Badgastein Favorites

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Favorite thing: Bad Gastein has been a place for holidays long before the time of mass-tourism. In the 19th and early 20th century aristocrats (even kings and emperors) spent time here, as well as artists and many people who were rich although not famous.
Reading a biography of Winston Churchill I discovered that his first trip abroad was a holiday with his family in Bad Gastein when he was seven years old.
This glorious past has left its sign in several hotels and villas that have the typical flair of the Belle Epoque.

Favorite thing: The oldest part of Bad Gastein is the one near the waterfall and to the North of it, which means a bit downhill, towards the valley.
Evidence of it is the fact that the oldest churches are there. Now also the Congress Centre and the Casino are there, as well as most hotels.
The modern part, where most of the permanent inhabitants live, is the one South of the railway station. Here is where you can find the supermarkets, the school, the foot-ball ground, the Police station and several doctors' surgeries.

Favorite thing: The largest of the ski areas begins on the Stubnerkogel mountain above Bad Gastein and is more-or-less lift-linked, via the small Angertal Ski center, to the skiing on the Schlossalm above Bad Hofgastein. The highest ski area is the small sector above Sport Gastein which has a base at 1600 metres and a snow-sure top lift at 2685 metres on the Kreuzkogel mountain.

The off-piste trails here are particularly highly regarded. And after a hard day skiing the 250 KM (170 miles ) of trails on the Gastein Valley Pass, it's possible to bathe in the open-air, rock swimming pool complex serviced by the hot natural springs!

Favorite thing: Bad Gastein streets, steep slopes and fairy tale location create a beautiful town to explore.

Fondest memory: Bad Gastein Wasserfall (Waterfall) - one of the province's most beautiful falls - and also the emblem of Bad Gastein.

Favorite thing: Late Gothic St. Nicholaskirche, dating from 1389, with a central Gothic pillared aisle and valuable frescoes, the serpentine pulpit (15th century) is the province’s oldest.

It has also original Paracelsus’ monument on the backyard. Bad Gastein is one of parts of Austria which boast Paracelsus connections. He was impressed by the curative properties of the local spa waters. Paracelsus also lived in Villach as a young man (his father practiced medicine here from 1502 to 1532), studied the respiratory ailments of Tyrolean silver-miners and died in Salzburg in 1541.

Favorite thing: Bad Gastein owes its status as one of Europe's leading spa resorts to two factors: firstly, there are the 17 thermal springs, emerging 1,000 meters above sea level at the foot of the Graukogel, with a temperature of between 45 and 51degreesCelsius and a volume of 5 million liters per day - then, there are the Thermal Galleries in Böckstein, a former gold mine which is now the setting for rest cures in a super-heated.

And the secret of its success:
radon, an inert gas producing mildly radioactive emissions. Because of its ultra short decay period ( 30 minutes) and its inherent inert-gas characteristic of not forming a chemical bond with any other elements, it only resides in the body for a short period of time, during which, however, it has a healing, regenerative effect on tissue, whilst stimulating the metabolic processes.

Fondest memory: The waters of the Gastein Thermal Springs and the air of the Thermal Galleries are the only natural radon occurrences of this intensity in Central Europe! It has even been bottled as mineral water and exported throughout the world.

The most unusual spa is the healing mine in Böckstein; it’s an abandoned gold mine with very special air.

Favorite thing: Bad Gastein lies on the north slope of the Tauern massif in one of the most scenic spots in the Austrian Alps. It is spread across steep hillsides split by the waters of tumbling Gaistener Ache. Numerous hotels adorn the steep slopes formed by the cascading waterfall.

Fondest memory: Bad Gastein is also known internationally as a ski resort and has been the host of world championship alpine events and the famous Silberkrug Race. The name of the Silberkrug Race comes from the heraldic sign of Bad Gastein, which has the Silberkrug (silver jug) on a blue ground.
The ancient customs of the Gastein Valley have also remained alive as they have throughout the Hohe Tauern region.

Favorite thing: Bad Gastein (Badgastein) is a world-famous spa resort that still retains all the flair of the Belle Èpoque. Located at an elevation of 840 – 1100 m (2757 – 3610 ft.), its emblem is the waterfall that flows directly through the center of town. It is not only Austria’s premier spa, but one of the great spa towns in Europe. It offers a wide range of sporting and leisure activities that are complimented by its celebrated thermal springs.

The local tourist industry began when Frederick, duke of Styria, came here in the 15th century for treatment of gangrenous wound. The duke was healed and word spread. Large spa hotels were built as early as the 19th century. Royalty and aristocrats flocked here to “take the water”. The thermal bath facilities as well as 170 hotels in the valley have a thermal spring connection. The radioactive water is used in both bathing and drinking cures for various complaints.

Fondest memory: Yes, there are a few public drinking fountains where you can taste the water!