Rauris Valley
© Rauristal
During summer Rauris Valley comes alive with hikers. This scenic valley offers over 295 km of marked hiking trails. Especially notable is the Sheidlwinkel Valley with the 5-century old Rauriser Tauernhaus. Some trails go right by the roosts of bearded vultures, a recently reintroduced species of avifauna. Other trails go by country inns. One is the “hut to hut” trail in Rauris, which goes up to several 3000-m peaks in the region. You can trek in the footsteps of famous explorers and gold miners. Gold mining is a century-old tradition in the Raurisertal region. You can try your hand at panning gold. This activity is quite popular with tourists. You might even get lucky! Bischofshofen
( 39 km away from Rauris )
When visiting Rauris you shouldn't miss a trip to the town of Bischofshofen 39 km away. It is centrally located in Salzburg county and an excellent starting point for a tour of the region. The present-day area of Bischofshofen was first settled as early as five millenniums ago. The local museum has a fascinating collection of archaeological treasures. Sigmund-Thun-Gorge
( 31 km away from Rauris )
This breathtaking gorge was reopened in 1992. It is the most notable attraction of its kind in the entire state of Salzburg. When utilization of hydro-power in Kaprun valley started to appear more interesting, the gorge was closed down. This occurred in 1938. It was reopened on the initiative of a regional association, and can now be observed in its full glory once again. Bad Gastein spas ( 38 km away from Rauris )
© Gasteiner Tourismus GmBH
Rauris is 38 km away from the spa town of Bad Gastein in Gastein Valley. This town has been a major tourist destination since the 19th century. It had the honor to greet visitors like Queen Elizabeth of Austria and Emperor Wilhelm of Germany among other royals. Its hot springs were famous throughout Europe. The baths of Bad Gastein contain radon, which helps against many illnesses, but rheumatic diseases in particular. Moreover, the town has a magnificent waterfall at the very center. Bad Gastein remains among the most eccentric resorts in Gastein Valley. The other two resorts in the valley are Dorfgastein and Bad Hofgastein. The latter is a spa town as well, located further down in the valley. Zell am See ( 27 km away from Rauris )
© fotorush Bilddatenmanagment GmBH
Zell am See, located 27 km away from Rauris, has a number of interesting attractions. These include the 11th century church and the Museum of Folklore. The church boasts beautiful Romanesque-style architecture. The museum is located inside the Vogtturm tower. It houses displays of artifacts and traditional costumes, offering insight into the daily life of old. Another attraction in Zell am See is Rosenberg Castle, which dates back to the 16th century. Zeller Lake ( 27 km away from Rauris )
© fotorush Bilddatenmanagment GmBH
The lake is 4 km long and 1.5 km wide. It is a year-round holiday destination. In the winter you can go skiing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing, and tobogganing. You can also skate on the lake itself – the water freezes completely during winter. In the summer visitors go boating and swimming. The water is clean, but it can be a little cold. Keep in mind that the area near Schuttdorf at the southern end of the lake is unsuitable for these purposes, as it is filled with water weed. Grossglockner High Alpine Road
The end point of this famous alpine road is at the Grossglockner (3,798 m), the highest peak in Austria, and the Pasterze, the biggest glacier. The road rises from 1500 m to 2 369 m ( Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe), and on the way you will see all kinds of vegetation, from cornfields at lower altitudes to permanent ice cover in higher areas. The panoramic route is also developing as a motorcycle pass road. The road is suitable for a family trip – it will be an unforgettable drive for your children. Coach and group trips are also available. There are two info centers and six nature trails on the road. National Park Hohe Tauern
Hohe Tauern National Park lies at the alpine core of Austria. It has an area of 1800 km², making it the second biggest wildlife preserve in Europe and the biggest in the Alps. Many exotic species of flora and fauna, endangered by extinction, can be found here. Another remarkable aspect is the elevation difference – it is a full 2600 m between the lowest and highest point. The park’s natural history was influenced by the last ice age and constant weather changes. It offers high mountain summits, waterfalls, and exquisite panoramas at every glance.