Austrian Cultural Journey: Beauty and Soul Collide, Giving Birth to the Paradise of Hallstatt

In the past, I only knew that Austria was very beautiful, but all information about it came from the internet and books, so its true face was vague in my mind. This time, however, I finally had the chance to see it in person.

I asked the locals where the most worth-visiting place was, and almost everyone told me, "Hallstatt town is a paradise on earth." With their recommendation, I immediately booked a train ticket from Vienna to Hallstatt...

However, my mood was confused when I first arrived. This feeling was neither disappointment nor shock; if I had to describe it in words, it would be "suddenness." Here, I felt like a mundane person suddenly breaking into a surreal and beautiful realm, feeling that every move and every word would disrupt the picturesque harmony and tranquility. So I struggled to calm myself down and then, with reverence and humility, began to appreciate and study everything here.

Hallstatt Lake: Interpreting the Austrian Spirit—the Romance of Poetry and the Will to Fight

Whenever I visit a place, I instinctively love its mountains and waters. In my mind, mountains represent ambition and grandeur, while water signifies endless softness. Their fusion creates a unique texture.

The mountains and waters of each place reflect the natural character of the locals. I have traveled to many places and seen many landscapes, but Hallstatt Lake left me with a myriad of thoughts.

After arriving, I took two photos of the lake, one in the morning and another at dusk the next day. When I compared the two, I immediately saw the extraordinary character of Austrians in the forms.

In the early morning, Hallstatt Lake showed a light and unrestrained side. The lake surface slightly rippled under the morning breeze. The green mountains and valleys on both sides, as if welcoming a lover, embraced the shimmering lake water and then let it flow away into the distance. The scattered buildings along the shore and the drifting clouds in the sky seemed to silently bless their warmth and harmony.

At dusk, the once cheerful lake and tender valley had become stern and majestic. Although there was wind, it was no longer gentle; instead, it felt biting. Though the sunset still lingered, when it shone on the lake and valley, it revealed a vast and desolate scene.

Seeing all this, I understood.

For Austrians, we can experience their approachability, affability, and friendliness. But the same people, when facing war, never show fear or timidity; even if they sacrifice, they would rather fight for their ideals. Isn't this lake just like the Austrian character, sometimes gentle and sometimes strong?

The Protestant Church by the Lake: Unique Appearance Catches the Eye; Benevolent Oracle Touches the Heart

I stood in the distance, gazing at this church for a long time.

From any direction in the town, you can see the church's spire towering into the sky. In terms of architectural appearance, it is indeed not as imposing as famous cathedrals elsewhere, but that does not affect its visual appeal. The Gothic spire, the gray brick roof, and the clocks embedded around it, through the lush green valley, faintly exude a fairy-tale dreaminess reminiscent of the Brothers Grimm.

Entering the church, I was immediately enveloped by a solemn and dignified atmosphere. Looking closely at the church's furnishings, like its exterior, it remained consistently simple. Its most ornate part was undoubtedly the Jesus altar.

In the painting, Jesus is kindly preaching to his disciples. Light streams in through the colored glass windows on both sides, adding a sense of sacredness to the image. Although I am not a believer, at that moment, my body and mind also felt a thorough purity under the oracle. So I walked to the image, quietly made the sign of the cross on my chest, and offered a prayer to God.

The Wooden House Village: Amidst Prosperity, Blending the Tranquility of Mountains and Water; Amidst Boldness, Highlighting the Green of Life

I only want to say that, at this moment, an unprecedented sense of comfort flows through my heart.

The lush green valley and the serene lake first give the town a unique beauty. The rows of wooden houses built on the slopes are very reminiscent of the southern water towns in China. Clusters of lush greenery cascade down, intimately covering countless wooden houses. The soft green of the wooden houses contrasts with the dense greenery of the opposite mountains; at a glance, they seem to echo each other.

Strolling leisurely along the narrow streets, I truly felt the locals' love for life. Every door, window, and balcony is adorned with beautiful decorations. Those green plants, flowers, ribbons, and metals have become decorative materials.

In addition to decorating their homes, the homeowners also use these materials to create various exquisite handicrafts and sell them at their doorsteps. The raw materials, through their skillful hands, turn into twine weavings, coarse pottery, and ethnic dolls. The level of craftsmanship made me admire the locals even more.

Since it's called the "Wooden House Village," wood is naturally the main theme. Passing by a wooden goods shop, the clerk was concentrating on operating a machine, and the strong smell of sawdust filled the entire room. On the workbench cluttered with waste materials, nearly finished piglets were lined up, smiling at the door. They looked simple, but I understood that they embody the most original innocence of nature.

