Mauterndorf brings together a castle with a long history, a distinctive townscape and a range of options for exploring on foot or by bike. When planning your trip, you can focus on culture and local history, spend time in the mountain landscape—or combine both.

The castle, townscape and Lungau’s history

Mauterndorf Castle dates back to the 13th century and was once the summer residence of the Prince-Archbishops of Salzburg. Another historical trace goes back to 1002, when Mauterndorf’s toll station was first mentioned in a document. From the castle’s 44-metre-high defensive tower, you can look out over the Lungau region.

The chapel and museum also give the castle a distinct cultural focus. The castle chapel contains a High Gothic fresco from around 1350, and its gallery has been open to visitors since 2018. Check current access arrangements before visiting. You can view the collection of the Lungau Landscape Museum in the castle. It covers customs, rural life, minerals and religions. In summer, the museum follows Mauterndorf Castle’s opening hours; it is closed in winter. Check the current hours in advance.

At the foot of the castle, distinctive stepped-gable houses shape the historic townscape. Mauterndorf is also one of the ten municipalities in the Salzburg Lungau with a Samson figure. In fine weather, the Burgschenke serves Lungau specialities on a terrace overlooking the surrounding mountains.

A town walk or trails on the adventure mountain

For a manageable outing, a circular route of about one kilometre runs around the castle through the grounds of the old palace park. Mauterndorf also has marked hiking and walking trails, ranging from an hour-long circuit of the town to trips in the surrounding area. This lets you choose between a short walk in town and a longer excursion, without trying to fit both into the same day’s plan.

The Grosseck-Speiereck adventure mountain is Mauterndorf’s local mountain and a hiking area in summer. From the valley, you can reach it on foot via several trails in around 2.5 hours, or take the cable car. The one-hour town circuit and the roughly two-and-a-half-hour trail from the valley to the mountain suit different timeframes. Which option you choose depends on whether you want to focus on a walk around town or the route to the adventure mountain.

Cycling, cross-country skiing and special journeys

The Mur Cycle Path, also known as the Tour de Mur, starts in Mauterndorf. There are also mountain biking, road cycling and trekking routes. In winter, a 25-kilometre cross-country ski trail to Tweng/Lanschfeld starts at the campsite.

Another option is the Taurachbahn, which offers nostalgic steam train rides through the Lungau from Mauterndorf to St. Andrä and back. The train runs seasonally; check the current timetable before your trip. A variety of scenic flight routes over the mountainous surroundings take off from Mauterndorf airfield. Passengers can enjoy a special flight experience and, under the supervision of an experienced flight instructor, even take the controls themselves.

Plan your stay around your interests

If you’d like to combine both, the different timeframes can help you plan your day. You can organise the options described here around your personal interests, without following a set itinerary intended for every traveller.

Discover more destinations: Göriach, Muhr, Sankt Andrä Im Lungau, Begöriach, St. Martin, Tamsweg, Katschberg, Zankwarn.

Back to the main travel overview: Tamsweg.