Hallstatt

The most picture-perfect of the Salzkammergut (Austrian Lake District) villages has to be idyllic little Hallstatt, which hugs Hallstättersee lake and is backed by the snowy summits of Mount Dachstein. Sandwiched between mountain and lake, it is an archetypal alpine village crammed with wooden chalets topped by steeply pitched roofs and was UNESCO-listed in 1997. 
The hub of the village is Marketplatz, lined with decorative Baroque houses and vine-covered restaurants, but Hallstatt is most famous for its 18th-century ossuary, tucked away behind the landmark spire of its lakeside, Gothic church. Here more than a thousand skulls have been uncovered, delicately decorated with flowers and stacked in neat rows. 
Other sights not to miss around the village include the Werfen ice caves at Eisriesenwelt and the salt mines that gave Hallstatt its original wealth; these are accessed by funicular and may have first been worked more than 7,000 years ago. A viewing platform at the mine entrance allows spectacular views back down to Hallstatt and its sparkling lake. 

Practical Info

Hallstatt is around 75 minutes’ drive from Salzburg and its tourist office is at Seestrasse 99. Both Werfen ice caves and Hallstatt salt mine are only open in the summer.