Enjoy exceptional panoramic views from the village of Hallstatt

As well as its exceptional panorama, the village of Hallstatt has a unique history. Between 1,200 and 450 BC, during the transition from the Bronze Age to the Iron Age, a proto-Celtic civilisation (in short, the ancient Celts) developed. Known as the "Hallstatt culture", or "Hallstattian culture", this people then spread across many territories, which today correspond to western Austria, southern Germany, Switzerland, eastern France and parts of the Balkans.

If you want to understand the origins of European civilisation, a pilgrimage to the village of Hallstatt is just what you need! If you're at a loss, and your memories of history are sketchy, make a detour to the Museum Hallstatt, located in the heart of the village. Here you can learn about the history of the village from prehistoric times onwards, while discovering some very well-preserved archaeological finds.

To round off your knowledge of the village, you can continue your historical tour by heading for the salt mine (Salzwelten), a 9-minute walk from the museum.

Dating back 7,000 years, it is one of the oldest still in use in the world. Fun-filled guided tours are organised. Dressed in miners' clothing, you enter the depths of the mine on board a small train. The tour continues on foot. After tumbling down two slides, you'll come across an astonishing underground salt lake, brought to life by a sound and light show.

The guide speaks only German and English, but you can take an audio guide in French. Allow around 2 hours for the visit.

In addition to its extraordinary history, which bears witness to the presence of an ancient civilisation, the village of Hallstatt is world-famous for its setting. Although Austria is full of exceptional places, the village has set itself apart from other similar villages thanks to the influence of a Chinese entrepreneur.

In 2012, Minmetals Land, a Chinese mining and metals giant, decided to build a carbon copy of Hallstatt near Guangdong, a Chinese province. Seduced by the village's aesthetic appeal, many Asian tourists now come to visit the "original" version. Since then, Hallstatt has become an Instagram star.

If you want to take some unforgettable shots, for your personal use or for social networking, we recommend climbing to the Skywalk, a terrace suspended in the void 360 m above the ground.