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Lungau
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Explore Lungau in Salzburg, where high valleys, medieval villages, mountain trails, ski areas and living Alpine traditions shape a distinctive Austrian escape.

Lungau occupies Salzburg's southeastern corner, a high, basin-like mountain district enclosed by the Niedere Tauern to the north and the Nockberge and Katschberg mountains to the south. Much of the settled landscape lies between roughly 1,000 and 1,200 metres, giving the region a distinct climate, clear seasonal rhythm and open sense of space. Its valleys lead towards the Mur, the river that rises near Muhr and eventually crosses much of Styria, while upland routes connect Lungau with neighbouring Carinthia and Styria.
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Tamsweg is the principal market town and administrative centre, with a compact historic core, arcaded buildings and the pilgrimage church of St Leonhard on a wooded hill above the settlement. Mauterndorf, near the western entrance to the district, is known for its medieval castle and preserved market-town character. Mariapfarr has an important pilgrimage tradition and a parish church associated with the early history of the Christmas carol "Silent Night"; St Michael im Lungau is a practical base for mountain excursions and access to the Katschberg area. Smaller valleys such as Weißpriach, Göriach, Lessach and Zederhaus offer a quieter experience of farms, hay meadows, streams and high alpine pastures.
The region's natural environment is central to its identity. The UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Salzburg Lungau encompasses a large part of the district and protects a landscape shaped by farming, forestry, mountain water and traditional settlement rather than separating nature from everyday life. Hiking routes lead to tarns, ridges and summits including the Preber and Speiereck, while the winter season brings skiing, cross-country trails, ski touring and snowshoeing. Weather can change quickly at altitude, and even accessible valley walks may become demanding in shoulder seasons.
Lungau's culture remains visible in architecture, agriculture and annual customs. Farmhouses, chapels and hay barns stand among broad meadows, while the large wooden Samson figures, carried through several communities on ceremonial days, represent one of the region's most distinctive traditions. Local cooking draws on potatoes, grains, dairy, smoked meats, mushrooms and berries, with hearty dishes suited to a mountain climate. Lungau is best approached as a collection of valleys and villages: Tamsweg and Mauterndorf offer heritage and museums, the side valleys provide walking and landscape, and St Michael and the southern mountain passes connect the district to larger alpine routes.

When is the best time to visit Lungau?

Best: June–August · 21–24°C
Average daytime high and rainfall by month
MonthHigh (°C)Rainfall (mm)
January230
February428
March835
April1240
May1850
June (best)2160
July (best)2465
August (best)2360
September1950
October1340
November635
December230

Getting to and around Lungau

How to get there

The principal road approach is the A10 Tauern motorway, with access from the Salzburg side towards St Michael im Lungau and from the south via the Katschberg area; motorway toll and vignette rules apply in Austria. Salzburg Airport is the nearest major international airport, but it is outside Lungau and requires onward road or bus travel. Graz and Klagenfurt airports may also be practical alternatives depending on the route. Lungau does not have a regular mainline passenger railway station, so rail travellers generally connect by bus from stations outside the district, such as Radstadt, or travel by road from Salzburg and other national hubs.

Transportation

Regional buses connect the principal towns and parts of the main valleys, but services are less frequent in remote side valleys and may not suit early trail starts or late returns. A car gives the greatest flexibility for reaching Weißpriach, Göriach, Lessach, Zederhaus, Muhr and mountain-access roads, although winter equipment and care on narrow, steep roads may be necessary. Taxis can help with shorter transfers, but should be arranged in advance outside the larger settlements. The Taurach Railway is a seasonal heritage experience rather than a substitute for everyday public transport. Walking, cycling, cross-country skiing and local lifts are useful within individual resorts and valleys.

Destinations in Lungau

Resorts, valleys and scenic spots worth a trip of their own.

