Vöcklabruck: Lakes, Culture and Trails

At around 47 km², Lake Attersee is Austria’s largest inland lake. The political district of Vöcklabruck brings together very different landscapes: to the north, the Hausruck Hills shape the scenery; to the east, fertile fields and farmland surround Schwanenstadt; and to the south, the lake district is part of the Salzkammergut. The foothills of the Kobernaußerwald, the rocky faces of the Limestone Alps, the wooded peaks of the Flysch hills and, to the west, the gentle landscape of the Salzburg Flachgau complete the picture. If you’re looking for a hotel as a base for a trip to the district, you can start by considering which landscapes and visits you’d like to shape your stay.

Lakes and varied landscapes

Mondsee and Irrsee are notable for their scenic appeal and lovely swimming spots. Sailing and stand-up paddleboarding are possible on Lake Attersee. The lake’s exceptionally clear water allows visibility of up to 25 metres. Those interested in nature and dark night skies will find another special feature in the Attersee-Traunsee Nature Park: since April 2021, it has been Austria’s first star park.

These features sit alongside the hilly Hausruck region and the district’s wooded ridges. The lake district in the south is part of the Salzkammergut; at the same time, the landscape stretches from the fields in the east to the gentler Flachgau region in the west. You can therefore choose a base according to the themes you want to focus on during your trip, rather than reducing the district to a single type of landscape.

Museums, music and local history

In Vöcklabruck, the Heimathaus is a local history museum housed in one of the city’s oldest buildings. It contains a valuable collection from the estate of Isidor Braun, a file manufacturer. Mondsee Abbey offers a different historical focus: it was founded in 748 by the Bavarian Duke Odilo. In Vöcklamarkt, the Vöckladom combines Late Gothic architecture with Baroque elements; its Baroque interior dates from the 18th century.

The area around Lake Attersee is also associated with musical history. Gustav Klimt spent his summer holidays there between 1900 and 1916, creating numerous masterpieces inspired by the region. The Gustav Klimt Centre opened on the lake’s north shore in 2012 and presents a new exhibition each year. At Gustav Mahler’s composing hut in Steinbach am Attersee, his Second Symphony was completed and his Third Symphony was composed in its entirety.

The original furnishings at the Stehrerhof give visitors an impression of rural life in the 19th century. The open-air museum also includes an herb garden with medicinal and culinary herbs, shrubs, and typical perennials and flowering plants found in farm gardens. Around 70 crafts and occupations are demonstrated, mostly using working equipment, in the Handwerkerhaus. The threshing machine museum traces developments from the first hand-operated peg threshers through various wide threshers to the combine harvester.

The Ampflwang Railway and Mining Museum offers further insights into technology and work. Its collection of railway and mining history exhibits is housed in a 21-stall roundhouse and includes steam locomotives with up to 3,000 hp. Check the latest visitor information before your trip. In Schwanenstadt, visitors can watch glowing glass being processed during a glassworks demonstration. It’s also a good idea to check visitor information in advance.

The district’s cultural offerings also include exhibitions, concerts and theatre performances, as well as activities organised by associations. Schnapps production and cider taverns add to the guest experience. Farm shops, markets and direct farm sales are also growing in importance, offering further opportunities to discover regional products.

Themed trails and special experiences

For a day of walking or hiking, you can choose between two themed trails based on their length and focus. The Würfelspiel hiking trail is 10 kilometres long. It leads from the market square through the Hausruck Hills to the open-air stage and features informative display panels. The Glass Valley trail is considerably shorter, at about 2.5 kilometres: the themed trail has six key stops and ends in the Freudenthal show village. Stops and interactive features explain glass as a material and the history of the village. This gives you a choice between a longer route through the hills and a shorter trail focused on glass and local history.

The Frankenburger Würfelspiel is performed every two years on Europe’s largest open-air stage. If you’d like to combine your trip with a performance, check the current dates. The Attergau Four-Peak Tour starts and ends at the car park by the roundabout in Kogl, St. Georgen im Attergau. The railway and mining museum in Ampflwang offers another special experience, with exhibits spanning mining and railway history.

Connections and choosing a base

Public transport connections are also relevant when planning visits to several places. The Atterseebahn connects Vöcklamarkt, St. Georgen im Attergau and Attersee, with return services. Regional bus route 565 connects Vöcklabruck and St. Georgen im Attergau. Bus services also run from Vöcklabruck and Attnang-Puchheim railway stations to Lake Attersee and St. Georgen im Attergau. For specific journeys, check the timetable for your travel dates.

When choosing a hotel location, you can first decide which destinations matter to your trip and then consider suitable connections. The routes mentioned provide a guide, but they do not form a single itinerary covering all the attractions. Lakes, museums, cultural events and themed trails offer different reasons to stay; which ones take centre stage depends on your own travel plans.

Discover more destinations: Schörfling Am Attersee, Ungenach, Berg Im Attergau, Manning, Sankt Georgen Im Attergau, Weyregg Am Attersee, Weissenkirchen Im Attergau, Unterach Am Attersee, Straß Im Attergau, Oberwang, Oberhofen Am Irrsee, Mondsee, Innerschwand Am Mondsee, Fornach, Nußdorf Am Attersee, Sankt Lorenz, Vöcklabruck, Schmitzberg, Ziegelhaid, Vöcklamarkt, Neukirchen An Der Vöckla, Steinbach Am Attersee, Zell am Moos, Tiefgraben, Gries, Lenzing, Kammer, Aurach Am Hongar, Zell am Pettenfirst, Rutzenmoos, Wolfsegg am Hausruck, Schwanenstadt, Timelkam, Frankenmarkt, Seewalchen Am Attersee, Abtsdorf, Attnang, Loibichl, Mühlbach, Frankenburg Am Hausruck, Desselbrunn, Attersee Am Attersee, Ampflwang Im Hausruckwald, Steinbach Am Attersee, Schlatt, Rutzenham, Rüstorf, Pühret, Puchkirchen Am Trattberg, Pöndorf, Pitzenberg, Oberpilsbach, Pfaffing, Ottnang Am Hausruck, Oberndorf Bei Schwanenstadt, Niederthalheim, Gampern and Atzbach.

For the broader travel overview: Upper Austria.