to Austria’s outdoor wonderland and one of Europe’s largest nature reserves (1786 sq km), which straddles Tyrol, Carinthia and Salzburgerland and is overshadowed by the 3798m hump of Grossglockner, the country's highest peak.
Try as we might, no amount of hyperbole about towering snow-clad mountains, shimmering glaciers, impossibly turquoise lakes and raging waterfalls can quite do this place justice. Go see it for yourself.
These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Hohe Tauern National Park.
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Enshrouded in mist, arched by a rainbow, frozen solid – this waterfall always looks extraordinary, no matter what time of year. The Wasserfallweg (Waterfall Trail), which starts at the ticket office and weaves gently uphill through mixed forest, has numerous viewpoints with photogenic close-ups of the falls.
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Bad Gastein’s star attraction is this 341m waterfall, which rages over rugged cliff faces and through thick forest to tumble into three turquoise pools. The waterfall’s wispy, ethereal beauty captured the imagination of Klimt, Max Liebermann, Schubert and Empress Elisabeth. The stone Wasserfallbrücke (waterfall bridge) is the best vantage point, and the trailhead for the Wasserfallweg (waterfall path) shadows the magnificent cataract and provides some great photo ops.
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One of the high points (in every sense) of the Grossglockner Road, the 2369m Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe viewpoint takes its name from the Austrian emperor who stopped by in 1856. It commands astonishing ringside views of mighty Grossglockner and the snaking Pasterze Glacier. Get the inside scoop on Hohe Tauern National Park at the interactive visitor centre.
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As though cupped in celestial hands and held up to the mighty Alps, this 15th-century pilgrimage church lifts gazes, and spirits. Inside is a tabernacle, which purportedly contains a tiny phial of Christ’s blood, hence the village name ( Heiligenblut means ‘holy blood’). Legend has it that the phial was discovered by a saint named Briccius, who was buried in an avalanche on this spot more than a thousand years ago.
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For the inside scoop on all things Hohe Tauern National Park, factor in a stop at this terrific visitor centre. The museum side of it showcases the park in a nutshell, with exhibits on glaciers, avalanches, wild waters, farming life, mountain forests, alpine animals and plants. A highlight for kids is the marmot burrow to clamber around in. The shop stocks a great array of books and maps.
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Tap into the source of Bad Gastein at this museum, which spells out the town's history and the wonders of its thermal waters, from the bath-loving Romans to the Romantic painters inspired by its waterfall. The collection spans everything from Krampus (devil) costumes to vintage tourist posters and 19th-century oil paintings of Bad Gastein. English audio guides are available.
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The late-Gothic Nikolauskirche is a little gem of a church, tiled with wood shingles and built around a central pillar. Its interior is simple yet beautiful, with an uneven flagstone floor, baroque altar and rudimentary frescoes that are fading with age. Look out for the statue of the 16th-century physician Paracelsus outside.
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Wildpark Ferleiten is a 15-hectare reserve that's home to 200 alpine animals such as chamois, marmots, ibex, fallow deer, wild boar and brown bears. Kids can let off steam in the playgrounds or on the mini roller coasters.
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To feel the benefits of Bad Gastein's thermal waters without tapping into your euros, fill your bottle at this drinking fountain for free. Two to six glasses per day are recommended for glowing health.