Best attractions in Lungau

Lungau's attractions combine mountain landscapes with a concentrated group of historic villages and cultural institutions. Mauterndorf Castle is the region's most substantial medieval heritage site, while Tamsweg's old centre and the pilgrimage church of St Leonhard provide a different perspective on regional history. Mariapfarr is important for its church, museum and connection with the early history of "Silent Night". In the countryside, the Biosphere Reserve's valleys, alpine pastures, tarns and river sources support hiking, cycling, wildlife observation and guided nature activities. The Preber, Speiereck and surrounding Niedere Tauern offer demanding summer walks and ski-touring terrain, while family-friendly paths and winter trails are concentrated around established resort areas. The Taurach Railway adds a seasonal heritage journey through the landscape. Local museums and displays interpret farming, customs and village life, and the large Samson figures provide a particularly distinctive cultural attraction when processions or exhibitions are scheduled. The balance between working farms, protected habitats and recreational infrastructure is central to the visitor experience.

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Best landmarks in Lungau

Mauterndorf Castle dominates the western part of Lungau and reflects the settlement's medieval role on routes across the central Alps; its towers and defensive form remain among the district's clearest historic symbols. Above Tamsweg, the pilgrimage church of St Leonhard stands in a wooded setting and is significant both architecturally and as a destination for centuries of religious travel. Mariapfarr's parish and pilgrimage church anchors one of the region's most important ecclesiastical centres and is linked to the early history of the Christmas carol "Silent Night". In the villages, painted façades, chapels, farmhouses and roadside wayside shrines form a dispersed architectural heritage rather than a single monumental centre. The Mur's source area near Muhr and the high peaks and ridges around the Preber and Speiereck provide natural landmarks that explain Lungau's geography. The great wooden Samson figures, associated with several communities, are cultural landmarks as much as ceremonial objects, representing a custom that remains publicly visible in the region.

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Explore Lungau on the map

Plan your trip on one map. See where the top cities, national parks and sights are, and book hotels and experiences in a few clicks.

Best restaurants in Lungau

Lungau's food is rooted in high-altitude farming and practical Alpine cooking rather than a single restaurant tradition. Menus in traditional inns and mountain huts commonly draw on potatoes, dairy, grains, cabbage, smoked meats, game when available, mushrooms and berries. Lungau potatoes are a notable local product and may appear in soups, side dishes and regional home cooking. Expect dumplings, noodles, pastries and substantial stews alongside more contemporary Austrian cuisine. Tamsweg, Mauterndorf and St Michael offer the broadest choice of cafés, bakeries, inns and modern restaurants, while the side valleys favour small guesthouses and seasonal hut kitchens. Farm shops and direct-sales outlets are useful for cheese, bread, spirits, smoked produce and preserves, and markets provide a better sense of the district's agricultural identity than formal dining alone. Mountain huts tend to serve straightforward food suited to hikers and skiers, with availability varying by season and weather.

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Best bars in Lungau

Evenings in Lungau are shaped more by village inns, hotel bars, cafés and mountain-resort après-ski than by a large nightclub scene. Tamsweg, Mauterndorf and St Michael have the widest choice of places for a drink or relaxed meal, while smaller communities generally become quiet earlier. Traditional pubs and guesthouse dining rooms are useful for sampling local beer, Austrian wine, schnapps and regional conversation without treating drinking as the main attraction. During the ski season, resort areas and accommodation complexes may offer livelier après-ski gatherings, but these are seasonal and vary from year to year. Live music, community events and festival evenings can bring temporary energy to villages, especially during summer customs and local celebrations. Visitors should check current arrangements locally, as rural venues may have limited opening days and late-night transport is not always available.

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Best nightclubs in Lungau

Evenings in Lungau are shaped more by village inns, hotel bars, cafés and mountain-resort après-ski than by a large nightclub scene. Tamsweg, Mauterndorf and St Michael have the widest choice of places for a drink or relaxed meal, while smaller communities generally become quiet earlier. Traditional pubs and guesthouse dining rooms are useful for sampling local beer, Austrian wine, schnapps and regional conversation without treating drinking as the main attraction. During the ski season, resort areas and accommodation complexes may offer livelier après-ski gatherings, but these are seasonal and vary from year to year. Live music, community events and festival evenings can bring temporary energy to villages, especially during summer customs and local celebrations. Visitors should check current arrangements locally, as rural venues may have limited opening days and late-night transport is not always available.

