Hallstatt vom Hallstätter See aus gesehen _ Bild Edwin Husic

Veranstaltungen

World Heritage Day – April 18, 2026

UNESCO
Welterbe
Welterbe Kulturlandschaft Hallstatt-Dachstein/Salzkammergut
Naturhistorisches Museum
Österreich

Information event and panel discussion

In 2026, World Heritage Day in the Hallstatt-Dachstein/Salzkammergut World Heritage region will focus on the latest archaeological discoveries from 2025. Using radiocarbon dating, it was determined that the “Riezing finds” are 7,300 years old, thereby pushing Hallstatt’s history back by 300 years beyond what was previously known and conclusively proving its origins date back to the Neolithic period.

Early Bread and the First Salt – Hallstatt in Europe’s Neolithic Age

Austrian World Heritage Day

Friday, April 18, 2026, 1:30 PM to 5:00 PM

Cultural and Congress Center Hallstatt

Seestraße 169, 4830 Hallstatt

Information event and panel discussion for everyone – no registration required.

World Heritage Day gives citizens the opportunity to speak with experts about the latest archaeological discoveries in Hallstatt and the current state of research. The event is open to all.

 

Time table

Introduction
  • 1:30 PM Welcome
    (Alexander Scheutz, Mayor of Hallstatt)
  • 1:40 PM Welcome
    (Karina Grömer, Director of the Prehistoric Department, Natural History Museum Vienna, and Mag. Bernd Paulowitz, World Heritage Manager)
Session 1
Latest Findings
  • 2:00 PM Overview of the 2025 Riezing Finds
    (Jana Obernberger – Prehistoric Department, Natural History Museum Vienna)
  • 2:15 PM Keynote: Early Bread and the First Salt – The Neolithic Period in Hallstatt
    (Joachim Pechtl – University of Innsbruck)
  • 3:00 PM Impulse Lecture: Prehistoric Mining in Hallstatt
    (Daniel Brandner – Hallstatt Mining Research, Natural History Museum Vienna)
  • 3:15 PM Impulse Lecture: The Hallstatt Burial Ground
    (Georg Tiefengraber – Curator of the Bronze and Iron Age Collection, Natural History Museum Vienna)
  • 3:30 PM The Special Exhibition “Riezing” – Concept and Design
    (Gerald Raab – Head of Surface Research Hallstatt, Prehistoric Department, Natural History Museum Vienna)
  • From 3:45 PM onwards: Ongoing guided tours in small groups at the newly redesigned Hallstatt Museum
  
 
  • 15:45 Break
  
Session 2

World Heritage Award

  • 4:30 PM Award Ceremony of the “Friedrich Simony Prize” for Outstanding Contributions to the Salzkammergut World Heritage
    (Bernd Paulowitz, World Heritage Manager)
  
 
  • 5:00 PM End of the Event – Networking with Snacks and Drinks

 

 

Getting There

 

By Public Transport:

By Postbus

  • From Salzburg: via St. Gilgen, Bad Ischl, Bad Goisern, and Gosaumühle to the Hallstatt Lahn stop.
  • From Golling: via Abtenau, Russbach, Gosau, and Gosaumühle to the Hallstatt Lahn stop.
  • From Gmunden: via Ebensee, Bad Ischl, Bad Goisern, and Gosaumühle to the Hallstatt Lahn stop.
  • From Bad Aussee: via Bad Goisern and Gosaumühle, or via Obertraun to the Hallstatt Lahn stop.

Walking time from Hallstatt Lahn to the venue: approx. 10 minutes.

By Train

  • From Attnang-Puchheim: via Ebensee, Bad Ischl, Bad Goisern to Hallstatt station.
  • From Stainach-Irdning: via Mitterndorf, Bad Aussee, Obertraun to Hallstatt station.

Hallstatt train station is located on the eastern shore of Lake Hallstatt, opposite the town. From there, you can take the ferry across the lake to Hallstatt. Walking time from the ferry to the venue: approx. 3 minutes.

By Car:
It is not possible or permitted to drive into Hallstatt itself. The following parking areas are available outside the town, with a walking time of approx. 15 minutes to the venue.

Parkplatz P1

At the town’s edge, near the gas station, there is a large paid parking lot with 300 available spaces.

Additionally, there are two parking areas with charging stations for electric vehicles. Parking is free in these spots during the paid charging period.

Parkplatz P2

Parking Lot P2 is located right next to the Salzwelten Visitor Center and offers 140 available spaces.

 

Download Application (German)

Einladung Welterbetag Hallstatt 2026 1.4.pdf (464.85 KB)
Hallstatt vom Hallstätter See aus gesehen _ Bild Edwin Husic

Information

The Hallstatt-Dachstein / Salzkammergut cultural landscape is shaped by its location in the stunning scenery of the Eastern Alps, characterized by steep rock faces and narrow valleys, which is why it was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Today, our task is to preserve this cultural heritage and guide it into the future, which requires targeted strategies. Input also comes from residents and interested parties—that means you. We want to use Austrian World Heritage Day for this purpose: in the Hallstatt-Dachstein/Salzkammergut World Heritage region, the day is dedicated to informing the public about the latest scientific findings.

World Heritage Day also marks the opening of a newly designed exhibition at the Hallstatt World Heritage Museum on the “Riezing Finds.” These artifacts, up to 7,300 years old, were discovered in 2025 during accompanying excavations as part of a house renovation in Hallstatt. Experts will guide small groups through the exhibition.

The “Friedrich Simony Prize,” also known as the World Heritage Award, was awarded from 2007 to 2022 for special contributions to the Salzkammergut World Heritage. Starting in 2026, the prize will again be awarded annually to deserving individuals. On World Heritage Day 2026, the award ceremony will take place.

Afterwards, citizens will have the opportunity to discuss the World Heritage, ongoing projects, preservation, challenges, and potentials of our region with experts. The goal is to further develop the Guidelines for Building in the World Heritage Area.

No registration required – just come and join the discussion!

We look forward to welcoming you.