The Hallein Salt Mines and Celtic Museum

Hallein is an ancient Celtic salt-mining town located some 20 kilometers to the south of Salzburg. Hallein's historic city center is classified as historical and - just like 400 years ago - is lined with charming burgher houses painted in a variety of colors. The town is known for its exhibition Salt Mines in the Bad Dürnberg district.

The bus will take you directly to the Salt Mines where salt was already extracted as early as 600 years before Christ. The salt mines became particulary significant under Salzburg's archbishops during the 16th century, at which time they produced the most salt in the Eastern Alps. Hallein was the archbishopric's "treasure vault". Salzburg's affluence and beauty is still attributed to the wealth derived from trading with the "white gold" - as salt was known back in those days.

Before starting off on the tour of the "Salt World" it is customaryto pass bread, salt and schnapps as a token of hospitality at the entrance to the tunnel. On your exciting journey through the winding tunnel system running between Salzburg and Bavaria you will ride on a miners' car, slide down two long mining chutes, take a ride on a raft over a subterranean lake and acquire a wealth of information about salt mining.

After the tour you will visit the "Celtic Village", reconstructed from an ancient Celtic settlement, and learn about the people, their work and way of living.

After lunch at a restaurant in Hallein offering regional fare and a short walk through the town, you will visit the refurbished Celtic Museum, offering an exciting portrayal of the history of the Celts.

Length of the excursion: approx. 6 hours.

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