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Best shops in Lungau

Shopping in Lungau is centred on the market towns rather than large retail complexes. Tamsweg has the broadest everyday choice, with local services, food shops and independent businesses, while Mauterndorf and St Michael combine practical shopping with traditional façades, cafés and visitor-oriented stores. Farm shops and direct-sales outlets are especially worthwhile for Lungau potatoes, cheese, bread, honey, preserves, smoked products, herbal goods and locally made spirits. Bakeries and butchers provide useful provisions for self-catering or day walks, although opening patterns can be seasonal. Craft and souvenir shops may stock woodwork, woollen goods, ceramics, books on local history and items connected with Alpine customs. Weekly markets and seasonal producers' markets vary by community and date, so current information is best obtained locally. Visitors should distinguish genuinely regional food and craft products from generic Alpine souvenirs, particularly when buying gifts to take home.

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Lungau essentials

Currency and Payment
Lungau uses the euro, written as EUR, as part of Austria. Cards and contactless payments are widely accepted in hotels, supermarkets, petrol stations, larger restaurants and many attractions, but small rural businesses, mountain huts, markets and unattended facilities may prefer cash. Carry some euros when hiking or visiting remote valleys, and do not assume that every hut has reliable mobile reception or card connectivity. ATMs are available in the main settlements, though access is less convenient in small villages.
Safety
Lungau is generally well equipped for visitors, but mountain conditions require sensible preparation. Use marked routes, check forecasts and daylight, and allow extra time for altitude, steep ground and changing weather. Snow, ice and avalanche conditions can affect winter walks and ski tours; follow local warnings and use appropriate equipment. Drivers should expect mountain roads, tunnels, livestock and rapidly changing conditions. In summer, protect against sun and dehydration, while in winter suitable clothing and traction are essential. Keep dogs under control near livestock and respect closures, private land and forestry operations.
Emergency Situations
Austria's emergency number 112 reaches the European emergency service; 133 is police, 122 is fire and 144 is ambulance. For mountain emergencies, call 140 for mountain rescue, or use 112 where appropriate if the situation is unclear. Give the exact valley, trail, hut, road or visible landmark, and keep your phone available for return calls. In remote terrain, mobile coverage can be intermittent, so tell someone your route before departure and do not rely solely on a digital map. Emergency arrangements are national Austrian services, not systems unique to Lungau.
Do's and Don'ts
Greet people politely in shops, inns and accommodation, keep to marked paths and close gates behind you when routes cross pasture. Follow official instructions around avalanche areas, forestry work and protected habitats, and ask before photographing private farms or local ceremonies at close range. In restaurants and mountain huts, ordering and paying patiently is customary; tipping is not an absolute rule but rounding up or leaving a modest amount for good service is usual in Austria. Avoid loud behaviour in villages at night, do not leave litter, and never assume that a mountain meadow is public picnic ground.
Local Tips
The main valley is easiest to explore through a combination of Tamsweg, Mauterndorf and St Michael, while the side valleys reward slower itineraries and early starts. Ask tourist offices or accommodation hosts about current trail access, seasonal road restrictions and local buses before heading into the mountains. The region's food identity is best encountered through farm shops, markets, traditional inns and hut menus. If visiting for customs or festivals, verify the timing locally, as Samson appearances and other events follow community calendars rather than a single daily tourist schedule.
Eve, your Evendo local guide

From Eve

Local phrases worth knowing

You don't need to get them perfect. A few words go a long way, and locals appreciate the effort.

