SalzburgerLand Readies Summer Sensations

Summer solstice marks the longest day of the year and the start of SalzburgerLand’s Alpine Summer – Almsommer. A great time to take the senses out for a treat. The Saturday after 21 June is bonfire night throughout the land and during the weekend many other centuries-old customs, some more quirky than others, are upheld.

Lungau’s Prangstangen Procession ranks high on the list of impressive traditions. Twelve unmarried village men lead the procession to church, carrying 8-metre poles weighing 85kg and garlanded with 60,000 meadow and Alpine flowers. The poles remain on display until Assumption Day (15 August), when the flowers are recycled into incense for blessing local farms and houses on feast days later in the year.

Visit www.salzburgerLand.com to plan a stimulating visit to this lovely region of Austria. A summer feast for all the senses is in store.

• Sight: arrive to the stunning sight of Salzburg City’s beautiful Baroque architecture and mighty castle overlooking the fast-flowing River Salzach against a backdrop of snowy peaks. The surrounding countryside is an Alpine idyll: flower-meadows and high pastures, dense forest and dramatic waterfalls, mountains reflected in glassy lakes. Climb, hike or ride to the top for an awesome panorama and the satisfaction of summiting.
• Sound: Mozart made Salzburg his home, and the hills are indeed alive with the music of cowbells, birdsong and rushing water. After a walk in the hills in search of yodelling goatherds, take in a concert during the Salzburg Festival, an uplifting 6-week celebration of the finest opera and music in the world.
• Smell: enjoy the scents of alpine flowers and herbs during a relaxing hike; enthusiasts can join one of the many flower and herb trails offered by village tourist offices across the land. In the shade of the fragrant pine forest is the ideal picnic spot. Enjoy the smell of freshly cut bread and local cheese. A chilled Stiegl beer is not so bad on the nose either. Cheers!
• Taste: few other places in Europe can compare with the riches of SalzburgerLand’s terroir. The area is acknowledged as the most sustainable in Europe with many producers practising organic farming methods. Taste your way across SalzburgerLand using the Via Culinaria – 10 foodie routes indicating where to find the best places for each theme: meat, cheese, fish and sweet delicacies.
• Touch: feel the kiss of sunshine on skin and the thrill of diving into an invigorating alpine lake or the temperate waters of SalzburgerLand’s thermal lakes. Tree-hugging is free of charge in the ancient woodland that makes up almost half of the land. Or, if you prefer to be touched than touching, every village has a choice of spas offering treatments starting with a traditional massage. What’s not to like?

SalzburgerLand is blessed with awesome Alpine scenery, a rich cultural heritage, exceptional cuisine, fine hospitality to suit all budgets and health-enhancing activities on tap. It is simply Austria’s land of plenty that keeps on giving.