Bad Ischl is known as the gateway to the brightly colored lakes and rugged mountains of the Salzkammergut region. It was also in this peaceful Austrian spa town that Emperor Franz Joseph signed the declaration of war against Serbia in 1914.
Today, Bad Ischl is once again in the spotlight. Alongside the Norwegian town of Bodoand the Estonian city of TartuIt was crowned European Capital of Culture for 2024. Located in the east of Salzburg Located in central Austria, it is the first rural Alpine destination to receive this title.
To celebrate this event, the region organises numerous exhibitions and events throughout the year. The programme “Culture is the New Salt” explores how salt and water have profoundly shaped the history of the region. Salt mining in the Salzkammergut region began over 7,000 years ago, with Bad Ischl being one of the main transport points for the “white gold”.
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What to do
Habsburg Emperor Franz Joseph spent his summers in Bad Ischl with his wife Elisabeth (Sisi) and the town's architecture “evokes an imperial age of grand balls and silk gowns,” said Adrian Bridge in The Telegraph. Be sure to visit the ochre-coloured “Kaiservilla”, the emperor’s former summer residence and current home of his great-grandson. Open to visitors year-round, the mansion is set in the “beautifully manicured” gardens of Kaiserpark, which include a Tudor-style “marble palace” where Sisi took afternoon tea.
Formerly a salt processing plant, the “house with white walls” South House The complex is definitely worth a visit, Jamie Fullerton said in The GuardianThe “centerpiece” of the exhibition is Japanese artist Motoi Yamamoto's installation: an “intricate labyrinth” on the gallery floor created using about six tons of salt.
For an outdoor adventure, drive about a half-hour to St. Wolfgang, where Austria’s steepest steam cogwheel train takes passengers 1,200 meters to the top of Schafberg Mountain. From the summit, you can see Bad Ischl to the east, the “white-capped” Alps to the south and the region’s 76 “sapphire blue” glacial lakes, Ellen Himelfarb told National Geographic.
Where to dine
Talented chef Christoph “Krauli” Held leads the popular Siriuskogl Inn Restaurant located about a 15 minute walk through the woods from the town centre. The ever-changing menu is sourced from local produce and there are many vegan options.
Traditional grammelknodel dumplings are available in many taverns, said FalstaffBut the “cultural treasure” gets an “extra touch” and is served with a refreshing pear and radish salad at Hubertushof.
And if you have a sweet tooth, stop by the old court confectioner Zauner Coffee for “glossy iced cakes” and pastries, National Geographic said.
Where to stay
Located approximately 15 minutes walk from Kaiservilla, Villa Seilern The hotel was built in 1881 but has “touches of 21st-century freshness,” Adrian Bridge told the Telegraph. The hotel has a tranquil spa with sauna, steam room and hot tub.
Golden trout is another “strong point,” he said. FalstaffLocated on the banks of the Traun River in the city centre, rooms are “fresh and modern” and guests can rent electric bikes to explore the surrounding area.