6 phrase groups · English, local and pronunciation

Basics
EnglishLocalSay it
HelloGrüß Gott[Groos Got]
GoodbyeAuf Wiedersehen[Owf Veederzayn]
YesJa[Ya]
NoNein[Nine]
Please/You're welcomeBitte[Bitt-eh]
Thank youDanke[Dahn-keh]
Excuse me/SorryEntschuldigung[Ent-shool-dee-goong]
How are you?Wie geht's?[Vee gates?]
Fine. And you?Gut. Und dir?[Gooot. Oond deer?]
Do you speak English?Sprechen Sie Englisch?[Shprekh-en Zee Eng-lish?]
I don't understandIch verstehe nicht[Ish fer-shtay-eh nikht]
Eating & Drinking
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to see the menu, pleaseIch hätte gerne die Speisekarte, bitte[Ish het-teh ger-neh dee Shpy-ze-kahr-teh, bitt-eh]
I don't eat meatIch esse kein Fleisch[Ish ess-eh kine Flysh]
Cheers!Prost![Prohst!]
I would like to pay, pleaseIch möchte bezahlen, bitte[Ish merkh-teh beh-tsah-len, bitt-eh]
Emergencies
EnglishLocalSay it
Help!Hilfe![Hil-feh!]
Go away!Geh weg![Geh veg!]
Call the Police!Rufen Sie die Polizei![Roo-fen Zee dee Poh-li-tsai!]
Call a doctor!Rufen Sie einen Arzt![Roo-fen Zee eye-nen Artst!]
I'm lostIch bin verloren[Ish bin fer-lo-ren]
I'm illIch bin krank[Ish bin krank]
Shopping
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to buy...Ich möchte kaufen...[Ish merkh-teh kow-fen...]
I'm just lookingIch schaue nur[Ish shao-eh noor]
How much is it?Wie viel kostet es?[Vee feel kost-et es?]
That's too expensiveDas ist zu teuer[Das ist tsoo toy-er]
Can you lower the price?Könnten Sie den Preis senken?[Kern-ten Zee den Price sen-ken?]
Time & Numbers
EnglishLocalSay it
What time is it?Wie spät ist es?[Vee shpayt ist es?]
It's one o'clockEs ist ein Uhr[Es ist ine Oor]
Half past (10)Halb (10)[Halb (zehn)]
MorningMorgen[Mor-gen]
AfternoonNachmittag[Nakh-mit-tahg]
EveningAbend[Ah-bent]
YesterdayGestern[Ges-tern]
TodayHeute[Hoy-teh]
TomorrowMorgen[Mor-gen]
1Eins[Eins]
2Zwei[Tsvy]
3Drei[Dry]
4Vier[Veer]
5Fünf[Foonf]
6Sechs[Zex]
7Sieben[Zee-ben]
8Acht[Akh-t]
9Neun[Noyn]
10Zehn[Tzayn]
Transport & Directions
EnglishLocalSay it
Where's a/the...?Wo ist ein/das...?[Vo ist ine/das...?]
What's the address?Wie ist die Adresse?[Vee ist dee A-dres-se?]
Can you show me (on the map)?Könnten Sie mir (auf der Karte) zeigen?[Kern-ten Zee meer (owf der Kar-teh) tsai-gen?]
When's the next (bus)?Wann kommt der nächste (Bus)?[Vahn komt der nay-shte (Boos)?]
A ticket (to ....)Ein Ticket (nach....)[Ine Ti-ket (nakh....)]

History of Lungau

Early Settlement and Roman Routes

Lungau's valleys were settled long before the modern villages emerged, with archaeological evidence reflecting prehistoric activity and later Roman influence. The region lay near routes crossing the central Alps, including the important passage over the Radstädter Tauern. Roman administration connected the area to wider networks of trade and movement, although Lungau was never a major urban centre. Remains and place-name evidence point to a landscape used for farming, pastoral activity and transit. The high valleys' location between Salzburg, Carinthia and Styria continued to shape their history long after Roman rule ended.