After dinner, it was almost evening. I sat in an open-air lakeside restaurant to rest. I like the feeling of being surrounded by green all the time; I feel that in such an environment, my heart has a greater sense of security. Several lanterns hanging from the trees cast a hazy yet alluring light on me, making me want to indulge here forever.

Mist danced gracefully among the valleys.

I knew it would soon cover everything and eventually merge with the calm lake, then continue to dance lightly on the water. I could hardly restrain myself; I wanted to abandon my current comfort, jump onto a nearby boat, and sail freely through the mist. However, when I turned around and saw the owner's astonished expression, I realized that my behavior might have been mistaken for madness. So I covered my embarrassment with a smile and quickly fled.

The Unique Bone Church: Another Way to Remember the Departed

This is actually another church, belonging to the Catholic faith. Since its completion, the church has followed a local custom: the remains of those who died ten years ago are exhumed and placed in the ossuary.

Why do the locals do this?

In fact, it is related to Hallstatt's geographical environment.

Although Hallstatt is nestled by the mountains and lake with beautiful scenery, its area is limited, making it impossible to bury too many people. So, an unwritten rule gradually emerged: all remains buried for ten years must be moved here.

At first, when others introduced the ossuary to me, I was a bit frightened, imagining a horrifying scene. But I was overthinking; it wasn't scary, but rather quite warm.

Over 1,200 skulls are arranged in order, with more than half inscribed with the deceased's name and dates of birth and death. Many are also meticulously painted with various floral patterns by their families, as a way to express their remembrance.

At first, I was puzzled about why they painted flowers on the skulls. Later, I understood: don't these flowers symbolize vigorous vitality? By painting these patterns for their loved ones, they want their souls to accompany them forever, endlessly reborn, never falling into hell. Thinking of this, I felt a bit moved and gained even more respect for them.

Exploring the Salt Mine: Inspiring Everyone's Desire to Explore the Unknown

This is considered one of the world's earliest salt mines, which ceased operations in 2010 and became a famous tourist attraction.

Speaking of the salt mine, I have to touch on some aspects of ancient European civilization.

Around 2000 BC, the ancient Celts lived here. The reason they settled was that mountain salt, essential for human life, was discovered in this area.

In addition, at the exit of the salt valley, numerous prehistoric tomb relics have been found. The oldest tomb, according to research, dates back to 800 BC. Archaeologists discovered many copper and iron swords, as well as numerous copper burial items in the tombs. Moreover, the later the excavation layer, the more burial items were found.

Over the following centuries, the salt mine played a huge economic role, ensuring the livelihood of Austrians and even the financial revenue of the Vienna royal court. Because of the great prosperity the salt mine brought to the area, many poets, painters, and musicians came to develop their careers here. Their arrival left behind countless exquisite artworks.

The salt mine is not far from the town center. After staying in the town for one night, I headed straight to the salt mine the next day. Although the ticket price was over 30 euros, it included the cable car ride and admission, and the tour lasts at least 5 to 6 hours, so it wasn't expensive.

Since the underground temperature is very different from the surface and quite cold, the guide had us, along with other tourists, put on thick miner's overalls.

I slowly descended into the 440-meter-deep bottom of the salt mine on a rail cart.

At that moment, many thoughts suddenly popped into my mind.

I felt like the explorer Professor Lidenbrock in "Journey to the Center of the Earth," leading everyone bravely into the unknown underground world, battling various difficulties until discovering the treasure and achieving victory.

Then I thought of the scenes in "Indiana Jones," where Jones sneaks into an ancient underground tomb, outwits the Germans, and finally discovers the mysterious Ark of the Covenant.

So, what would I encounter when I reached the bottom?

In fact, I also discovered treasures. These were high-purity crystalline salt, which emitted magnificent and strange glows under the light in such deep underground.

Walking further ahead, I found that whether it was a wax figure, a dim and narrow tunnel, or a rusty iron gate, they all resembled the magical and mysterious scenes in adventure movies.

So, this one-euro bottle of local specialty mineral salt shall serve as my souvenir of this thorough underground exploration!

Thus, my trip to Hallstatt came to an end. I had taken in all the scenery of this "most beautiful town in the world." But on the way back, I kept thinking, why is it called the most beautiful town? Perhaps its beauty lies not only in the scenery but also in the gentle, friendly, yet indomitable spirit of the local residents.

Indeed, this quality makes everyone who comes into contact with them begin to feel attached in their hearts. Their smiles are captivating; their persistence is moving. With such character-filled residents, who could easily forget them? At least, their warm smiles still echo in my memory...

Source: Internet, deletion upon request.