Lakeside village of Hallstatt, Austria

Heavenly Hallstatt

This area of pristine alpine lakes and sawtooth peaks in Upper Austria is known as the Salzkammergut or 'Estate of The Salt Chamber.' For centuries, salt was mined—and in some cases still is—from caves within the impressive limestone peaks of the Dachstein massif. Dotted throughout the range are large lakes, some undeveloped, but most hosting small villages on portions of their shores. Here we see the village of Hallstatt on the lake named after it, Hallstätter See—a place of such renowned beauty that overtourism is a mounting concern.