Medieval Salzburg Rule

During the Middle Ages, Lungau became closely tied to the ecclesiastical principality and archbishopric of Salzburg. Churches, estates and routes through the mountain passes were administered within this political and religious framework. Mauterndorf Castle developed as a significant fortified and administrative centre, while Tamsweg grew as a market and ecclesiastical settlement. Pilgrimage helped give Mariapfarr and the church of St Leonhard near Tamsweg wider importance. Medieval landholding also established patterns of farms, hamlets and wooded uplands that remain legible in the present landscape.

Mining and Mountain Economies

Mining contributed to Lungau's medieval and early modern economy, particularly through the extraction of metals in parts of the region. The industry never transformed the district on the scale of major mining centres, but it influenced local administration, employment and transport. Alongside mining, cattle keeping, haymaking, timber production and small-scale agriculture remained fundamental. The short growing season encouraged practical cultivation suited to altitude, including the potato varieties for which Lungau is now well known. Many historic farm buildings and field patterns preserve the memory of this mixed mountain economy.

Market Towns, Passes and Trade

From the early modern period into the nineteenth century, Tamsweg and Mauterndorf served as local centres for trade, administration and religious life. The roads over the Tauern and towards Carinthia made the district a corridor as well as an enclosed highland region. Goods, livestock and seasonal workers moved through the valleys, while market rights strengthened the role of established settlements. Churches, chapels, civic buildings and inns were renewed or expanded during this period, leaving much of the architectural character encountered in present-day village centres.

Modern Transport and Tourism

Improved roads and the construction of the Tauern motorway changed Lungau's connections with Salzburg and southern Austria in the twentieth century. Earlier transport difficulties had reinforced the district's relative isolation; better links encouraged commuting, trade and tourism. Winter sports expanded around several mountain areas, while summer tourism developed through hiking, farm holidays and interest in the region's landscapes and customs. The Taurach Railway, a narrow-gauge heritage line operating on part of the former local railway route, preserves a reminder of an earlier phase of regional transport.

Biosphere Conservation and Cultural Continuity

In the twenty-first century, Lungau's development has increasingly been framed through the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Salzburg Lungau, designated in 2012. The biosphere approach recognises both ecological value and the role of residents, farming and traditional land use in maintaining the landscape. It does not turn the district into a museum: forestry, agriculture, tourism and renewable-energy questions remain part of contemporary life. The continuing public role of customs such as Samson processions illustrates how local identity is maintained alongside modern Alpine recreation.

Lungau in Photos

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Austria
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Evendo: The Ultimate Travel Guide to Lungau, Austria

Discover Lungau with Evendo: Your 100% Free, All-in-One Travel Guide for Attractions, Landmarks, Restaurants, and More - Seamless Trip Planning and Booking.

  • Detailed information on attractions, landmarks, shops, bars, nightclubs, and restaurants
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More about the Evendo app

Unlock the secrets of Lungau with Evendo, your comprehensive, free travel guide app. Discover attractions, landmarks, restaurants, hotels, and more, all in one place.

  • Comprehensive history and travel essentials for Lungau
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  • 'Near Me' feature to discover nearby attractions
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Embark on an unforgettable journey to Lungau, Austria with Evendo, the ultimate app-based travel guide designed to enhance your travel experience. Whether you’re an adventurer, a history buff, or a foodie, Evendo has everything you need to make the most of your trip.

Explore iconic attractions like the majestic Mauterndorf Castle, the serene Prebersee Lake, and the picturesque St. Leonhard Church. Dive into Lungau's rich culture and history with detailed information on landmarks, local shops, vibrant bars, and bustling nightclubs. For food enthusiasts, Evendo highlights top-rated restaurants like Mesnerhaus and Gasthof Gambswirt, offering local culinary delights that will tantalize your taste buds.

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Download Evendo now and start your Lungau adventure. With global coverage of over 7,000 destinations, you’ll have the world at your fingertips - and it's completely free.

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