Discover Unken

Unken offers travelers a range of ways to connect with the area: the Kalchofengut, a historic one-farmstead property; regional herbal knowledge; trails with their own themes; and nature experiences in the Heutal valley. If you are looking for a hotel in Unken, first consider whether culture, hiking, pilgrimage routes or herbal knowledge should shape your trip.

Culture and regional knowledge

The Kalchofengut in Unken is a Mitterpinzgau one-farmstead property dating from the 13th century. For small groups, typical dishes such as Muas or Kasnocken are cooked over an open fire there by prior arrangement. The combination of the historic building and traditional preparation gives the site an architectural and culinary connection. The Unken model railway is described as the largest exhibition layout in the Pinzgau region of Austria, offering a different cultural highlight.

The TEH Academy is headquartered at the TEH® naturwerke in the old customs house at Steinpass in Unken, in the Salzburg region. It makes regional herbal knowledge accessible through herbal training courses, seminars and workshops. Individual courses and dates may change; if you are planning to attend a particular format, check the current program in advance. In Unken, herbal knowledge is therefore available both through educational formats and along the medicinal herb trail.

Trails and nature in the Heutal valley

The Unken Zaunweg is about 1 km long and showcases various fences and small gates from the Unken region; explanations and information boards accompany the route. The herb garden at the Lutzbauer offers guided tours and includes a 1.5 km-long medicinal herb trail leading into the Heutal valley. The trails differ in length and theme: the shorter Zaunweg introduces regional fence styles, while the longer medicinal herb trail focuses on herbs. The Dorfrundweg takes a different approach: on the return leg, it runs along the Saalach and offers views of the chapel on Kalvarienberg. This gives you a choice of cultural information, herbal knowledge, and views of the Saalach and the chapel, depending on your interests.

The car park in the Heutal valley is right by the lifts, hiking trails, biking routes and uphill routes for ski tourers. This makes it a practical point of reference if you would like to include different types of activities in your plans. From the hiking car park in the Heutal valley, you can experience the natural monument “Staubfall,” with its roaring 200-meter-high waterfall.

Getting here and the pilgrimage route

Regional bus 260 takes you directly to Unken without changing buses from the city of Salzburg and Bad Reichenhall, as well as from the direction of Zell am See and Saalfelden. Check the current timetable before you travel. Unken also has a connection for pilgrims: the Way of St. James runs along the Saalach and through the town. Pilgrims often visit Unken Parish Church, dedicated to St. James the Elder. The route and the church offer different points of connection for planning a pilgrimage-related trip: the route through Unken and the church’s dedication.

Discover more destinations: Reith, Almdorf, Grubing, Uttendorf, Reitlehen, Vorderglemm, Paßthurn, Mittersill

Return to the main travel overview: Zell Am See.