Wolfgangsee: Lake, Mountains and Culture

Wolfgangsee extends across the Austrian states of Salzburg and Upper Austria. Surrounded by forests, mountain landscapes and small towns, it is classified as a swimming lake in the Salzkammergut region. St. Gilgen, Strobl and St. Wolfgang are connected by the Wolfgangsee boat service; mountain excursions, cultural history and activities on the water also shape a stay here.

Lake Routes and Getting There

The Wolfgangsee boat service connects St. Gilgen, Strobl and St. Wolfgang. Its schedules vary seasonally: if you are including a boat trip in your day’s plans, check the current departure times in advance. On land, bus route 150 stops at relevant stops in St. Gilgen and Strobl. Route 546 runs to St. Wolfgang from the Strobl bus station. The connections therefore differ by destination: the boat connects all three towns, while the bus connection to St. Wolfgang starts in Strobl.

You can travel by train via Salzburg Central Station and then take bus route 150 towards Bad Ischl/Wolfgangsee. Alternatively, take the train to Bad Ischl station and connect to route 150 towards Salzburg/Wolfgangsee. As bus schedules can change, it is worth checking the connections before your trip.

Mountain Railways, Circular Trails and Longer Routes

The SchafbergBahn takes about 35 minutes to reach a point below the 1,783-metre Schafberg summit. The Zwölferhorn cable car reaches the 1,522-metre Zwölferhorn in 11 minutes. These journey times provide a concrete guide for planning your day; the stated endpoint of the SchafbergBahn is below the summit.

On the Zwölferhorn, the Pillstein Panorama Circular Trail passes twelve stations that explain natural phenomena and traditional lore in an engaging way. The Wolfgangweg is on a completely different scale: this pilgrimage route covers 274 kilometres from St. Emmeram in Regensburg to St. Wolfgang in the Salzkammergut; there is also a 324-kilometre version for cyclists. The route is named after Saint Wolfgang of Regensburg, who lived from 924 to 994.

Wildpark Kleefeld has a bee education trail. The circular walk takes about an hour and is suitable for strollers; visitors can see red deer, fallow deer and ibex there.

Cultural History Around Wolfgangsee

St. Wolfgang Pilgrimage Church is a Catholic parish and pilgrimage church dating back at least to the 12th century. Its distinctive features include the spiritually significant stone shrine and Michael Pacher’s famous Gothic winged altarpiece. Pacher completed the altarpiece by 1481; it is 12.5 metres high, more than 6 metres wide when open, and its panels depict scenes from the lives of Jesus and Saint Wolfgang.

In Strobl, the Aberseer Heimathaus Lipphaus, near Breitenbachbauer, dates from around 1500. The building was used as a residence until 1977 and was then converted into a museum by the Aberseer Museumsverein. It opened as the Aberseer Heimatmuseum Lipphaus in 1978.

Since 2000, Deutschvilla has enlivened the regional cultural scene with exhibitions, concerts and exhibition openings; individual exhibitions change. Another historical trace leads to Zinkenbach/Abersee on Wolfgangsee: the Zinkenbach artists’ colony chose the area as its summer and winter retreat from 1927 to 1938. The group included up to 27 artist friends. The Wolfgangsee Advent market is held every year in St. Gilgen, Strobl and St. Wolfgang. The exact dates vary from year to year, so it is advisable to check the dates for the relevant season.

Water, Winter and Local Cuisine

At Wolfgangsee, you can sail, surf, dive, stand-up paddle, water-ski and wakeboard, as well as go canoeing and kayaking. According to regional information, these activities are available year-round; individual operators and availability may vary. Water sports centres also offer surfing for beginners and advanced surfers, although operator availability may depend on the season. Pedal boats and electric boats are also available on the lake.

Winter activities on the Postalm include both cross-country skiing and tobogganing. The 5-kilometre Lienbach cross-country ski trail can be used for both classic and skating styles; conditions and grooming vary seasonally. The natural toboggan run is 1 kilometre long, has an elevation difference of 200 metres and passes the Strobler Hütte. Snow conditions and opening times may change.

Wolfgangsee cuisine includes fresh fish from local lakes, mushrooms from the forest and handcrafted specialities made from natural ingredients.

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