ST WOLFGANG FAQ`S
The town is located in central Austria. It is on the northern shore of the Wolfgangsee lake (close to the towns of Strobl and St. Gilgen, both in the State of Salzburg) at the foot of the Schafberg Mountain.
How can I get to St Wolfgang?
Buses
depart from the railway station of Bad Ischl about a dozen times a day, making
stops at both the marketplace (St. Wolfgang Marktplatz) and the base of the
Schafbergbahn (St. Wolfgang Schafberg Rack Railway). Trip time to either is
about 40 minutes.
By car from Salzburg, take Route 158 east. From Linz, head
southwest on the A-1; then cut southwest at the junction with Route 145 to Bad
Ischl. From Bad Ischl, continue west on Route 158.
The
regional train has a comprehensive service running through the heart of the
Salzkammergut and on into Styria. This provides easy access to the region from
both Salzburg and Vienna, passing through Gmunden, Bad Ischl, Bad Goisern,
Hallstatt and Obertraun.
We would
suggest a car rental as the best way in which to explore this captivating
region. This gives you the freedom to explore area such as Gosausee and St
Wolfgangsee, not accessible by train.
While in St Wolfgang, there are companies
that offer bike rentals, including electric bikes (e-bikes). These
places are also happy to suggest walking and cycling itineraries; you can
prebook before your arrival for the Schwarzensee
shuttle service.
You
can take a boat trip along the lake, ride a historic railway up the hill
of Schafberg, stroll along the
romantic streets or hike around the surrounding area. All those who have
visited the Advent market in St. Wolfgang claim that it is the most beautiful
in Austria.
In summer, swimming, watersports, and just sitting at a beach
cafe are all highly regarded activities at this resort town. There`s skiing in
the hills, usually December to mid-March, and you`ll also find facilities here for
skating, curling, and horse-drawn sleigh rides.
If you drive here, there are two parking lots at the entrance to the town. You can park your car and then explore the town on foot. Late spring to early fall, it`s better to go to St. Wolfgang by boat, leaving from the landing stage at Gschwendt, on the southern rim of the lake. Departures from mid-May to mid-October are usually hourly.
What are some popular side trips I can take from St Wolfgang?The most popular excursion from St. Wolfgang is to Schafberg, which offers the most spectacular view in Upper Austria. Legend has it that you can see 13 lakes of the Salzkammergut from here so you`ll be sure to have a good view! On a clear day, you can see as far as the Berchtesgaden Alps. You can also gaze at the breathtaking backdrop to the lakes, the peaks of the Höllengebirge, and the glacier-capped Dachstein. The whole trip to Schafberg takes about 4 1/2 hours, nearly half by rack rail called Schafbergbahn, which operates from early May to late October. Once you`re here, allow for about 30 minutes of walking. Departures are hourly: from mid-May to mid-June daily from 8:30am to 4:30pm; from mid-June to mid-September daily from 8:05am to 6:40pm; and from mid-September to mid-October daily from 8:30am to 6:20pm. Round-trip fare is around 27€. For more information, visit www.schafbergbahn.at.
What is the St. Wolfgang known for?The town is famous for the White Horse Inn, the setting of the musical comedy and for its pilgrimage church with a late Gothic altarpiece by Michael Pacher. A destination spa, St. Wolfgang is also a popular skiing resort during the winter. A rack railway, the Schafbergbahn runs up the mountain.
Can I pay/tip in US dollars?
The currency of Austria
is the Euro. US dollars are not accepted. Please be sure to have the correct
currency on hand or be prepared to exchange your dollars for euros upon
arrival. Currency exchange desks can be found at the airports and some train
stations.
Notes come in denominations of €500, €200,
€100, €50, €20, €10 and €5. Coins are in denominations of €2 and €1, and 50,
20, 10, five, two and one cents.
English may be spoken at your hotel and in the tourist areas, but not everywhere. We suggest you get a good English-German dictionary and familiarize yourself with common phrases such as hello, goodbye, excuse me and numbers 1-10.
What is Wolfgangsee and how big is it?
The Wolfgangsee is also known as Lake Wolfgang, a lake in the
Salzkammergut area of Austria. Most of the lake is part of the state of
Salzburg, a smaller share of Upper Austria. It is a highly popular destination
for day-trips from the city of Salzburg as well as for lakeside holidays. This
makes Lake Wolfgang and its surroundings one of the most touristy areas of
Austria.
Lake
Wolfgang stretches about 6.5 miles from the northwest to the southeast. It is
divided into two parts by a peninsula,
called die Enge (the Narrow), located approximately
in the middle of its southern shore opposite St. Wolfgang, where the breadth is
no more than 650 feet. The western portion of the lake at St. Gilgen is known
as the Abersee.
The lake is surrounded by the Salzkammergut mountain range. On the northern side, the Schafberg is located. A rack railway,
the Schafbergbahn leads up to the summit at 5,846 ft. Due to
the steep shore at its foot only a footpath connects St. Wolfgang and the
village of Ried with St. Gilgen along the Falkensteinwand.
In the south and southwest of Lake Wolfgang lies the Osterhorngruppe,
with heights up to 5,905 feet. Directly south of St. Gilgen rises the
Early May to mid-September are the best times to visit based on average temperatures. The average temperatures in St Wolfgang vary greatly. Considering humidity, temperatures feel cold for about half of the year and otherwise nice with a chance of rain or snow throughout most of the year. If you`re looking for the very warmest time to visit St Wolfgang im, the hottest months are June - August. The warmest time of year is generally mid July where highs are regularly around 79°F with temperatures rarely dropping below 60°F at night.
What should I do if I need medical assistance?
In an Emergency dial 133 for police, fire 122, and
ambulance 144.
Hospital: Hildegardzentrum, Winkl 80, 5340 St. Gilgen