Hallstatt Village, Austria

The picturesque town of Hallstatt is hidden in the Austrian Alps. The settlement is located on the shores of the lake. Despite the fact that it’s quite difficult to get to the town, it is visited by thousands of tourists every year. One of the main attractions is the Hallstatt Salt Mine that is one of the oldest in the world. Its development has begun more than 3 000 years ago. In the 19th century, the archaeological research was first carried on the territory of the modern village and its surroundings. In the course of excavations, scientists were able to detect traces of more than 2 000 graves, which were created as far back as the Iron Age. This unique discovery allowed Hallstatt to be considered one of the oldest settlements in Europe.

With regard to the available historical data, the first mentions of the village belong to the 14th century. The town is situated away from the other settlements. Until the early 20th century, it was virtually impossible to get to it. For this reason, very little is known about the medieval history of the town. In many ways, the settlement has become famous thanks to its salt mines.

Today, tourists spend a tour in one of the old mines. Within the framework of the tour they can see the world's oldest pipeline that was built in the 16th century. The pipeline connects Hallstatt with the town of Ebensee that is located forty kilometers away. Dissolved salt has being transported there for hundreds of years. The permanent population of the town is less than 1 000 people. The main problem for the locals is an acute shortage of land; it is in many ways holding back the development of the place. Next - Riomaggiore Town