Discover Mattsee

Mattsee brings together abbey history, historic buildings and experiences on the water. Mattsee is one of the three Trumer Lakes. This offers a range of options for your stay: the development of the abbey, the history surrounding Castle Hill, local walking trails or activities on the lake. At Buchberg, there are also six themed trails and views of the mountains from the plateau.

Abbey History and Castle Hill

The Mattsee Abbey Museum presents the history of the region and the abbey across twelve rooms covering 600 m². Two historical perspectives are brought together here: the development of the region and the history of the institution. Duke Tassilo III founded a monastery in Mattsee around 760. The abbey community continues to this day and is Austria’s oldest community of secular priests.

Castle Hill adds another chapter: its medieval fortifications date to around 1100. The largely reconstructed Mattsee Castle stands on a peninsula that extends into Lake Mattsee east of the collegiate abbey. The market town of Mattsee uses the grounds of Mattsee Castle for cultural activities. The Bajuwarengehöft in Mattsee is an open-air museum built in 1988 as part of the State Exhibition on the Celts.

Museums and Experiences

The fahr(T)raum Erlebniswelten offers insights into the beginnings of automobile manufacturing from 1899 onwards and into historic aircraft. fahr(T)raum also displays a collection of historic vehicles and aircraft. On two large Carrera racetracks, up to four people can race against one another on a two-lane track. Children can take part in a knowledge rally every day, followed by a winner’s photo and a medal ceremony.

The Seenland boat connects two lakes and three towns. With its retractable roof lowered, it makes a spectacular passage beneath the Johannis Bridge between Mattsee and Lake Obertrum. Alongside exhibitions and land-based activities, visitors can also enjoy a connection across the water and the special passage beneath the bridge.

Lake, Water Sports and Lido

Lake Mattsee covers 3.6 km², is one of the warmest swimming lakes in the Salzburg region and is known for its particularly good water quality. Pedal boats, rowboats and electric boats can be rented on the lake. You can explore the lake and its shores by surfboard or stand-up paddleboard. Weyerbucht has a large children’s playground.

The historic Mattsee lido opened in the 1920s. Much of its original building fabric has been preserved, and the lido is also a protected historic site. The history and preservation of the lido’s buildings are therefore part of Mattsee’s character, alongside the activities available on the lake today.

Walking Trails and Buchberg

The Milleniumsweg is a local walking trail that circles Wartstein and follows the promenade around Castle Hill to the Bajuwarengehöft. Its two circular routes feature a total of 38 information boards on natural and cultural history. Buchberg Nature Park has six themed trails, each with a stated walking time of 30 to 60 minutes. Buchberg is 801 m high. From the plateau, you can see 120 mountain peaks, from Traunstein to the Wilder Kaiser.

The trails offer different points of interest: the Milleniumsweg focuses on natural and cultural history along its circular routes, while the walking time for each of the Buchberg themed trails is given as 30 to 60 minutes. Depending on your interests, you can choose between information boards about history and nature or a selection of themed trails with a stated walking time.

Paper Workshops in Mattsee

PAPIER-art ART-papier offers paper workshops year-round. They include an introduction to the history of paper, a tour of the paper workshop, making handmade paper with natural materials and a visit to the paper exhibition. The experience combines background information and insights into the production process with the hands-on activity of making paper.

Discover more destinations: Viehhausen, Henndorf am Wallersee, Großgmain, Ellmau, Gschwand, Oberndorf bei Salzburg, Thalgau, Michaelbeuern.

Return to the regional travel overview: Salzburg-Flachgau.